MOTORWAY ACCIDENTS INVOLVING COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

The trend in road traffic over the last 25 years has been determined by ever increasing numbers of vehicles registered and accidents, constant modification of specifications, and an almost incredible development in professional traffic. Now the volume of traffic which has increased about 13 times has to be carried in a small amount of space, and this leads to congestion, traffic disturbances and accidents on motorways. Statistics are given on the accident involvement of commercial vehicles and the proportion which they make up of the total traffic volume, the main causes of accidents involving commercial vehicles, and the causes of accidents to all vehicles. The author states that the overloading and bad stowing and loading of lorries is a considerable danger to other traffic. (TRRL)