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TRUCKS MUST BE GIVEN PRIORITY!
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Poor circulation, clogged arteries, inability to breathe, imminent risk of complete seizure. As a country we know the serious risks of what were doing and we spend millions trying to kick it, and coping with the sickening consequences of our failure. But a breakthrough may be in sight.
Alistair Darling failed to make headway with his murmurings two years ago about relaxing delivery curfews for the well-behaved, but miraculously the retail community has come to our aid, pointing out that curfews cost their sector millions— an hour or two's relaxation would make a huge difference. Trucks are quieter than ever and drivers can be trained, but the industry shouldn't need to prove itself on this point. This country is not doing you a favour by allowing you to deliver goods: you are providing an essential service. The sooner government takes this on board the better: curfews are for rowdy adolescents, not industry.
The final piece of good news concerns bus lanes. The more people who leave their cars at home and take public transport the better. But, as an added bonus, it seems trucks sharing bus-only lanes do not hamper the provision of transport services at all.. It's time trucks got to share that privilege.
Let's not wait on government, local or national. We need to be innovating, organising and working together to streamline urban deliveries. Prototypes exist — think of the consolidation centre outside Bristol's main shopping centre which saves many drivers inner-city hassle and makes their bosses more profitable as a result.
Let's work together to kick this crippling habit and we'll all breathe a little easier.