HGV operators should pay for damage to air quality

A new report has called for owners of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) to pay more, due to the level of pollution that they cause across Europe.

Within the European Environment Agency (EEA) report, entitled Road User Charges for Heavy Goods Vehicles, it suggests that the amount that HGVs pay for this should reflect exactly on how much damage they cause to air quality.

Therefore, in countries where the levels are lower, the amount they would be expected to pay would be reduced.

It would also show the differences in location that each country has to deal with, so nations with high population densities where pollution can be a more pressing issue would face higher charges.

Similarly, countries with a larger amount of countryside and green space, where emissions can disperse much more easily without causing any harm to humans, would not have to pay as much.

Within the report, experts found that HGVs cost the 32 EEA member countries around €43 to €46 billion (£37 to £39 billion) a year in health costs.

Jacqueline McGlade, EEA executive director, said the report highlights the negative impact of HGVs alongside the economic benefits too.

"European economies rely on transporting goods long distances. But there is also a hidden cost, paid in years of reduced health and lost life," she said.

"This cost is especially high for those living close to Europe’s major transport routes.

"By incorporating these costs into the price of goods, we can encourage healthier transport methods and cleaner technologies."

In terms of cost, the report found that Switzerland actually has the highest average because of pollution, when looking at an average 12-14 tonne Euroclass III lorry.

The cost stood at ten pence per kilometre, with Luxembourg, Germany, Romania, Italy and Austria all following closely behind.

Cyprus, Malta and Finland were at the bottom of the scale, getting away very lightly, with costs of just 0.4 pence per kilometre.

Another issue that researchers found was that investment in newer, more energy-efficient lorries would help and reduce costs.

Posted by Lauren Steadman