Current opinion poll shows broad opposition to planned trials of mega trucks

The results of the latest representative survey, carried out by the opinion research institute forsa, are more than clear: more than three quarters of Germans are opposed to allowing longer and heavier trucks (LHVs) on public roads, with only 18 percent in favour.  The main reasons given for rejecting LHVs were the increased risk of accidents as a consequence of the extra weight or length, and the necessary modifications to the highway infrastructure at the taxpayers' expense. forsa carried out the survey at the end of March on behalf of the German Pro-Rail Alliance, interviewing 1,500 people over the age of 16.

"All over Germany, these so-called Gigaliners are viewed with scepticism and opposition. Nowhere can a clear majority in favour of LHVs be found, neither in the Federal Council, nor within the transport sector and certainly not among the general public. We are therefore calling on the transport ministers of the federal states to put an end to the planned trials for once and for all," demanded VDV managing director Dr Martin Henke in view of unequivocal poll results.

Dirk Flege, managing director of the Pro-Rail Alliance, also called on politicians to act quickly to stop the planned trials. "The survey shows that 67 percent of people even oppose just the trials," said Flege. He pointed out that resistance among the general public has increased over the last four years. In January 2007, another representative forsa opinion poll showed that 73 percent of people were against LHVs. In that survey however, people were not asked whether or not they agreed with trials of LHVs.

Broad rejection in all federal states
If the results of the survey are broken down according to federal states and regions, it becomes clears that there is broad public opposition to LHVs right across the country. It is especially pronounced in more densely populated areas. In North-Rhine Westphalia, the federal state with the largest population, 79 percent of those polled are against LHVs, and in Bavaria the figure is 77 percent. Even in more sparsely populated states, such as Lower Saxony and Baden Württemberg, there is a clear majority against LHVs:, with 77 percent of people in both states being opposed to allowing mega trucks onto public roads.