Traffic Jams, the Shadow Fleet Connection

While caught in Bangalore’s infamous traffic jams, Pranay Kotasthane stumbled upon yet another example of the unintended consequence of policy actions. Once upon a time, it was common for large trucks to be lumbering through city roads at all hours, including inevitably peak hours. So those heavy goods vehicles (HGV) were banned inside the city during busy hours.

“The goal is simple and well-intentioned: reduce congestion, cut down on pollution, and make streets safer.”

 

Sadly, even such a well-intentioned policy has side-effects.

“While the big, regulated trucks are kept at the outskirts, the demand for goods doesn't just disappear. Instead, it’s displaced onto a shadow fleet of smaller, faster, and unsafe vehicles.”

 

One half of that shadow fleet consists of “repurposed” agricultural vehicles.

“Designed for low-speed farm work, they are dangerously unstable on paved roads.”

But the bigger threat comes from the other half – the illegally modified mini-trucks. The LCV’s (Light Commercial Vehicles), as manufactured, are legal and safe. Unfortunately:

“Operators weld dangerously oversized, high-walled cargo bays onto the chassis, extending far above the driver's cabin. The cargo bays can sometimes extend to twice the height of the driver’s cabin.”

This modification means the center of gravity is higher making the vehicle much more likely to topple over. Plus, the engine and brakes were not meant for the increased weight this modified vehicle can now carry.

 

So what could be the solution? One option is the Singapore way – prescribe a size and load bearing capacity for such vehicles thereby making them legal. Then vehicle manufacturers would design and sell such vehicles (he suggests calling it the Urban Logistics Vehicle), which would be much safer. Then the government could give peak hour permits only to the ULV’s, thereby driving the current shadow fleet out.

 

Seems worth a shot.