Proposed Government rules could see petrol and diesel driver saved in the event that another fuel crisis takes place following the conclusion of a consultation.
The consultation took place between April and May last year and questioned whether laws should change to allow road fuel tankers to temporarily operate at weights higher than usually permitted.
The issue was raised following disruption to the fuel supply chain in the summer and autumn of 2021 when panic buying of petrol and diesel led to shortages around the country.
After assessing the responses to the consultation, the Government has announced its intention to progress the proposal to be used at times when fuel may be in short supply.
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The new changes could be introduced by the Government in the near future
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The exemption will be temporary, with the Government maintaining that the rules will only be in place for four to five weeks at a time.
It added that there are no plans to make the maximum permissible weight limit a permanent change.
The proposals originally put forward sought to make temporary exemptions from the current maximum train weight for fuel tankers of 44 tonnes and allow a maximum of either 48 or 50 tonnes.
Any changes to the weight of the fuel tankers would only be introduced if they adhered to certain conditions.
This could include getting a vehicle special order (VSO) and ensuring local authorities are aware of the changes and keep them on a particular path, avoiding certain roads and bridges which may not be able to withstand the weight.
In response to the consultation, the Government said: “Implementing the proposal requires changes to legislation.
“Government will, therefore, seek legal powers to make the necessary changes when Parliamentary time allows.”
If and when the new measures are introduced, the relevant Government departments will assess the funding required for local authorities to ensure a safe rollout of the scheme.
The consultation received a total of 47 responses, with around a third coming from local authorities.
There were some concerns about the changes, namely that there was a lack of vehicles with a design weight of 48 or 50 tonnes, increased maintenance and insurance costs and the possibility that the vehicles would not be used when there are no shortages.
Hundreds of filling stations around the UK were hampered by drivers panic buying fuel, leading to a number of shortages during the summer of 2021.
Then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the army would be put on standby to drive fuel tankers to help manage the crisis.
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The fuel crisis saw many British drivers panic buying from petrol stations
PA
Former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng also temporarily allowed the oil industry to be exempt from the Competition Act 1998, allowing brands to coordinate and send fuel to areas where there were shortages.