The Guadalajara Reporter

Inferno prompts calls for new semi rules

The governor of the State of Mexico wants to outlaw the use of semi trucks that pull two trailers (sometimes referred to as b-doubles in the United States).

Eruviel Avila’s call came a week after 24 people – including 10 children – died when a semi-truck pulling two tank trailers loaded with liquid petroleum (LP) gas crashed in Ecatepec, in the State of Mexico to the north of Mexico City.

At least 40 properties were damaged and many cars destroyed as a result of the resulting explosion that occurred in a small community of homes and businesses known as San Pedro Xalostoc, situated on the highway linking Mexico City and Pachuca. Driver error was the reported cause.

According to a survey by Mexico City daily Reforma, 142 people have died and 242 have been injured in accidents involving doble remolques since 2008.

In April 2012, 44 people died after a semi truck crashed into a passenger bus in Veracruz.

Under Mexican law, semis with double trailers can have a maximum length of 30 meters (100 feet) and a maximum weight of 80 tons.

Reforma quoted a driver who said semis pulling two trailers at maximum weight were difficult to control.

Proposals to reduce weight limits for double semis have frequently stalled in the federal Congress.

Last week’s accident also prompted renewed calls for further curbs on the transportation of hazardous materials through urban areas.