The European Parliament has voted to support revised rules on the dimensions of heavy goods vehicles that will allow for cabs with improved visibility, which is especially important for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.
However, the proposed rules now need to be agreed with EU Member States, and the Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has warned against the legislation getting “watered down” in this process.
Antonio Avenoso, executive director of the ETSC, said: “This legislation is a step forward because it will enable innovative new designs that include crumple zones along with better visibility and protection of car occupants, pedestrians and cyclists.
"But the Parliament should remain vigilant and ensure that these safety requirements don’t get watered down in negotiations with Member States, or by the working groups that work out the technical details of the new rules."
The ETSC says that around 4,300 people died in collisions involving lorries across the EU in 2011. It also points to a study carried out for the European Commission which estimates that as many as 500 lives could be saved annually if cabs were made safer.
The Parliament has also agreed that there should be no change to the current rules that prevent longer and heavier lorries from crossing borders in Europe – a decision also supported by ETSC.
For more information contact Dudley Curtis, ETSC communications manager, on +32 485 379945
UKIP MEPs voted against ‘safer lorries’ because UKIP want to draw up UK rules in isolation! As lorries cross borders, this is an example for something where rules should be decided on a European level. Other things are better done at a global, other at a national level or local level.
Klaas Brumann
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