Letter

Joint declaration: Safer, cleaner lorries, now

January 28, 2014

This joint declaration was presented by Transport & Environment, the Mayor of London, the European Transport Workers’ Federation, Olympic cycling gold medallist Chris Boardman and other key organisations, calling on the European Parliament to take urgent action against dangerous lorry designs which lead to hundreds of avoidable deaths every year. The declaration was presented to Phil Bennion MEP, one of the leading MEPs on the lorry weights and dimensions file.

Advanced new lorry cab designs, with rounded noses and all-round visibility, allow drivers to see and safely avoid cyclists and pedestrians. They would also be more aerodynamic  – saving fuel and reducing emissions. However, these improvements are currently blocked by EU regulations on the dimensions of lorries. In February 2014, the Transport Committee of the European Parliament will vote on proposals to change the rules. Currently, however, the changes are not ambitious enough, as they do not require safety improvements for all lorries.

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