The new legislation, on the dimensions of trucks in Europe, will force manufactures to improve windows and mirrors to heighten cyclists’ visibility – which in turn could save hundreds of lives in London and across Europe. In 2013 nine of 16 fatalities on London’s roads involved lorries.

MEPs also voted to improve the efficiency of trucks and lorries, and vitally, voted to hold back measures which could pave the way for 25-meter long ‘mega-trucks’ to hit European roads.
Jean Lambert, London’s Green Party MEP, said:
“MEPs have voted today to introduce EU measures which will make cyclists more visible to lorry drivers. These improvements will reduce the number of accidents which sadly occur on our roads.

“In the UK alone, thousands of cyclists are seriously injured on our roads each year. I’m therefore delighted that measures which will improve visibility for lorry drivers have been supported. As a Green MEP, I believe we must do all we can to make our streets safer and cleaner, and this can begin by making roads safer for cyclists.

“I really welcome this vote today: We need to upgrade the cab design of lorries in order to keep vulnerable road users safe. We have seen too many deaths and serious injuries to cyclists on our roads and of the 16 fatalities in London last year, over half involved lorries. Changes such better visibility from the cab, and better wing mirrors will help responsible drivers avoid tragedy.”

The new regulations are expected to come into force in 2016.

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In a statement to mark Road Safety Week Ms Lambert said speed limits should be reduced wherever people live, to reduce injuries and fatalities, traffic noise, air pollution – and CO2 emissions.

“The number of people dying on British roads is on the increase,” she said.

“More than 1,900 people were killed in 2011, three per cent more than in 2010 – and the biggest increases were among children and those aged over 60.

“Many of these lives would have been saved if the vehicles involved had been travelling more slowly.”

A reduction in speed limits would also improve the capital’s air quality, she said – saving yet more lives.

“More than 4,000 people a year die from the effects of poor air quality in London alone – that’s a shocking figure that, in itself, should be enough to persuade town halls across the capital to be adopting stricter measures to reduce motorists’ speed.”

A citizens’ proposal will see MEPs vote on a proposal to reduce all speed limits in residential areas to 20 MPH if more than a million people from at least seven EU nations – about 55,000 from the UK – join a so-called ‘European Citizens’ Initiative‘ backing the reduction between now and September 2013.

You can sign the petition here: http://en.30kmh.eu/

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