The draft rules would allow for design flexibility in truck cabins to enable lorry makers to implement fuel-efficient measures such as better aerodynamics, which will make lorries cheaper to run and cut climate-changing emissions. For the first time, Parliament also called for the introduction of fuel efficiency standards for lorries.

Aerodynamic flaps up to 50cm wide would be allowed at the rear of the truck to reduce drag and emissions. To encourage the use of less polluting motors, many of which are heavier and hence less commercially attractive than traditional ones, trucks and buses with low-carbon alternatives could exceed the current maximum weight by up to one tonne, depending on the weight of the alternative system.

The draft rules would also allow trucks for use in combined road-rail or road-ship transport operations to be made 15cm longer, to make it easier to load standard 45-foot containers.

Lorry makers will have the possibility to improve designs straight away but Parliament wants these life-saving features to become mandatory for all new lorries by 2022.

On the controversial issue of “megatrucks”, MEPs rejected the Commission’s proposal to allow the cross-border use of longer lorries. Instead, MEPs demand that the Commission properly assesses the impact of wider megatrucks use and report back to Parliament in 2016.

The changes, which are to be put to a vote by Parliament as a whole on 13th April, have been widely greeted.

William Todts, clean vehicles officer at environmental NGO Transport & Environment (T&E), said: ‘Today is a good day for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, hauliers and the environment. This vote brings the end of the brick-shaped cab closer. It’s a key decision that will reduce road deaths and kick-start progress on lorry CO2 emissions after 20 years of stagnation.’

T&E added that a rounder lorry front along with rear flaps could improve fuel economy by up to 7-10%, which at today’s diesel prices would save hauliers approx. €3,000 per vehicle per year.

Antonio Avenoso, executive director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), also greeted the news: 'Europe is a global leader in vehicle safety. This vote brings us a step closer to bringing innovations on crumple zones, visibility and pedestrian protection to lorries; it’s great news.'     

According to ETSC data, around 4300 people died in collisions involving lorries in 2011. Because of their size and weight, crashes can be catastrophic with a much higher risk of death or serious injury. A study carried out for the European Commission estimates that as many as 500 lives could be saved every year if the cabs were made safer.      

Meanwhile the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) reiterated its support for having additional space for fuel-efficient innovations in trucks, calling for the flexibility to use the extra space for innovations that have the greatest impact on fuel efficiency.

This does not only include aerodynamics – the best trucks on the market today would only gain a 1% fuel-efficiency improvement through aerodynamic cabs, according to the association – but include a number of technological innovations that require more space, such as alternative powertrains, more efficient cooling solutions, fuel tanks for alternative fuels and waste heat recovery.

‘This flexible approach has far more potential to improve the fuel efficiency of the truck of the future,’ said ACEA secretary general, Erik Jonnaert.

With regard to safety, the ACEA said that it is not necessary to re-design the cab to have the best safety outcome.

‘Safety technologies that prevent accidents happening in the first place are the way forward,’ explained Mr Jonnaert. ‘The industry is committed to continuing to build safety technologies into commercial vehicles.’