Representatives of EU member states, the European Parliament and the European Commission met last night (11 December) to hammer out an agreement on new legislation that enables, but does not require, manufacturers to make changes to lorry cabs that improve visibility and reduce the impact of crashes on other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

The final agreement, which is still subject to agreement by member state representatives at a meeting on Friday and a vote by the European Parliament, effectively delays the optional changes until 2022 – representing a setback for safety according to the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC).

Antonio Avenoso, executive director of the ETSC, said: ‘These changes could prevent up to 900 deaths a year on European roads, so any delay will cost lives. The idea that these road safety innovations should be subject to a moratorium to enable all manufacturers to compete equally is without precedent. Just imagine how many more lives would have been lost if innovations like seat belts and electronic stability control had been held back from the market for similar reasons.’

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.

New research by TRL estimates that up to 900 lives could be saved annually as a result of the proposed measures.

Meanwhile environmental NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) also criticised the latest delay.

The organisation’s William Todts said: ‘This deal signals the end of dangerous and inefficient brick-shaped trucks. This is good news for hauliers and truck drivers and, above all, for pedestrians and cyclists who’ll be much safer. But the absurd and unprecedented decision to impose a ban on new lorry designs until 2022 casts a dark shadow over the agreement.’ 

William Todts continued: ‘Few other industries would do what the lorry industry has done here: lobby hard to keep a ban on a better product for as long as possible. This is the same industry the Commission recently started investigating for price fixing. Clearly the Commission needs to do much more to inject real competition in this sector. Setting ambitious fuel efficiency standards for trucks like the US has done would be a good start.’