European Parliament backs rules revision to promote safer lorries

The European Parliament has voted to support revised rules on the dimensions of heavy goods vehicles aimed at enabling manufacturers to produce safer lorries. The legislation will, it is claimed, create cabs with improved visibility, reducing the risk of accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists in urban areas. Antonio Avenoso, executive director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), said, “This legislation is a step forward because it will enable innovative new designs that include crumple
April 23, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
The European Parliament has voted to support revised rules on the dimensions of heavy goods vehicles aimed at enabling manufacturers to produce safer lorries.

The legislation will, it is claimed, create cabs with improved visibility, reducing the risk of accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists in urban areas.

Antonio Avenoso, executive director of the 1197 European Transport Safety Council (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.”

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 2465 European Commission estimates that as many as 500 lives could be saved every year if the cabs were made safer.

The Parliament also agreed today 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.

The proposed rules now need to be agreed with EU member states.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • The European Parliament votes to accept Pan-European enforcement
    February 11, 2015
    In a landmark move, the European parliament has voted to approve Pan-European enforcement of traffic laws. This will allow police forces across Europe to share information on foreign motorists who break road traffic rules. No longer will offenders be able to dodge fines and other penalties for driving offences while committed abroad. The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) and TISPOL – the European Traffic Police Network have both welcomed this move Non-resident drivers account for approximately 5% of
    Read More
  • Pan-European enforcement agreement on the way
    December 11, 2014
    The prospect of a full Pan-European agreement on enforcement has now moved one step closer. An informal political agreement has now been reached on revised rules to enable cross-border enforcement of traffic offences such as speeding fines. A European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling in May said that the existing rules, which only came into force in November last year, had been adopted on an incorrect legal basis. That decision led the European Commission to publish a revised legal proposal in July, but the EC
    Read More
  • Pan-European enforcement agreement on the way
    December 11, 2014
    The prospect of a full Pan-European agreement on enforcement has now moved one step closer. An informal political agreement has now been reached on revised rules to enable cross-border enforcement of traffic offences such as speeding fines. A European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling in May said that the existing rules, which only came into force in November last year, had been adopted on an incorrect legal basis. That decision led the European Commission to publish a revised legal proposal in July, but the EC
    Read More
  • Better road safety reduces Europe’s casualty figures
    October 2, 2014
    Improving road safety in the EU has resulted in a drop in the fatality rate. Official figures just released show that the number of people killed on Europe's roads fell by 8% in 2013. This follows on from the drop in fatalities of between 2011 and 2012 and Europe is on track to halve road deaths in the 2010-2020 period Figures released by the European Commission provide grounds for optimism and Antonio Avenoso, executive director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) said, “We welcome the reductio
    Read More

Highlighted Content