Legal News

A European Parliament vote on Tuesday (15/04/14) could see HGVs and lorries redesigned with more rounded cabs and larger windscreens and side windows to help improve road safety.

The new-design lorries would have reduced aerodynamic drag, which would improve fuel consumption and reduce harmful emissions, making the vehicles greener.

There would also be a crash management system at the front of the cab to reduce the risk of injuries to other road users in the event of collision.

Improving the design of lorries has been the subject campaigns to help reduce the number of cyclists seriously injured or killed in road traffic accidents with lorries.

Reducing blind spots on lorries and installing a crumple zone are some of the measures cycling campaigners have been calling for.

A report on the issues was commissioned by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Transport & Environment. The report “Smarter, Safer, Cleaner: How Small Changes to Lorry Design Can Make a Big Difference” by the automative research institute FKA examined how the traditional “brick” shaped lorry could be adapted to improve road safety and cut injuries in collisions.

The reports states:

“This blunt (brick-like) shape of the cab unit has numerous disadvantages. It limits the scope to improve aerodynamic performance, which result in high fuel consumption and, as a consequence, in high emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants from lorries.

“It also limits the driver’s field of direct vision, thus increasing the likelihood of accidents (so-called ‘active safety’ problem).

“In addition, the engine is directly behind the front bumper, without any crumple zone or crash box to absorb collision impacts and to diminish damage to the driver if an accident occurs (the so-called ‘passive safety’ problem).”

The policy recommendations made in the report include a key recommendation to allow an additional 80cm in extra cabin length, which the report says would “yield optimal benefits in terms of environment and safety”.

The reports adds:

“EU legislation should introduce requirements for aerodynamic frontal geometry, energy absorption performance criteria (requiring a crash management system/crumple zone) and strict requirements for direct and indirect vision in order to minimise blind spots.”

The report also suggests introducing a speed limit for lorries of 80kmh across EU member states – and increasing fuel economy labelling to build on fuel efficiency achievements in lorries over the last 15 years. The measures to improve the design of lorries will now be debated among EU member states and could become law by 2022.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors for Road Traffic Accidents

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of personal injury solicitors and can advise road users on how to make a no win no fee compensation claim for injuries sustained in a road traffic accident (RTA) as a result of another motorist’s or party’s negligence.

Personal injury claimants usually have three years from the date of injury to make a claim – and children have three years from the age of 18 to claim.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee compensation claims for Road Traffic Accidents, contact Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.