‘Improve HGV design and save lives’

A leading road safety organisation has called for improvements in the design of large trucks to reduce the risk to car occupants and vulnerable road users.

The European Transport Safety Council made the appeal as research shows there is a very high number of collisions between heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and cyclists and pedestrians, particularly with older people.

The council — of which Ireland’s Road Safety Authority is a member — has called for the improved design of the front end of HGVs as a new EU directive is under consideration which will set maximum permitted weights and dimensions for such vehicles.

In Ireland, 21 deaths and 14 serious injuries between 1996 and 2008 can be attributed to the inability of a HGV driver to see the victims as they passed in front of the vehicle’s blind spots.

New regulations were introduced in Jun 2011 which require all HGVs above 7.5 tonnes to be fitted with special mirrors to cover blind-spots.

It is estimated the legislation will prevent two deaths and one serious injury each year.