Cyclists and pedestrians urge DfT to back speedy introduction of safety lorry cabs

The transport secretary has been urged to speedily adopt measures to improve lorry cab designs backed by the European Parliament, which would remove blind spots.

Organisations representing cyclists and pedestrians wrote to Patrick McLoughlin after a story in the national press suggesting that two governments are seeking a 10-year delay through the Council of Ministers, which has to approve the proposed directive next month. It was reported that Volvo Trucks and Renault Trucks are concerned at the implementation costs after recently launching new model ranges.

The letter highlights that cabs with drivers positioned high up and surrounded by metal panelling instead of windows makes lorries "lethal" because it is difficult for the drivers to see pedestrians directly in front of them, or cyclists near the front corner of their vehicles.

Liberal Democrats claimed that the measures overwhelmingly backed by MEPs showed the benefits of European Union membership.

Rhia Weston, road safety campaigner, CTC, the national cycling charity, said: "We need the Government to stand up to industry delaying tactics and get safer, greener lorries on our roads as soon as possible."