Press Release

Direct vision trucks must hit the road well before 2028, NGO says

December 19, 2016

The European Commission has outlined its plans for new car and truck safety rules. Under the Commission's plans new cars would be fitted with intelligent speed assistance and emergency braking systems. For trucks, the Commission plans to introduce the world's first-ever direct vision standard to tackle truck blind spots. The new rules will be proposed as legislation in the summer of 2017 and would apply to all vehicles sold in the European Union. T&E welcomes the Commission's plans but warns that direct vision trucks must hit the road well before 2028.

T&E clean freight director William Todts said: “Truck blind spot accidents are killing hundreds of cyclists and pedestrians every year. This is an entirely avoidable tragedy and direct vision trucks, like the Mercedes Econic, are the solution. So it’s great news that the Commission is going to mandate direct vision trucks, but safer trucks are needed now, not in a decade. The 2028 deadline is unacceptable and we expect the Commission to improve the proposal before they issue it next year.”

A recent study by the Danish road safety research institute suggests the majority of truck blind spot accidents, involving cyclists could be prevented with better direct vision. Transport for London has recently decided to ban trucks with very poor vision from the city.