New analysis of HGV related road collisions
According to a new report by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), 25% of all road deaths in the European Union are the consequence of a collision involving a goods vehicle.
In their analysis, the ETSC found that in total 3,310 people lost their lives in police-reported road collisions which involved a HGV of 3.5 tonnes or more across the EU, with a further 2,630 people killed in collisions involving LGV under 3.5 tonnes.
The report has now been running for nine years, and although the number of deaths in collisions with HGVs has reduced, it is at a slower rate than those in collisions with non-goods vehicles - an average annual reduction of 1.8% compared to 2.8% for non goods vehicles.
In order to try and improve this, last year the EU agreed to increase the minimum safety standards for new lorries from 2026. They are introducing larger window screens, transparent door panels and pedestrian/cycle detection systems to enable drivers to see other road users more easily.
The executive director at the ETSC said “In the last few weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic we have seen cities across Europe rapidly adapting road infrastructure to meet increased demand for cycling and walking. This shows how simple it is to introduce life-saving measures and how important political will is to making change happen quickly. Road deaths kill a million people globally every year. This new public health crisis brings with it an opportunity to remake our transport system in a way that boosts health, reduces injury and frees up much-needed capacity in our health systems for the long term.”
Whilst the detailed specifications for HGV standard are still being worked out, the ETCS has recommended that as a short-term solution, local authorities should follow London in allowing lorries access to city centres based on a level of safety. As well as this, they are calling for road infrastructure that better protects vulnerable road users from interaction with goods vehicles - such as separated cycle lanes.
There is also the mention of the ETSC recommending measures to increase safety in goods transport with regards to inappropriate speed, drink driving, fatigue, sitraction and failure to wear a seatbelt. The recommendations cover EU institutions, EU member states, other European governments as well as local authorities.
