Roads: Accidents

Transport written question – answered at on 11 May 2011.

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Photo of Anna Soubry Anna Soubry Conservative, Broxtowe

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce the number of road deaths and injuries attributable to vehicle blind spots.

Photo of Mike Penning Mike Penning The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport

European legislation came into effect in January 2007 requiring all new goods vehicles above 3.5 tonnes gross mass to be fitted with an enhanced “wide-angle” mirror on both sides and an enhanced “close proximity” mirror on the passenger side of the cab. For new vehicles over 7.5 tonnes gross mass a “front” mirror above the windscreen is also required. Vehicles where the “close proximity” and “front” mirrors cannot be fitted over 2 metres from the ground are exempt.

Further European legislation came into effect in March 2009 that requires existing goods vehicles above 3.5 tonnes gross mass first registered from January 2000, to be retro-fitted with improved mirrors on the passenger side, to provide a similar field of view to that required for new vehicles. This measure applies to all member states of the EU.

The Department for Transport is completing research investigating whether more could be done to reduce vehicle blind spots. This may lead to further requirements for new vehicles in the future.

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