Five hundred lives could be saved every year if lorry manufacturers change the shape of the driver’s cab and improve the field of vision for those behind the wheel, the European Commission has said.

Proposals to update rules governing the design of heavy goods vehicles were proposed by the Commission on Monday. It said that the current ‘brick shape’ front of a cabin can increase the severity of injury to vulnerable road users in a collision and reduces a driver’s sideways field of vision. A more rounded shape, the Commission says, reduces the risk of serious injury in the event of a low speed collision and increases the field of vision.

"A brick is the least aerodynamic shape you can imagine,” said the Commission’s Vice President Siim Kallas, who is responsible for transport. “These changes will make road transport safer.”

He added that more aerodynamic vehicles would also save €5000 in fuel costs every year for a vehicle covering 100,000km and reduce carbon emissions by between seven and 10%.

The proposal must be adopted by the European Parliament and member states before becoming law. New trucks could be seen on the roads by 2018.

Pedestrian charity Living Streets supported the proposal. Chief executive Tony Armstrong said: “Pedestrians are invisible from the front of an HGV cab when crossing the road, so any design initiatives which might improve visibility are welcome.”

Illustration: European Federation for Transport and Environment 

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