EU Written Declaration on HGVs - PLEASE SUPPORT

Hello,

I was hoping that LFGSS forum members would again support us in our campaign against HGVs / Lorries.

Would you please take the time to find your MEP here http://www.writetothem.com/ and send them a letter like the one suggested below (as you'll see below they reject letters that are copy pasted - thanks everyone for pointing it out).

It would also be great if you have mates in Europe who would also do the same.

Thanks,

Jo

Dear [MEP's name]

I am writing because I would be very grateful if you would sign
European Parliament Written Declaration 81 on improving road safety
through the elimination of blind spots around lorries (trucks).

Despite accounting for only a small share of traffic on Europe's roads,
Heavy Goods Vehicles are involved in a disproportionately high number of
collisions each year. The problem lies in blind spots to the front and
side that make cyclists and pedestrians invisible to the driver.

Legislation to increase mirrors on vehicles has not solved the problem.
Estimates suggest 2000 cyclists still die on roads in the EU each year,
with Heavy Goods Vehicles involved in a high proportion of those
fatalities.

The solution is to install sensors and cameras on lorries, and advances
in technology mean this is now both practical and affordable. Written
Declaration 81 urges the Commission to give urgent consideration to this
and to the fitting of advanced emergency braking systems and lane
departure warning systems.

Your support for this Declaration will help end unnecessary injuries and
deaths on roads across Europe. I urge you to sign it as soon as
possible. The declaration lapses on February 17th.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

[Constituent's name]

Thanks for making this a sticky.

Not sure if people have seen this: http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2010/11/10/eilidh-is-inspiration-for-life-saving-action-61634-27630253/

Explains it all better than I did...

Done.
writetothem.com is most useful isn't it?

done

done - thanks for bring this to everyones attention.

Also done. Although the website says it will block copied/pasted messages, so I changed it a little.

Edit: Thank you for your email.
Baroness Ludford signed Written Declaration 81 this afternoon.
Please be assured that she will continue to follow this issue.
Office of Baroness Sarah Ludford
Liberal Democrat MEP for London

Cool:

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your email.

Baroness Ludford signed Written Declaration 81 earlier today.

Kind regards,

Laura Kelleher
Political Assistant

Office of Baroness Sarah Ludford
Liberal Democrat MEP for London
36b St Peter's St
N1 8JT

Started by a non London MEP about Cairns death.

This is the declaration started by Fiona Hall 'see me safe me' campaign

http://www.fionahall.org.uk/petitions/

Blind spots on lorries cause hundreds of deaths on EU roads every year.
Fiona Hall's Written Declaration calls for action to eliminate these blind spots.
Sensors and cameras are a practical and affordable solution and would save unnecessary deaths and injuries from occurring on Europe's roads.
We call for all MEPs to sign this Written Declaration (WD 81) and for the European Commission to produce proposals which make mandatory the use of these life-saving technologies in lorries.

This happened when I sent mine... Bugger...

Sorry! Something's gone wrong.

Sorry, we were unable to send your messages for the following reasons:

** Sarah Ludford MEP**: Your message is near-identical with others sent previously read more
** Marina Yannakoudakis MEP**: Your message is near-identical with others sent previously read more
** Gerard Batten MEP**: Your message is near-identical with others sent previously read more
** Charles Tannock MEP**: Your message is near-identical with others sent previously read more
** Jean Lambert MEP**: Your message is near-identical with others sent previously read more
** Syed Kamall MEP**: Your message is near-identical with others sent previously read more
** Mary Honeyball MEP**: Your message is near-identical with others sent previously read more
** Claude Moraes MEP**: Your message is near-identical with others sent previously read more

Read More buttons reveals this...

Your message is near-identical to others sent previously

Please read our stance on this issue to understand why sending identikit "copied and pasted" messages is detrimental to your campaign.
Sorry to be so harsh, but representatives have made it clear that the receipt of such fax "spam" could mean they bin all messages sent via WriteToThem.com.
Which would be A Bad Thing.
You might like to let the person who asked you to do this know that they've potentially sabotaged their own campaign too. Point them to our Guidelines for campaigning.
If you wish to rewrite your message, use the "back" button in your browser and write it in your own, original, words. It's better to send a short message in your own words, than a long, mainly copy-and-pasted message with a few amendments.

All the usuals

-The WriteToThem.com Team

My suggestion - use the first part of the form letter - support for Written Direction 81. And then talk about why you think cycle safety is important, and why Lorries are a big part of that. A couple of sentances on those each will do the job - make it personal!

Also, please alert any friends you have outside the UK on this issue. It is essential that we target MEPS accross Europe - that's the only way that we will get sufficient to sign.

http://bit.ly/cEOo9M

Here is one to modify and post.

Cheers, am on it now....

done!

done.

Response claiming my BNP MEP will consider signing it...

Dear Danielle,
Many thanks for your email on this important subject, this is certainly something that Mr Brons will consider signing.
best wishes,

Chris Beverley
British National Party

We need to get the support of around 356 MEPs... that's half of all of them. Thanks everyone who has done so so far.

I got this back from one of my MEPs:

Dear Mr Jeffcott,
Thank you for your email.
Baroness Ludford signed Written Declaration 81 yesterday.
She will continue to follow the issue.
Kind regards,
Laura Kelleher
Political Assistant
Office of Baroness Sarah Ludford
Liberal Democrat MEP for London
36b St Peter's St
N1 8JT

I got this back from one of my MEPs:

Dear Mr Jeffcott,
Thank you for your email.
Baroness Ludford signed Written Declaration 81 yesterday.
She will continue to follow the issue.
Kind regards,
Laura Kelleher
Political Assistant
Office of Baroness Sarah Ludford
Liberal Democrat MEP for London
36b St Peter's St
N1 8JT

I got the same reply back today too, good old Baroness Ludford...

Sent to Richard Howitt, Stuart Agnew, Vicky Ford, Andrew Duff and David Campbell Bannerman.

And to Marina Yannakoudakis, Gerard Batten, Claude Moraes, Jean Lambert,
Sarah Ludford, Syed Kamall, Charles Tannock and Mary Honeyball.

And to Marina Yannakoudakis, Gerard Batten, Claude Moraes, Jean Lambert,
Sarah Ludford, Syed Kamall, Charles Tannock and Mary Honeyball.

+1, neighbour

+2

sent to: Syed Kamall, Marina Yannakoudakis, Mary Honeyball, Gerard Batten,
Sarah Ludford, Charles Tannock, Claude Moraes and Jean Lambert

(kept it brief and personal - it is a 'yours sincerely' ending after all!)