EU Written Declaration on HGVs - PLEASE SUPPORT

How embarrassing. A Tory has responded to me as follows:

Dear Clive,

Thank you for your email.

I have signed the Written Declaration.

You might also be interested in the parliamentary question that was submitted to the European Commission which I have copied and pasted
below:

10 March 2010
P-1462/10
WRITTEN QUESTION by Fiona Hall (ALDE) to the Commission
Subject: HGV blind spots
In 2005, Directive 2005/27/EC(1) was adopted, amending Directive
2003/97/EC(2) on rear view mirrors and supplementary indirect vision systems for new commercial vehicles. Vehicles of category N2 not exceeding 7.5 tonnes or those with a cabin similar to that of N3 vehicles now have to have Class IV wide-angle mirrors fitted.
Although this has gone some way to reducing the blind spots of these vehicles, there remains an area of no visibility or impaired visibility on the nearside and rear of the vehicle. There continues to be a high number of fatal accidents between HGVs and cyclists in situations that these new mirrors were meant to address. When considering Directive 2005/27/EC the European Commission only did a cost-benefit analysis of blind spot mirrors and did not investigate the effectiveness of other systems which reduce the blind angle. Among the alternatives are the Lexguard system which makes a sound and triggers a flashing light in the cab of the truck if someone is to the front or nearside of the vehicle, or the use of a standard wide angle lens which widens the driver's field of vision.
Given that Directive 2005/27/EC has not completely addressed the problem of blind spots in HGVs, will the Commission come forward with a revision of the legislation and also consider that there may be a fundamental design flaw in HGV cabs?

9 April 2010
P-1462/2010
Answer given by Vice President Tajani on behalf of the Commission Requirements for the installation of mirrors and other devices for indirect vision on new cars, trucks and buses sold on the EU market are currently contained in Directive 2003/97/EC(1) (as amended by 2005/27/EC(2)). Alternatively, vehicles, mirrors or other vision devices may be approved to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regulation 46, which is technically equivalent to the above Directive.
In future, as part of the simplification process introduced by the regulation on the General Safety of Motor Vehicles (EC) 661/2009(3), UNECE Regulation 46 will be the only standard that applies.
Within the working group that is responsible for the development of UNECE Regulation 46, the possibility of improving this regulation with the aim of reducing or eliminating the 'blind spot' that exists on many heavy vehicles, is currently under discussion. It is not the purpose of this group to mandate the use of particular products or technologies.
However, it is envisaged that, based on the results of available research on driver visibility, it should be possible to extend the area around the vehicle which must be visible to the driver, either through the use of additional mirrors or by means of other devices such as camera/monitor systems. Once agreement has been reached on a revised version of Regulation 46, it will be incorporated into EU type approval legislation, subject to the agreement of suitable lead times to allow manufacturers the opportunity to adapt their designs.
With regard to the design of the driver's cab itself, it is possible that improvements could be made to the visibility available from the driver's seating position by, for example, increasing the glass area.
However, any such increase in visibility needs to be balanced against the risk of reducing the protection offered by the cab structure in the event of an accident.

I hope this is helpful.

Regards,

Syed

SYED KAMALL
Conservative MEP for London