Written question asked by Lord Pickles (Conservative) on Wednesday, 2 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 November 2005. It was answered by Stephen Ladyman (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 November 2005 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Left-hand Drive HGVs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce regulations to ensure that left-hand drive heavy goods vehicles have sufficient side mirrors to alleviate blind spots in relation to vehicles passing on the right.

Answer: International obligations do not allow us to require, unilaterally, levels of equipment that exceed the requirements of agreed international standards. However, we have agreed, with European partners, a directive that will require large goods vehicles to be fitted with additional mirrors that provide a wider angle of vision along both sides of the vehicle and also a better downward view of the traffic adjacent to the side of the vehicle. This directive will apply to newly registered vehicles within the European Community and will start to take effect from January 2007.

Secondary information