Written question asked by Helen Southworth (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 November 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 November 2002. It was answered by David Jamieson (Labour) on Thursday, 7 November 2002 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will commission research on safety aspects of the use of left-hand drive heavy goods vehicles on motorways, with particular reference to resolving problems resulting from their blind spots.

Answer: Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will commission research on safety aspects of the use of left-hand drive heavy goods vehicles on motorways, with particular reference to resolving problems resulting from their blind spots. [80209] Mr. Jamieson: UK research into heavy goods vehicle visibility was used in preparing an amendment to the EU Directive on Rear View Mirrors. This will require new heavy goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes registered within the EU to be fitted with a ``close proximity'' blind spot mirror on the passenger side. We believe that this will go a long way towards addressing safety concerns over blind spots with left-hand-drive HGVs operating on UK roads.

Secondary information