An Taisce, The National Trust for Ireland, has asked Minister Varadkar to support ‘curved cabs’ for new lorries.

The move by Ireland’s National Trust move comes in the wake of a vote in the European Parliament on Tuesday giving the green light to a design change for lorry cabs that promises to save hundreds of lives and reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

“The vote marks the beginning of the end for Europe’s brick-shaped lorry cabs, which are dangerous and inefficient”, said James Nix, policy director with An Taisce.

Following the vote, An Taisce has written to Minister Varadkar asking him to support the campaign for safer lorries. “As well as saving lives, curving the cab of trucks will cut diesel consumption – reducing fuel bills and emissions”, said Mr Nix.

The vote in the European Parliament vote – if endorsed by Member States – will grant lorry-makers more design space for the front end of the cab.

The extra space is to allow the front of the cab to be ‘rounded’ or ‘curved’, making it safer and more aerodynamic. The extra space also must be used to eliminate blind spots, add a crumple zone, and to make sure pedestrians and cyclists are not knocked underneath the wheels in a collision.

Lorry-makers will have the possibility to improve designs straight away and Parliament wants these life-saving features to become mandatory for all new lorries by 2022.

Lorries currently have a dreadful safety record: every year 15% of all fatal collisions in Europe – around 4,200 deaths – involve lorries.