A longer, more aerodynamic cab with better vision for lorry drivers could save the lives of hundreds of cyclists and pedestrians, according to a new study.
The proposed new cab, 80cm longer with a rounded nose, smaller dashboard, expanded glazed areas, and a slightly lower driver position, could drastically reduce blind spots around the lorry, researchers said.
The 'Direct Vision' lorry concept would increase the driver's field of view in front and to the sides of the lorry by 50 per cent compared to today's lorry designs and could save the lives of cyclists and pedestrians, they said.
"Blind Spots can be a significant factor in fatal accidents. The study shows that the size of these blind spots can be minimised through improved cab design, the reduction of cab height and the addition of extra windows," said Dr Steve Summerskill, from the Loughborough University's Design School.
"Our work is being used to demonstrate that improvements to vehicle aerodynamics must go hand in hand with improvements that allow heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers to have improved vision of vulnerable road users around the vehicle," said Summerskill, project lead of the 'Direct Vision' concept.
Today's cab design forces the driver to sit on top of the engine in such a high position that much of what happens around the cab is invisible to them - the so-called fatal blind spots, researchers said.
According to the European Transport Safety Council, lorries are involved in around 4,200 fatal accidents in Europe every year. Many of these fatalities, almost 1,000, are vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians.
In countries with high rates of cycling, lorries are often the single biggest threat to cyclists. In Belgium, 43 per cent of cycling fatalities involve lorries, in Holland 38 per cent and in the UK 33 per cent, researchers said.
The study analysed 704 accidents involving HGVs and found that 31 per cent of road fatalities were caused by drivers pulling away, 19 per cent were caused by left turns, seven per cent by right turns, and 25 per cent from drivers reversing.
Surprisingly, vehicles changing lanes were responsible for half of all accidents, but no fatalities.
The analysis indicates that 'critical blind spots' in current models cannot be compensated for by the use of a lorry driver's mirrors, because of the time lapse between checking them, making observations through the window, and then pulling away from a junction.
