I have long been concerned about cyclist safety and the dangers of large lorries, ever since three cyclists died in accidents involving lorries in the area I represented as a London borough councillor in the 1990s.

Cyclist safety remains a very serious issue in London, with 14 cyclists killed on the capital's roads in each of 2012 and 2013.

Safer lorry designs would help cut cyclist fatalities, and this is a realistic prospect following a recent vote by members of the European Parliament.

Liberal Democrats in City Hall, as well as in the European Parliament, have pushed for HGV design changes to increase the driver’s field of vision and reduce the blindspots which are often the cause of collisions with pedestrians or cyclists.

The modifications would also reduce the impact of frontal crashes and push cyclists and pedestrians away from the wheels of the lorry in the event of a collision.

For these safety adaptations to come into effect, the support of transport ministers from EU countries is needed.

They will discuss the proposals following the European elections in May.

If you believe these reforms are necessary to make London’s streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians, please join me in writing to the UK transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin, who is currently resisting the proposals.

If the voices of Londoners are heard loud and clear, we could change his mind.

Sarah Ludford,
Liberal Democrat MEP for London.