MPs to discuss lorry 'safety mirror' plan

All new lorries would have to be fitted with safety mirrors under proposals to be debated in the Commons today to cut the numbers of cyclists killed on Britain's roads. MPs of all parties are backing the plans, which follow The Independent's "save our cyclists" campaign which was launched last month.

They are being championed by the former Liberal Democrat deputy leader Sir Alan Beith, after the death of a woman, Eilidh Cairns, from his constituency in a cycling accident.

The aim of fitting extra mirrors to heavy goods vehicles is to eliminate the blind spots in areas immediately below and to the side of a driver's cab. Lorries account for a high proportion of the 2,800 deaths and serious injuries to cyclists in Britain each year. Sir Alan will argue that fitting mirrors to large trucks at the cost of around £600 on top of the typical £85,000 expense of a new heavy goods vehicle is a small price to pay for the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.

He will also argue that hauliers should also be encouraged to fit mirrors to their existing fleets.