Call for companies to sign up to truck visibility code

Road safety charity, Brake, has called on companies with trucks in their fleets to sign its REFLECT voluntary code of practice on the fitting of retro-reflective markings.

John Leech MP has also called for fleets to sign the code, in a Parliamentary Early Day Motion.

Ellen Booth, Brake’s Campaigns Officer, said:

“The case for freight companies to install retro-reflective markings on all HGVs to increase visibility and improve road safety is undeniably strong. The Government has postponed making retro-reflective markings mandatory for all newly registered HGVs until July 2011. However, the safety merits of these markings are clear and there is nothing to stop companies operating trucks voluntarily fitting these markings now.”

Brake says that fitting retro-reflective markings along the side and rear of Heavy Goods Vehicles has been proven to be an effective means of reducing the disproportionately high number of fatal accidents in which HGVs are involved. The most recent road casualties statistics from the Department for Transport show, in 2008, 368 fatalities occurred from accidents involving HGVs. This equates to 15% of all fatal casualties in the UK. However, Goods Vehicles account for just 1.5% of registered vehicles and 5.6% of UK road traffic.

The Government originally indicated that these markings would become mandatory for all newly registered HGVs from October 2009, but in the current economic climate it was decided to postpone making this mandatory until July 2011.