More than a year after revised safety rules for heavy goods vehicles came into force, experts say the changes are already making roads safer for people most at risk. The amendment to international HGV standards, achieved with support from The Road Safety Trust, strengthens requirements around what drivers must be able to see directly through their cab windows – a feature known as direct vision.
Direct vision plays a crucial role in preventing collisions involving lorries and vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians. Researchers at Loughborough University, backed by Trust funding, identified weaknesses in the original 2022 regulation, warning that manufacturers could increase the apparent visibility from the cab without making a meaningful improvement to real-world safety. A series of detailed studies was carried out to examine alternative ways of measuring what drivers can see and to assess how well each method protected people in front of the vehicle.
Their findings led to a stronger framework that was submitted as an amendment to UNECE Regulation 167. The updated version introduces a two-part assessment, requiring vehicles to meet both broad visibility standards and more stringent requirements in the high-risk areas immediately ahead of the cab. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe approved the amendment in 2024, helping to ensure the regulation continues to deliver genuine safety benefits.
With Road Safety Week 2025 approaching, Loughborough’s Dr Steve Summerskill reflected on how the project has sparked international interest. Since the amendment was adopted, he has been working with global partners to adapt similar standards for other regions, including a new collaboration with Canadian and Australian authorities to tailor the regulation for North American HGVs. Dr Summerskill praised The Road Safety Trust for its support, noting that the partnership has helped elevate the research to a global level.
