Lorries account for a disproportionately high number of deaths and serious injuries for cyclists and pedestrians

The introduction of life-saving new lorry designs has been banned until 2022, in a move that safety campaigners say will cost hundreds of lives.

Lorries account for a disproportionately high number of deaths and serious injuries for cyclists and pedestrians, due in part to the design of driver cabs with large blind spots and no crumple zones or safety bumpers.

New EU legislation had proposed relaxing length restrictions on lorries, on condition that manufacturers design cabs with rounded fronts, larger windows and improved protection to ensure cyclists and pedestrians are not dragged under the wheels.

Under pressure from Volvo and Renault, who have already started rolling out their new truck models for the next decade, the Swedish and French governments pushed for a ten-year delay