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Boris Johnson today accused the Government of blocking his campaign to persuade the European Union to help save the lives of cyclists by making lorries safer.

He spoke out as City Hall cycling commissioner Andrew Gilligan joined forces in Brussels with counterparts from Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Madrid to push for continent-wide changes to regulations for HGVs.

Road safety campaigners, environmental groups and former Olympic cycling champion Chris Boardman were also there lobbying MEPs who will vote on the issue on February 11.

They argue that new lorries should have safer cabs with improved sightlines for drivers, reduced blind spots and sloping fronts to lessen any damage caused to cyclists and pedestrians.

But the Mayor has accused ministers of briefing MEPs that it would oppose mandatory requirements as they might harm British manufacturing interests. He said: “If these amendments, supported by dozens of cities across Europe, can succeed, we can save literally hundreds of lives across the EU in years to come. I am deeply concerned at the position of the British Government and urge them to embrace this vital issue.”

Boardman, said: “It would be criminal for us to know how to save lives and then choose not to take action.”

The European Parliament vote is thought to be finely balanced and if the new rules are approved they must be considered by the Council of Ministers, representing EU national governments, with a deal unlikely before next year.

Experts claim the cab redesign would prevent 1,000 deaths a year in Europe. Manufacturers Skania and MAN favour the new cabs, but Daimler, the largest such firm, is opposed as it wants to recoup the costs of its new fleet.

However, the proposal to make regulations compulsory is now tangled up in other measures to standardise lorry sizes. Siim Kallas, the European Commission’s transport commissioner, said some environmental groups and Austria were blocking the new design as they feared the legislation was being used to bring in longer lorries.

A briefing for the department of trade and industry said there was no impact assessment to support a new, mandatory cab profile.