Dublin City Council backs plan for stricter safer measure for Heavy Goods Vehicles
Dublin City Council has backed a motion calling for stricter safety measures for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) to improve visibility and ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.
In light of the tragic death of Johnny Santos , a 27-year-old Brazilian man who died in a collision with a cement truck at Abbey Street earlier this month, Green Party Councillor Ray Cunningham tabled an emergency motion at Monday’s monthly council meeting. The motion called for the phased introduction of a ‘Direct Vision Standard’ for HGVs to apply for Dublin city permits from 2027 onwards.
Cllr Cunningham said they could implement a star system similar to transport in London which rates how easy it is for drivers to see their surroundings. Under the plan, vehicles would require a one-star rating from 2027, two stars in 2028, three stars in 2029, four stars in 2030, and five stars from 2031 onwards.
With this, Cllr Cunningham said they can make Dublin city safer for pedestrians and cyclists overnight and avoid future fatalities. “The death last month of Johnny Santos reminds us how vulnerable cyclists are , and how great a risk is posed - to cyclists and pedestrians - by Heavy Goods Vehicles,” he said.
As this system is based on the design of vehicles “it’s easy to implement,” as all “you just put in make, model, year of production and that tells you what the rating is.” “Other cities require HGVs to meet design standards ensuring that drivers can see people outside the cab. Dublin does not, and it puts people at risk every day,” Cllr Cunningham said.
“Passing this motion today gives notice to hauliers that these standards are being introduced. It means that, as they replace their fleet, they will choose vehicles that are safer for the people around them. The sooner this motion is passed, the sooner we will see improvements in the design of the HGV’s on Dublin streets.”
The motion was seconded by Green Party Cllr Janet Horner who said the local authority should utilise the power they have to improve safety standards of HGVs within the city, which will in turn lead to better safety standards across all of Dublin and the entire country. With a personal connection to the issue, she highlighted just how flawed the current standards are.
“A few years ago a friend of mine was knocked down on the quays by a HGV who has no sight. When it went to the courts, the driver was found not to be at fault because the driver could not see her on a bicycle immediately within the turning zone of that HGV,” she said.
“She suffered lifelong injuries as a result and will never be able to fully walk without pain again and for the driver there’s no culpability. The culpability is in the design, and unless we design out that flaw other people will lose not just their lives but also they will suffer lifelong consequences as a result.
"It is urgent that we deal with it and I hope that this week when we see someone losing their lives in the streets we will not be found wanting when it comes to the opportunity to improve safety for everybody."
Executive Manager for Traffic Brendan O'Brien said the ethos of the motion is welcome and that Dublin City Council wish to make sure “the trucks using our city are as safe as possible.” But he explained that the permits issued by the council relate to five axle HGVs operating between 7am and 7pm.
This means many HGVs would not be taken into account under the proposed system, although EU legislation requiring blind spot detection is another mechanism through which safety standards could be improved. Cllr Cunningham's motion was passed and the topic is to be brought to the Mobility and Public Realm SPC for further discussion. Lord Mayor Ray McAdam also agreed to write to the Minister for Transport regarding this issue.
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