EACH year there are over 1,000 incidents of sideswiping', when left-hand drive foreign lorries, with blind spots on their right-hand passenger side, move lane on motorways and fail to see another vehicle in the lane they are entering.

Car drivers in particular are urged to be alert to the possibility of foreign lorries making such manoeuvres.

This warning comes from the Freight Transport Association, which says the number of foreign vehicles on our roads has risen substantially in recent years and one in seven of the heaviest vehicles in the UK at any time is now a left-hand drive foreign vehicle - around 14,000 vehicles every day.

The association has been concerned at the operating standards of many foreign lorries and UK enforcement agencies have found increasing numbers carrying roadworthiness faults, being overloaded and with drivers exceeding their allowable hours at the wheel.

Geoff Dossetter, FTA's Director of External Affairs, said: "In general lorries have a good safety record and are involved in far fewer accidents than cars on a mile for mile basis.

"However, the handling characteristics and the speeds of acceleration and braking are, of course, different to cars.

"As such car drivers should always take care to allow plenty of space when in the vicinity of heavy lorries, and to be alert to their special needs, particularly at junctions and roundabouts.

"On motorways there are special problems involving foreign vehicles and the driver's visibility on his right hand side - the side where, in the UK, he will be overtaken by a car.

"Blind spots in this visibility often mean that when such a vehicle moves across the road from the inside lane, he fails to see another vehicle in the second, or middle, lane and the result is a sideways collision - sideswiping.

"The message for car drivers must be to take special care when close by a foreign lorry and, after checking their own mirrors, be prepared to accelerate, decelerate or change lane quickly and safely if the need arises."

Derek Turner, Highways Agency Director of Traffic Operations, said: "When left-hand drive HGVs change lanes on our roads the risk of sideswiping an overtaking vehicle is increased due to a passenger side blindspot.

"To try and reduce the number of these incidents on our roads we worked with VOSA on a trial of fresnel lenses, which are placed on the passenger side window of the HGV to give the driver a greater view of overtaking vehicles."