HGVs involved in 39% of cyclist deaths
Published: 12:13PM BST 15 Jul 2010
HGVs, and in particular construction vehicles, are involved in 39% of cycling fatalities, and of 13 cyclist deaths in London in 2009, nine involved HGVs.
With the launch of London's cycle hire scheme this month, Mayor of London Boris Johnson will be encouraging thousands of inexperienced cyclists to use cycle superhighways and some of the main lorry routes through the capital.
RoadPeace, the London Cycling Campaign and national cyclists' organisation CTC have been working together to address the risk posed by lorries to cyclists and pedestrians. See Me Save Me is campaigning to stop HGVs killing cyclists by restricting HGVs in city centres, and the Mayor has been urged to ban lorries from key commuting routes into the city during peak times.
Lorry design means the driver is often unable to see cyclists and pedestrians nearby, and in fact they operate with known and 'accepted' blind spots. The danger of blind sports is even greater with left-hand drive HGVs operated by overseas drivers, a danger made greater by a lack of knowledge of UK driving law and practices.
Transport for London's Cycle Safety Action Plan has been set up to ensure the growth of cycling in London is accompanied by reduced cycling casualties.
TfL has made it a priority to develop a marketing campaign targeted at improving safety between HGVs and cyclists, and includes working with freight/HGV target groups to reinforce the message around safety and looking out for cyclists.
The poster TfL have launched has been criticised because it does not include a cycle lane – many think cycle lanes can actually cause more cycle accidents claims by encouraging cyclists to be on the left of vehicles. However, the message is very clear.
Other initiatives to help make cycling in London safe include the installation of roadside safety mirrors – Trixi mirrors – around key junctions. These have a dual purpose: allowing HGV drivers to see more of other road users around them, including cyclists stopped next to their vehicle, and reminding drivers to check their mirrors frequently.
Improving visibility for drivers by standardising vehicle technology for new goods vehicles has already been identified as a way in which cyclist safety can be improved. New, heavy duty vehicles of more than 3.5 tons have had to be equipped with blind spot mirrors from January 2007 under a 2003 EU Directive. The second EU directive on close-proximity and wide-angle mirrors came into force on 31 March 2009. This required all such vehicles first registered after 1 January 2000 to be fitted with compliant blind-spot mirrors or cameras.
Warning sounds are being installed in some HGVs that operate around London. These work when an HGV is turning left, so cyclists know to use extra caution and not to try to undertake. However, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) does not support the mandatory fitting of this equipment, arguing that education of drivers and cyclists is the best way to reduce fatalities.
Along with the FTA, TfL will be working with freight operators to alter delivery times to avoid peak traffic times, to fit appropriate safety devices, and to disseminate appropriate cyclist awareness information to HGV drivers.
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