10,000 lorries are given mirrors to save cyclists' lives

It is a victory for the Evening Standard which demanded the mirrors in its Safer Cycling campaign.

Transport for London will this week hand out the devices, at a cost of around £40,000, to HGV drivers operating in the capital. The "Fresnel lenses" help drivers spot cyclists in their "blind spot", especially when turning left.

TfL says the campaign will tackle the biggest cause of cycle fatalities in the capital. More than half of all cycle deaths on London roads follow collisions with goods vehicles.

Jenny Jones, the Mayor's Road Safety Ambassador, said: "This is one of those simple ideas which will make a huge difference to Londoners' lives. It is a relatively cheap way for lorry drivers to avoid stress for themselves and death and injury to others. All lorries in London should have these lenses and all drivers should be reminded regularly to use them."

David Brown, Managing Director of Surface TfL, said: "Our new cycle safety campaign is designed to give both cyclists and goods vehicles drivers the tools they need to be safe and be seen on London's roads."

The decision to give away the lenses - costing £4 each - was welcomed by the London Cycling Campaign and the Freight Transport Association.

LCC spokesman Charlie Lloyd said: "We urge all freight operators in London to use these lenses which will help drivers see cyclists on their left side and remind them of their responsibility to ensure the safety of all vulnerable road users. The next step is for the Department for Transport to expedite fitting of EU standard safety mirrors on all large lorries in the UK."

To get the safety message home, TfL is launching a TV ad highlighting the dangers that trucks pose to cyclists.

It is also handing bicycle riders windup bicycle lights to make them more visible, while promoting free or subsidised adult cycle training.

Mayor Ken Livingstone said: "Cycling in London is getting much safer but one issue that has been very difficult to address until now is the fact more than half of cyclist fatalities on the capital's roads involve a collision with a goods vehicle. These safety lenses are a simple measure that will help drivers to see cyclists."

The Evening Standard demanded cycle safety mirrors in trucks in its 12-point charter calling for better safety and security for the capital's cyclists. The campaign was launched in April last year.

According to TfL, one cyclist is killed or seriously injured on the capital's roads each day.