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Lessons for cyclists on lorry danger
Rob Singh, Crime Reporter13 Nov 2007
Cyclists are being shown first hand how riding alongside lorries is a potential killer.
This week police are at Horse Guards Parade to emphasise to cyclists how important it is to keep a safe distance between themselves and commercial vehicles.
By demonstrating how blind lorry drivers can be to a cyclist's presence, officers hope to reduce accidents.
Police are increasingly concerned following a number of deaths of cyclists in recent years, many involving heavy goods vehicles.
Met statistics show that 53 per cent of all cycle accidents happen during the rush hour. This year alone 13 cyclists have died in road collisions, with six involving heavy goods vehicles. Last year nine cyclists died in accidents involving HGVs.
Four lorries and a trailer unit will be available in Horse Guards Parade from 8.30am until 6.30pm each day.
Participants will be invited to position themselves at the nearside of the lorry, before swapping places and seeing from inside the cab how limited the driver's vision is.
Chief Inspector Mark Bird, from the Met's Traffic Unit said: "In 2007, 13 cyclists have been killed to date, six through collisions of this kind with commercial vehicles.
"Whilst this particular event focuses on educating the cyclist, it is essential that all road users take responsibility and use the roads safely and within the law.
"We work very closely with lorry drivers, companies and representative groups to ensure that all parties are equally aware and respectful of other road users.
"With its healthy living and environmental benefits, cycling is becoming an increasingly popular way to get around.
"However, it is essential that cyclists both new and experienced regularly reflect on how they can remain safe.
"I would urge people to come and see first hand just how invisible they can be to these large vehicles."
The Evening Standard has campaigned for better conditions for cyclists with the Safer Cycling campaign.
Transport for London says there has been a dramatic rise in the number of people cycling - an 83 per cent increase on London's major roads since 2000.
Nick Morris, Director of Road Network Performance at TfL said: "The Mayor and TfL have worked hard to tackle the issue of collisions between cyclists and goods vehicles, which are small in number but responsible for a significant proportion of fatal accidents involving cyclists."
Reader views (14)
Get some adult cycle training! You wouldn't go out on the road in a car without driving lessons! All cyclists could benefit from realising where on the road to cycle and where to wait at junctions etc. Not by the kerb.. Stay visible and cycle in a straight as possible line. Look behind often, signal if necessary and don't bother if no-one is around to see your signal. do not go inside lorries or buses ever. Take the lane when it's in your interests to do so and ride as if you had equal rights as motorists, because you do.
- Veronica Pollard, Bristol, England, 25/01/2008 15:54
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Did anyone try this 'lorry handling' lesson? I went there after work, around 5.30pm and there was not one soul around never mind big lorries....
- Aneczka, London, 14/11/2007 19:53
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I agree totally with Aneczka. Everyone is at fault in some way or another. Last night in the short distance between Victoria and Trafalgar Square. Two bendy busses, 10 cylists and a gaggle of pedestrians all crossed lights at red. In fact I find pedestrians are the worst - they seem to think if they walk out in front of a cyclist they will stop instantly. I could not avoid hitting one last year - he was OK but I dislocated my shoulder!
- Patrick Griffin, Dalston, 14/11/2007 12:06
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I cycle to work everyday across London and obey all the lights and road rules. I am also a driver and pedestrian and I can say that all three groups are as bad: pedestrians step out straight onto the road even when they have red, drivers cut the cyclist without signaling when they turn, cyclist jump the ligths etc. I think when people pass the driving test it should be obligatory for them to cycle for a few weeks, the cyclist should have a some sort of permit simillar to driving test whether they have to pass a test on road rules/highway code and pedestrians...no hope.
Proper cycle routes would solve some of those problems but there is no hope, is there? The existing ones are a joke.
If everyone had a little respect for others the world would be a better place all together.
- Aneczka, London, 14/11/2007 10:52
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So Steve, you're saying that if a cyclist is cut up by a bus then they should just back off and pull out round the bus into the main traffic lane? Ludicrous - the bus driver should be patient and let the cyclist go past the bus stop and then he can pull in without impeding said cyclist.
It is dangerous enough on London's streets without having to dodge around a bus and if bus drivers (and others) can't have a little patience with the fact that we don't speed around manically like everyone else then that is their problem - not ours.
- Finn, London, 14/11/2007 09:26
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Typical 2007 attitude blame someone else for your mistakes from some cyclists.
See a vehicle indicating to turn left, let's cut up the inside save a few seconds, it ain’t very clever and can have fatal results.
What some people are saying is basically ignore other vehicles indicators then hope they see you. If they don't see you it's their fault. Take some responsibility for your own actions.
I used to be a courier in central London on two wheels, managed not to become a mangled wreck by showing some respect for other vehicles especially large vehicles with limited vision. OK I wasn’t as fast as some other couriers but in the long run I never ended up in hospital.
- Kenny, Scotland, 13/11/2007 22:20
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Cyclists regularly flout the law, jumping traffic lights and weaving in and out of traffic. They put themselves in a position where they are going to get 'cut up' by a larger vehcile and then want to compalin about it! Not only should cyclists be forced to obey the laws of the road, they should all be licensed and carry registration plates so that they can be traced and prosecuted the same as other road users. Cyclists are appalling road users with no concern for their safety or the safety of others.
- Peter Horrex, Enfield, North London, 13/11/2007 21:55
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Interesting that cyclists are receiving tuition on basic road safety and 'defensive riding'.
As a motorcyclist, I would never dream of attempting some of the manoeuvers that I witness from the pedalling fraternity.
If you choose to filter through in traffic then you need to be extremely careful and take responsibility for your own safety - do not trust any other road user!
Pulling alongside large vehicles in restricted areas is very risky - particularly if they are about to turn.
Read the road and the traffic around you - use common sense and do not expect others to see you.
The standard of observation is fairly poor amongst most road users (yes, that includes some cyclists) so behave accordingly.
- Jim M, Brighton, UK, 13/11/2007 20:38
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Creeping up on the inside of stationary or slowly moving traffic (undertaking)is a risky manoeuvre especially at junctions where vehicles might turn left. Yet you see it all the time - and its encouraged by ill judged cycle lanes (such as feeder lanes to Advanced Stop Lines). The message promoted by the Police at Horse Guards Parade is compromised by TfL and local boroughs when they paint these lanes, which afterall are a form of guidance, where there are side roads and the probability of traffic turning left.
- Stephen, Croydon, 13/11/2007 19:46
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Cyclists are traffic and should abide by the rules, i.e. keep a safe distance from behind and not skirt up the side of a moving or stationary vehicle. On the road the other day a bus driver indicated left to pull into a stop and a cyclist ignored the signal and came up on the inside of the bus and banged his fist on the side. He should have respected the signal and pulled around the outside.
- Steve, London, 13/11/2007 16:39
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I have to agree with Threaded, some lorry drivers simply do not care about the consequences of their actions.
I once saw a Lorry driver LAUGHING as he swung round wide while turning left at the lights. He was looking directly at me as I backed off to avoid him.
- Peter, London, 13/11/2007 15:59
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As a cyclist who does around 20,000 km a year I might be correct to suggest from experience that many drivers having accidents with cyclists never looked before the manoeuvre, and those who do look, did the fatal manoeuvre for sheer devilment, not caring what consequences their actions would have until afterwards.
This 'Oh he was in the blind spot' is a myth. If I can see the drivers face in the truck mirror, then he can use the self same mirror to see me.
In fact, with the aid of a helmet mounted video camera, I plan to start putting short videos up on YouTube showing how often it occurs. I would ask other cyclists, and motorcyclists, to do the same. If the two wheeled road users were to show up how misdirected these safety campaigns are, then the Police might work on the real problem: drivers who seem incapable of following the sequence "mirror, signal, manoeuvre".
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark, 13/11/2007 15:14
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The only reason the lorry driver's vision is limited is because the government have failed to introduce mirrors that eradicate the blind spot, as in the rest of the EU. These mirrors cost less than £100, but then careless lorry drivers who kill cyclists only get fined £300 anyway.
- Susan Porter, London, 13/11/2007 13:47
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In motorcycling the region between two trucks driving in parallel or between a truck and a curb is called the "valley of death". The problem for cyclists is that there is no engine to accelerate out of the way of a truck that has pulled alongside, then forgotten your presence. Furthermore, despite their rhetoric about safety, the Mayor have made sure the pavement is no safe refuge even for a moment. This advice, probably dished out by police who never ride a bike, is just too simplistic. Cyclists need to be given priority and heightened respect - and not treated as lycra-clad irritants only promoted as part of the green agenda.
- Mark, Richmond, Surrey, 13/11/2007 13:42
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