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Calls to protect cyclists as death toll rises
Rob Singh, Crime Reporter21.11.07
Campaigners have called for action to improve safety for cyclists after an inquest heard how a Cambridge graduate was crushed by a lorry.
Amelia Zollner, 24, was fatally injured in Russell Square after the driver failed to see her in his wing mirrors.
The inquest was the second in two months on a London cyclist crushed by a lorry in similar circumstances.
Miss Zollner, a researcher from Holloway, was on her way to work at the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank in Covent Garden when the accident happened in March.
St Pancras Coroner's Court heard she tried to pass the lorry through a "tempting gap" between traffic waiting at a red light.
When the lights changed, lorry driver Dennis Horscroft moved off, crushing her against a fence and then running her over.
Mr Horscroft said he heard a bump after hitting Miss Zollner but that she had not been visible in his mirrors.
Coroner Dr Andrew Reid recorded a verdict of accidental death. Today, Miss Zollner's MP Emily Thornberry said the case was further evidence that heavy goods vehicles should be fitted with better mirrors as soon as possible.
Under EU law, all HGVs registered before 26 January must have wideangle mirrors, known as close proximity mirrors, fitted by 31 March 2009.
But Ms Thornberry, MP for Islington South and Finsbury, wants companies to introduce them immediately.
She said: "They only cost £100. A life costs much more than £100. Amelia's was one of a series of deaths that have happened this year and it is not right."
During another inquest earlier this month into the death of cyclist Emma Foa, Dr Reid demanded that riders' safety should be improved.
Writer Ms Foa, 56, died after being knocked off her bike by a 20-tonne lorry turning left at a junction in Camley Street, King's Cross, in December last year. The driver was later fined £300 after admitting careless driving.
Her family have backed the Evening Standard's Safer Cycling campaign, which has called for lorries to be fitted with extra safety mirrors to prevent accidents as part of a 12-point charter of improvements.
Thirteen cyclists have died on London's roads this year, six in collisions with HGVs. The toll prompted the Met to run a number of workshops this month to educate cyclists on the dangers of sharing the road with HGVs.
Reader views (14)
How many cyclists are killed on the road each year?
- Corrie, new zealand
There are lots of idiot cyclists out there. Also lots of idiot bus drivers, van drivers, taxi drivers, pedestrians, scooter riders, joggers.., you get the picture. Everyone is in too much of a rush. Lets just try and get on and respect each other. if that fails which it generally does, use you common sense and look after yourself.
The above comment is stupid as how many cars and vans etc are there out there with no Mot, drivers with no license or insurance?
- Alastair, London UK
Dear David of London,
Cyclists DO NOT use roads for free as they also pay taxes and believe it or not may occasionally use cars for which they pay road tax. Second, bicycles do not kill car drivers as far as I am aware whereas around 4000 cyclists are killed or injured each year in London by vehicles. Third, Cycling should be prioritised particularly in urban areas where there are speed restrictions of up to 20-30mph, given the high levels of traffic congestion which are damaging our health and quality of life, not to mention the planet.
- Raoul, London
I always give lorries and buses a wide berth when they are stopped at traffic lights. I usually position my bike behind them in view of the rear view mirror. Trying to squeeze past them at lights is both foolhardy and reckless.
Unfortunately too many cyclists are adopting the bad habits of motorists and pedestrians. Take your time and abide by the rules of the road!
- Robert, Croydon, England
Cyclists use our roads FREE OF CHARGE. Many cyclists ride on pavements, the wrong way up/down on one way streets and no respect for traffic lights. Maybe cyclists should be made to have paid professional lessons on how to use our roadways correctly. Why don't we hear of cyclists being fined for wrong doings or lets have a point system where three points keeps them off the road for a term?
I'm sure there are good and bad drivers and cyclists but there has to be set rules that must be strictly adhered to.A greater care by ALL road users in general would help reduce accidents involving drivers and cyclists alike. Being seen is important for cyclists and cylists without adequate night lighting etc. should be stopped and warned and followed up and how about a yearly "Bike MOT"
I think that's enough to get on with.
- David Osterley, London, UK
As a car driver, bicycle rider and pedestrian who regularly rides a bike to and from work in Central London, my opinion is this:
Cars, vans, buses, motorcycles are driven by frustrated motorists who leap at any opportunity to save time in their journeys. The longer they wait in traffic queues, the more frustrated and reckless they become. When cycling I err on the side of caution when over-taking vehicles on my bike, and I try to give them a wide margin whenever possible.
Both cyclists and motorists need to improve attitudes. Cyclists need to be more cautious, and position themselves on the road so that they avoid getting themselves into scenarios which will lead to accidents.
Motorists need to be more aware and more observant.
Each group should attempt to give a wide margin to the other. Impatient car drivers need to give at least a metre of space between their car and the bike-rider when over-taking, and ideally 2m+.
Cyclists and motorists should be aware that night-time and raining make it very hard for a motorist to spot a cyclist, and so each party should take even more care. Any cyclist who uses an unlit bike on a dark, rainy night is taking foolish risks.
The London councils (and major Ken) aren't doing a great job helping motorists or cyclists. A number of places along my cycle route have bus queue islands that extend into the road, preventing cyclists and motorists from getting past stationary buses easily. Difficult over-taking = Risk-taking! Smooth flow is best.
- Gill Hodges, London
Chris Naylor-Smith, we've had cycle lanes and priority cycle boxes at the head of road junctions in central London for the last five years. And guess what, they're now filled by motor cyclists and mopeds (and cars) who assume they are also for them.
The only way to avoid the Brands Hatch mentality of bikers and mopedists is to move ahead of the lights simply so that you don't get caught by their sliptream. I've seen several horrible collisions at the foot of Southwark Bridge where bikers have been trying to weave through cyclists in the cycle lane.
I've also been knocked off my bike by a car that came through a red light while my road was on green. This doesn't excuse pavement riding or jumping red lights, but it's typical of our ruling parties that say we should all be using a more eco-friendly mode of transport without thinking through the implications of what it's like to actualy use that method on real-life roads and in real-life London traffic.
Don't always blame cyclists as most of us are also fairly heavy car users when need be and are far more aware of what it's like to be on a cycle than non-cycling motorists.
- Terry H, London, UK
I do not dispute Mr Naylor-Smith's comments that quite a few But definitely not the majority of cyclists break the law. But so do other road users. On my 5 mile journey to work this morning two trucks crossed lights which had already turned red- one narrowly missing a bus; several cars blocked box junctions; and finally a taxi ran into my outstretched arm signalling to turn right and swore at me for doing it!
- Patrick Griffin, Dalston
Chris Naylor-smith, the reason that a lot of cyclist jump lights is to avoid getting caught up in the inevitable melee that results when motorists accelerate away from lights. In most cases, this is just common sense and helps both the cyclist AND the motorist. It would also help if the cycle lanes were respected, in particular by motor-cyclists who use these as a route for over-taking.
- Andy, London, UK
L.B. Camden have spent a fortune on cycle lanes that are completley separated from other traffic and guess what cyclists totally ignore them and use the main highway. It is cyclists responsibility to take precautions and look after their own well being, squeezing up besides HGVs is wreckless.
- Secker, Stanmore, U.K.
Whilst Mr. Naylor-Smith is right to point out that the 'lunatic fringe' on cycles in London are a danger to themselves and others, to blame cyclists entirely for the 'wholesale slaughter' is an gross error. Respect for the traffic 'system' will only occur when motorists accept that cycles are indeed part of the 'traffic' and need to be allowed to travel with it, not shunted off into badly designed cycle lanes or seen as an obstacle to pass at all costs - usually to be re-passed by the cycle at the next red light or junction.
- Muddy Fox, Tring, UK
As a former Approved Driving Instructor I must agree with Chris N-S, above in condemning the cavalier practices of too many cyclists, especially among the young, who seem to take pride in flouting the rules (if they ever knew them) & shocking vehicle-drivers on purpose. I believe in the introduction of Cycling Licences - with Tests & ID plates - for all persons over 14 years who intend to cycle in towns & cities (No under 14s allowed, except in residential urban side-streets).
I also believe research is needed prior to developing an element of both Theory exams & practical HGV Tests: i.e. Greater awareness of vulnerable road-users & of ways in which large vehicles threaten them. I hope professional drivers won't contradict this, saying the Test is already tough on these elements. Every cyclist injured in collisions with HGVs indicates otherwise.
Also I advocate that Roadcraft should be compulsory on all Secondary Curricula & a GCSE pass required prior to issue of a Provisional Licence, but less realistic minds say "That's not practical." Let unnecessary tragedies continue then, shall we?
- Art, Bridgwater UK
The death of Ms. Zollner is a deeply tragic event of that there is no doubt and of course mirrors on large vehicles must be improved if as you say that is possible. This wholesale slaughter is likely to continue, however, until cyclists and the law accepts they are vehicles on extremely busy roads and not children riding tricycles in the park and there is more to cycling safely than wearing a funny hat. Drivers in London have dozens of things to consider and respond to at any given time and the system works only because all drivers abide by the same set of rules complex though they may be. Very many cyclists if not the majority do as they like shooting red traffic lights and pedestrian crossings, riding pavements and then suddenly joining the traffic when it suits, going in the wrong direction in one way streets, riding without proper or any lights at all...the list goes on and on. A cyclist is quite capable of traveling at 30mph so why should they not be bound by the same laws as say a moped. Cycles at present cause great confusion on the road and until they are, in central London at least, properly registered with an identifying mark and thus accountable, are trained and follow the rules like all other road users accidents will unfortunately, as far as one can see, continue. As we have seen an accident for a cyclist usually means personal injury or worse.
- Chris Naylor-Smith, Brighton United Kingdom
This really should not be happening, what happened to the the cycle lanes? Surely there should be more put down in the hot spots of London.
- Kingston, Hillingdon, UK
