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Partner of cyclist killed by lorry wants new law
Rashid Razaq and Jack Lefley21.01.08
The partner of a cyclist killed in a collision with a lorry has called for tougher safety laws to prevent similar tragedies.
Ninian Donald, 33, was crushed under a skip lorry when the driver failed to see him and turned left into his path at traffic lights.
Mr Donald, a set builder, was cycling from his studio in Hackney to a hardware shop when he was knocked down at the junction of Kingsland Road and Whiston Road last May. An inquest at Poplar coroner's court last week ruled the collision was an accident despite claims by his family that the haulage truck's wide-angle mirrors were incorrectly positioned.
Mr Donald's partner, Kate Evenden, said: "The police might have decided the lorry driver was not at fault, but it is not good enough to say there was a blind spot and he didn't see. Surely there needs to be a change in the law with HGV drivers made responsible for their mirrors and to ensure they are trained to be aware of cyclists.
"If cycling is being promoted then we need higher standards of driving. Everyone who knew Ninian knew he was a responsible cyclist. He drove a van and a car and had good road sense. He didn't take risks."
The Evening Standard is campaigning for safer conditions for London's cyclists, including the fitting of better mirrors to heavy goods vehicles.
Miss Evenden told the inquest that on the morning of the tragedy Mr Donald bathed the couple's 19-month-old daughter, Ava Rose, and then dropped her off at nursery before cycling to work. He left his studio on his bike to pick up supplies at around 10.30am.
CCTV images showed him riding in the bus and cycle lane in Kingsland Road. As a bus came to a halt at a stop, Mr Donald rode up on to the pavement to avoid it and then rejoined the road moments before the lorry in the righthand lane started turning left.
Lorry driver Bernard Madden said he checked his mirrors before he indicated and only began moving his vehicle once the lights had turned green. Witnesses told how they heard screams when Mr Donald was pulled under the lorry's wheels as it turned the corner.
Crash investigator Pc Adrian Cousins told the court the lorry's mirrors adhered to guidelines and the cause of the accident was Mr Donald disobeying the Highway Code by riding up on to the pavement and cutting back too close to the lorry as it was turning.
He said: "Because of Mr Donald's position on the road he was not seen by Mr Madden on the inside lane. Mr Donald joined the road where he could not see the lorry had indicated. It was a combination of these factors that led to this tragic accident."
Miss Evenden, a television art director, said she has found it hard to care for the couple's daughter without Ava Rose's "brilliant father".
She added: "Ava Rose asks for her father every day. It's unbelievable how much she misses him. I have pictures of him around and tell her all about him but our lives have been changed for ever."
Miss Evenden backed the Standard's Safer Cycling Campaign, calling for "urgent changes in the law".
Reader views (17)
there is too much onus on the driver. what most cyclist do not realise is that most tippers on the roads are now festooned with nearside visibility aids including mirrors, sensors, cameras etc, but there are still small blind spots. HGV drivers have alot to watch out for whilst on the roads, infront and to both sides and behind all the time they are driving. the amount of n/side visibilty aids are at a stage where I think they are becoming counter productive. Cyclist need to be better informed and trained, who else would be allowed to buy a road going article and be allowed open access to the public highway with little or no knowledge of how to conduct themselves once on the road. Responsible truck operators are doing all they can...it's time that cyclist thought a little more before putting themselves at risk.
- Stuart H, London and Surrey
EVERY accident, regardless of who's fault it is , is tradgic, I ride into London every day in all weathers, I teach my children to ride safetly on the roads, there are so many contradicting views on what is and isn't safe. It seems that alot of cycle rider deaths happen when the riders try to cut up on the inside of a vehicle (or outside), when are they going to learn that it's safer to sit behind large vehicles and signal to overtake when safe. One thing , if a rider can't ride one handed, allowing the other hand to be free for signalling, then they shouldn't be allowed on the road, they are a hazzard to all. there is so much more to say but until we start punishing the red light jumpers and pavement riders (over the age of 16), we will get nowhere, STOP TRYING TO EDUCATE DRIVERS WHEN IT'S THE CYCLISTS WHO NEED IMPROVING.**** use your head, stop at RED*****
- Lorrie, London
Well, I have to agree with the view that cyclists are responsible for their own safety. I'm a committed, commuting cyclist and I've learned the hard way not to undertake lorries and to always ride defensively - expecting people to do stupid things, like open car doors without looking, turn left without indicating etc.
I can think of a number of occasions where I have had to pull on to the pavement and wait whilst a 'bendy bus' sweeps past me - if I didn't ride expecting to be wiped off, I'm certain I'd be one of these tragic casualties written about on this very website.
I try, each day, to cycle with good grace and humour; thanking bus drivers for slowing to let me pass, stopping at crossings and waiting whilst people cross - occasionally exchanging a smile...
Although I think cyclists have it tough (and we do), we've got to be better on the roads before drivers and pedestrians will change their derogatory attitudes towards us, and give us the space we need.
- Heather, London
There was another accident yesterday in exactly the same place this time involving a cement lorry.
I have no further details at this time but I was told this was fatal though at this time I can't confirm this.
- Gary, Hackney
Just this once I'm with the lorry driver however sad that may seem.
You can't look everywhere and weaving on and off the pavement is illegal.
Jumping the queue by slipping up the inside is dangerous and this is the tragic and sad outcome.
However notices saying "If you cant see my mirrors - I cant see you" on the back of lorries are torn off by me if I get the chance. If you cant see my car/vehicle then you shouldn't reverse without a banksman.
- John, Argyll
It's a very sad case, but I'm with the police on this one. Cyclists need to position themselves where a lorry driver can see them, not in between a lorry and the kerb. Cycle training for adults is available in loads of places now and can teach people how not to get caught like this.
- Veronica Pollard, Bristol
"...the cause of the accident was Mr Donald disobeying the Highway Code by riding up on to the pavement and cutting back too close to the lorry as it was turning."
Ah, there we have it. And there are still many cyclists out there (and posting here) insisting that it is too dangerous to cycle on the road and that is why they cycle on pavements, conveniently forgetting that it is illegal to do so, apart from their actions endangering pedestrians in the course of it.
Never mind power to the cyclists, power to the pedestrians I say.
And if I can give a bit of advice to the "bobbing and weaving brigade", look behind you before you change lanes/direction. You know it makes sense.
- Pedestrian, motorist and cyclist.
- Robert Zimmerman, London
I think this is really sad... surely there should be mirrors that don't have black spots, where is the technology to sort this out? Apart from drivers not being observant ...
- Kim, Kent
Unfortunately, our society seems to have forgotton that rules are there for a reason. We see all aspects of society breaking the rules every day and nobody accepts that they can be in the wrong. Does anybody care that they are breaking the rules? It's only when people die as a result of rule breaking that we start to take notice and care. But then it's too late. Shame on us all for letting it happen.
- Les, Essex, UK
Another classic but tragic case of a cyclist ignoring the rules of the road. It is ironic that this accident has led to calls for stricter HGV safety requirements rather than for cyclists to act responsibly. Cyclists in commmon with all other road users should be made to take a proficiency test, buy a road fund licence and carry third party insurance.
- Mike, London
I agree that this is sad, but on reading the article it states "CCTV images showed him riding in the bus and cycle lane in Kingsland Road. As a bus came to a halt at a stop, Mr Donald rode up on to the pavement to avoid it and then rejoined the road moments before the lorry in the righthand lane started turning left." It seems to me that Mr Donald is like a lot of other cyclists who do not seem to realise that they have got brakes on their bike and are allowed to stop. Can you imagine the outcry if a car mounted the pavement just because it wanted to get around a bus at a bus stop. Last week on tv I saw a programme with a similar accident and it was a case of the cyclist attempting to outrun a lorry as it was making a left turn when the best action would have been to stop and wait for the lorry to finish turning.
I can understand why motorist resent bikes on roads though, cyclist never hardly stop at lights or follow any of the other rules of the road and also don't have to pay a tax for the upkeep of the road, yet they seem to have cycle lanes and lines at traffic lights specially for them.
- Peter Sparkling, London, UK
More real cops are needed. Traffic cops at that. They ought to be used to enforce the traffic laws. In doing so they would cut other crimes too.
- John, Berlin, Germany
How exactly, Tony, do you stay out of a blind spot? Are we somehow psychic? Can we all see with clarity what others see? No, it's a silly thing to suggest.
Drivers should not take actions which impact on their blind spot - in short, they should look before they move and if they don't then they take the consequences.
- Graham, Fleet
Cyclists really need to understand how vulnerable they are on our busy roads, it's not safe weaving in and out of traffic and cycling on and off of pavements as well as jumping traffic lights, I am amazed more pedestrians are not injured and cyclists killed by there crazy behaviour.
- Brian, Wiltshire
It is a very sad story and my thoughts go to Miss Eveden and her daughter.
I however agree with Pc Adrian Cousins.
It is illegal to ride on pavement. I can see why the truck did not see him if he checked his mirrors and the cyclist was on the pavement. I am a cyclist in London and cycle more than 200 miles a week in (commuting and training) and it is a dangerous but cyclists should take their responsibilities.
I always wear a helmet, wear high visibility clothes and also have light on my bike at all time. Additionally, I never run a red light nor cycle on pavement.
On my daily commute I probably see 10-15 people running red lights and another half a dozen using the pavement. When I remind them that this is illegal, I am rudely told where to go and to mind my own business.
The "urgent changes in the law" should be coupled by tough measures on cyclist.
The 12 points of the campaign do not put any responsibility on the cyclist. This is wrong we have responsibilities too and please do not start by blaming the motorist as they already have enough 'hatred' of the cyclist who does not respect any law and thinks he's owns the road. Let's share the road responsibly.
- Cyrill Rothermundt, London
Cyclists also need to be responsible. They need to make themselves visible cycle where other road users can see them and stay out of blind spots. Cyclists also need to obey the highway code like other road users. Stopping at red lights would be a start.
- Tony, London
"If cycling is being promoted then we need higher standards of driving."
No, what is required is higher standards from all road users and that includes cyclists and pedestrians, as well as motorists.
I am a cyclist, using the roads in London, and while the standards of many motorists leaves a lot to be desired, the standards of the most vulnerable road users, i.e. pedestrians and cyclists, leaves a lot to be desired too.
Everyone on a bike knows not to get caught up the side of a large vehicle, and it is no use whining that "he didn't use his mirrors" or "he didn't signal" when you lay dying, crushed under the vehicle's wheels.
- Md, London
