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Father of killed cyclist hits out at danger junction
Rob Singh, Evening Standard03.04.08
Transport for London's road safety policy was today labelled "unacceptable" by the father of a cyclist killed by a lorry.
Peter Wright said TfL should have taken action at a junction in King's Cross before his daughter Madeleine, 26, was crushed to death there while travelling to work.
Her inquest, held at St Pancras coroner's court, heard there had been 22 collisions at the traffic lights in the three years before Miss Wright's death on 9 March last year.
These were classed as "slight collisions" resulting in minor injuries at worst. They involved nine cyclists and 13 pedestrians.
Coroner Andrew Reid heard Miss Wright died at traffic lights in Pentonville Road at the junction of Penton Rise. She was hit by a 7.5-tonne lorry as it turned left. She died at the Royal London Hospital. Witnesses said they saw another cyclist in front of Miss Wright dart in front of the lorry moments before the accident.
Lorry driver John Humphrey told the inquest he stopped on the right side of the junction to give himself room to turn left.
He said there were no cyclists in the advanced stop box in front of him and the first cyclist moved across him causing him to brake. He said: "It was as if they came from nowhere."
Chris Lines, head of TfL's Road Safety Unit, told the inquest that despite the number of "slight collisions" at the junction it was not deemed a high priority and changes were not made due to budget constraints.
Since Miss Wright's death TfL has altered the junction to make it safer. It is due to introduce a speed camera as well as a crossing for cyclists and pedestrians.
Recording a verdict of accidental death, Dr Reid said it was a result of a combination of factors including road layout and a blind spot in Mr Humphrey's mirrors.
Reader views (8)
Motorists complain that we cyclists don't have good road discipline, yet I am cut up and put in danger on a daily basis by motorists. I cycle according to the highway code and cycle craft, yet still have cars pass far too closely, or pull into my path as if I'm not there.
- Martin, Bristol
It must be very scary having a cyclist cut you up when you're in a 7.5 tonne lorry pulling across the inside lane.
- Kb, London
I challenge anyone to stand at that junction and not find it frightening. The traffic comes tearing around the corner and often cars appear to be going so fast that it is a wonder that they don't swerve off the road onto the pavement. Cyclists are given the go-ahead to ride straight on so the poor woman who died was following the given directions. It is a tragedy for all concerned and further very urgent action should definitely be taken to prevent more fatalities.
- John, London
We have to work towards not accepting accidents like this. Stand at that junction and watch for 10 mins - its very scary indeed.
Here in Norwich the council are trying to pilot a scheme which includes putting lorries into the bus/cycle lane along the main road into the city. (real forward planners us ...)
- A Mum, Norwich, England
Its a really sad thing, my thoughts are with her family, makes me feel lucky at the number of times I have bounced off from near misses.
London is doing its part to make it cycle friendly but areas like Kings cross is tight and busy making cycle spotting tough on the drivers. You are better off taking an aggressive position, its a slow road and it doesn't hurt the divers to slow down and notice you.
- Mr Angry Of Westminster, London
Many cyclists seem to have no road discipline, and I need not cite the cases of red light jumping, pavement hogging and everything else, we've all seen it. So I can sympathise with the lorry driver who had to react to a cyclist swerving in front of him, effectively cutting him up. It sounds as if this unknown cyclist has caused a death.
Even in a car, a driver simply cannot cope with motorbikes coming up the offside, scooters weaving in front and cyclists sneaking up the nearside (in effect, undertaking). It's as if they have no idea what it takes to drive a car and that you can stop on a sixpence.
- Maxc, London
For any cyclists reading this. I have been cycling in London now for over 12 years and never had any serious accidents. The first rule which you must always stick to no matter what the circumstances are never ever undertake a lorry, even if it stopped on a red. Just do not do it. There are too many tragic stories like this one which are all caused by exactly the same thing. It is terribly sad but it is avoidable
- Michael Cooper, London
Advanced stop boxes with a short cycle lane leading to them can be very dangerous. They encourage you to filter up the left side, and if the lights change while you are passing a lorry you can be left in a potentially lethal situation. It's happened to me when I was filtering to the front alongside a lorry that wasn't indicating, and I fortunately escaped injury. Now, if I'm not far from the front of a queue I find that is safer to wait rather than try to get to the front. It's also easier to get moving again because the driver behind you can't put his foot down because of the car in front, which is an often-cited justification for cyclists red light jumping.
- Mr, London
