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The lorry lens to stop cyclists being killed
David Williams, Motoring Editor01.10.08
More than 1,000 safety lenses that help lorries spot cyclists are being given to HGV drivers around the Olympic Park.
It comes after two riders died and another was seriously injured in collisions with trucks in the capital.
The Olympic site in Stratford will generate thousands of extra truck journeys to support the construction programme in the run-up to 2012.
Today John Armitt, chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, and campaigner Cynthia Barlow will start handing out 1,600 of the safety aids, called Fresnel lenses.
They are fitted to the cab window so lorry drivers can see cyclists on the passenger side of the vehicle, where they would otherwise have a blind spot.
"Fresnel lenses are an effective way of increasing the view of the road and reducing injuries and deaths of cyclists in London," said Mr Armitt.
"Fifty per cent of our construction materials will be transported by rail and water, which means we are taking thousands of unnecessary lorry journeys off London's roads.
"We are a responsible neighbour and expect the same high standards of health and safety of our contractors."
Last Wednesday 31-year-old cyclist Wan-Chen McGuiness, of Hackney, died when she was hit by a lorry at the junction of Southampton Row and Vernon Place in Holborn.
The week before, Nick Wright from Woking, a 40-year-old father of two young daughters, was killed by a lorry as he rode in Upper Thames Street.
A 30-year-old cyclist is recovering after his legs were crushed under a truck in Kensington High Street last week.
Mrs Barlow, whose daughter Alex, 26, was knocked off her bicycle and died in 2000, said: "Every year about 20 cyclists are killed on London's roads and often it is construction industry vehicles - concrete mixers, tipper lorries and skip lorries - making left turns that are involved."
Mrs Barlow, chairwoman of charity RoadPeace, added: "It is vitally important that owners and drivers ensure they have a good view all around, with Fresnel lenses and measures like proximity sensors, mirrors, and cameras."
The Evening Standard's Safer Cycling campaign has been demanding better conditions for riders.
The ODA is spending £11 million to improve paths for walking and create a network of safe cycling routes to the Olympic park and village. To ensure all ages and abilities can arrive in safety, there will be timetabled rides from points across London to "lead" cyclists in convoy to 2012 venues.
Mr Armitt and Mrs Barlow are fitting lenses to lorries with the help of the Vehicle and Operating Services Agency.
The agency is also taking part in a forum with the Olympic Delivery Authority, Metropolitan police and construction industry to devise initiatives to ensure better truck safety.
Reader views (24)
I was knocked over by a cyclist today who screamed at me "Don't you look!" as I prised myself off the middle of the road where I had been thrown. I asked him if he was ok and he looked annoyed about his bike but said yes, so I walked off. I have cuts and bruises but was more shaken by the fact the guy didn't even ask if I was ok.
- Jules Garner, Manchester, UK
Interestingly most cyclists who are killed on the roads are the ones obeying the rules, i.e. they're the ones waiting at the traffic lights. So to these other road users wondering why so many cyclists flout the rules, it ain't exactly rocket science: it simply is because it is way safer.
Until they start handing out immediate driving bans for drivers in collision with cyclists none of these schemes will work. In fact, handing out lots of fines to cyclists for breaking the rules will sadly result in more accidents.
Whilst waiting for the authorities to get a clue, one should expect the carnage to continue.
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark
How about educated cyclists and having them do a mandatory safety test before being allowed to cycle on the roads?
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
As a cyclist, pedestrian and motorist I also get annoyed at inconsiderate cyclists who ignore the Highway Code. Just like all road and pavement users there are the good and the bad. But for some reason that I can’t quite fathom, there is a disproportionate reaction against all cyclists from the media and its readers. I never see similar ire vented towards poor drivers killing and injuring pedestrians (4,000 deaths on the roads each year with only a minute proportion coming from collisions with cyclists) or rants about pedestrians who seem to believe that they can just step out into oncoming traffic and expect the motorist/cyclist to stop for them. Number plates for bikes will never work, though the idea about insurance is valid. Good to see that the Fresnel lens is being implemented which should see the reduction in these horrific and unnecessary deaths.
- Sf, London
How about actually using your eyes?
I do it all the time as a car driver. And blind spot mirrors, and rear view mirrors and actually turn my head and look over my shoulders at things.
Mind you, I'm not normally on the phone texting, watching a TV in my car, eating, drinking, reading the paper or in deep conversation with someone over the road.
- Jackie, Surrey
A cyclist can and always seem to jump red lights,especially at pedestrian crossings.This week I,ve seen 2 pedestrians knocked over by cyclists, jumping a red light, and they continue to cycle on.
They dont keep to cycle lanes, and should be made to have plates, training and insurance, like all the other road users.
- Des Creighton, Rochester Kent
Until cyclists accept they may not always be blameless then why should I believe their constant protestations and accusations.
Cyclists are innocent victims of bad driving, others are accidents looking for somewhere to happen. That's a simple fact. Maybe they should be handing those lenses out to cyclists, some of you seem unable to see danger.
- Steve, London
Good drivers never ever strike cyclists.
Good drivers are always on the alert for cyclists.
Good drivers take care on the road.
- Tim, Midlands
I read your article about the use of fresnal lenses with interest. My company has been selling fresnal lenses for over 30 years. They are on buses all over the world but the Uk appears to be reluctant to fit safety features. I applaud your 2 writers as they really do work to prevent accidents and are cheap to fit. I think it will help cyclists which is good. My daughter has just opened a dutch bike shop in London and is doing well. These lenses are to help vehicles to be more cyclist aware. We supply 3 kinds of lenses and are easy to fit.
- Berm - York, East Yorks- England
Can I just point out to the people who have been posting anti-cycling comments here that the recent deaths of cyclists due to HGV's were all deaths of law abiding cyclists, waiting in cycle lanes.
Spouting anti-cycling nonsense is not only not helpful to the discussion, in this case it is entirely irrelevant.
- Cait, Streatham
I cycle London and not all of us obey all the traffic laws, but neither do automobiles. Drivers need to be alert to cyclists, they have more of a right, and an environmentally beneficial one, to the road than drivers - at the moment. I say at the moment because what is really needed is to get bikes and cars separated by cycling lanes. Real cycling lanes, not these silly patches of green paint here and there. Actual concrete divided paths, as in Holland. Until then bikes will act like pedestrians without walking paths, running across streets and getting hit by careless drivers and careful drivers alike.
ps: to be fair - drivers in London, by and large, are good at not hitting bikers, thank you. but we still need bike lanes!
- Dan, London
"Reading between the lines" of Reg, London I would guess that he is one of the more aggressive cyclists that give other, more reasonable riders a bad name. His all inclusive language and across the board blame-making only detracts from those instances when it is the vehicle driver who IS to blame.
Never heard of a balanced viewpoint mate?
In a collision between vehicle and bicycle, there's only one guy going to get hurt - and if you think that Joe Normal in the vehicle is indifferent about the lives of others across the board then you need some serious counseling, my friend. The activities of cyclists DO affect drivers, one way or another - pretty stupid to suggest otherwise.
- Rogan, Irving
I am Taiwanese national, too. Feel very sorry for Wan-Chen McGuiness and her family...Sad.
- Christy, London
All road users should take compulsory tests, have number plates, and insurance.
Cyclists are the worst abusers of road laws. They have no number plater, thus it's impossible to catch and prosecute they. Also now days with the lack of motorcycle police, the only ones who could apprehend them. Therefore stop blaming lorry and bus drivers for the stupidity of unlicenced road users. Namely cyclists.
A person can walk out of a shop and cycle down a 60 mph high speed dual carriageway. Without any road knowledge. Even a moped user must have a CBT training. The LAW IS AN ASS WITH THE CYCLISTS.
- N. Winsor, London
I never understand why 'cyclists' as a group are hated so indiscriminately by people such as St. When I am cut up, nearly driven into or tailgated by a fellow car driver, my irritation (or anger) is directed at the driver of that car - not "all motorists". Why, therefore, are all cyclists lumped together as one? Yes, there are rude and inconsiderate cyclists out there but not all are and those that do ignore traffic rules pose far less of a threat to other road users and pedestrians than the many dangerous drivers on the roads. The rabid hatred of cyclists per se that many Londoners seem to have is frankly irrational.
- Sarah, London
I cycle to work and have been rammed several times deliberately, once by a black cab and the others by goods vehicles, from the side, often after making eye contact. There's no question of "blind spots yer Honour", and I have always understood this to be "punishment" for supposedly slowing down other vehicles, whereas my experience has always been that cyclists beat most cars off the blocks. Funnily enough, motor vehicles don't seem to "punish" each other in the same way although they represent 99% of the actual congestion, perhaps due to unavoidable complications with property.
The sinister part of many of these anti-cycling comments is that, reading between the lines, you can tell these people are pleased whenever any cyclists get killed or badly injured. Never will you see a cyclist celebrating or gloating in the same way over motorists receiving the same fate, through their fault or not.
Unfortunately in this country damage to property is treated far more seriously than damage to the person, as every lawyer knows - there's no great tradition of civil liberties and human rights here, as some claim. Until that changes, idiots like some who have posted below will continue to murder on the roads and libel on the Internet.
- Reg, London
Bearing in mind all the anti-cycling comments every time there is a story about bikes, I always marvel at these keyboard commandos who never break the speed limit in their cars, and never cross the road when the red man is showing.
Presumably, laws should apply to other people, but not them (but only for the laws that they observe, and not the ones they ignore).
Please, people a bit of tolerence on both sides.
- George, London
If you pass a vehicle without considering its blind spots then it's inevitable that you will be injured. It's difficult enough to find a drive in London that uses their mirrors; most are too busy sending text messages! As for cyclists... Answer this one, if you skip a red and I hit you with my car who's fault will it be? Who will pay for the damage... I know the answer… I'll pay and you'll probably concoct a pack of lies in an attempt to conceal your negligence. It's time you all had 3rd party insurance!
- Jonathan, London
I’m sorry, but I believe Ms Barlow’s efforts will further encourage cyclists to believe they are invincible and probably lead to more deaths. If you are a cyclist and you don’t want to be killed by a lorry, don’t try to under-take it when it is turning left and, furthermore, even if it is not indicating, if it is about to pass a junction where it might turn left, assume that it will and back off. I ride a motorbike to work every and, touchwood, have never made contact with another vehicle or had an accident, primarily because I always assess what another vehicle might do at any time and anticipate what I would have to do to avoid it, eg a taxi suddenly performing a u-turn. I suggest cyclists do the same and stop blaming everyone else.
- St, London
Surely these lenses should be compulsory for all large vehicles.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford
Perhaps it has been suggested, but wouldn't it make sense to make mandatory that all bicycles carried a flashing bright light on their front, day and night. The problem is that bicycles have such a thin profile that a truck driver glancing quickly in heavy traffic (and used to the wide profile of cars) just does not see bicycles. But a flashing light would catch their attention, i.e. from the corner of the eye, into focus. This is the reason that police cars and ambulances are fitted with flashing, not just bright, lights.
- Phil Jones, London UK
Maybe hand out a few copies of the Highway Code to the cyclists, too? Red lights mean stop. Cars indicating left are not suitable candidates for passing on the left. Pavements are for pedestrians. One way streets require you to travel in the same direction as the cars. Etc etc.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
I used to drive tractor trailers, over the road, in the US.
We had a small glass window in the passenger side door to check for motor bikes and cyclists.
It is not fail safe but it was an advantageous safety feature.
- Minnie Ovens, USA
Cynthia Barlow is a brave, compassionate person, she's worked hard for this and I feel safer cycling past the OP along Eastway with these mirrors fitted to the lorries. This will encourage cycling and bring the commensurate reduction in road accidents that always attends increased cycling rates.
- Steve Chappell, Bow
