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Lessons in cycle safety for lorry and bus drivers
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard6 Nov 2008
LORRY and bus drivers working for a London council are to receive training in cycling road safety in a bid to prevent road deaths.
Drivers of refuse vehicles, school buses and other HGVs in Lambeth will have classroom lesssons and practical on-road training to highlight the dangers of cyclists caught in lorries' blind spots.
Signs on the back of Lambeth's fleet of vehicles are also being installed, warning cyclists of the dangers of cycling on the left side of a lorry or bus.
More than half of all bike deaths on London's roads are caused by a collision with a goods vehicle. Cyclists are particularly in danger if they cycle on the passenger side of an HGV because of the poor view of that side of the vehicle drivers have from the cab.
Last month 16-year-old Sajjad Bilgrami became the 10th cyclist to be killed in London this year, and the ninth to die after being involved in a collision with a lorry.
In the first scheme of its kind the classroom sessions will teach drivers how to anticipate the behaviour of cyclists on the road and how to minimise the danger of cyclists being killed or injured.
The drivers will also get on bikes themselves to feel what it is like as a cyclist in traffic.
The lessons follow Boris Johnson's announcement this week that he intends to introduce 12 new cycling routes in the centre of London as well as 6,000 to 10,000 bikes for hire by 2010.
The initiatives have been developed in partnership with the council's environmental contractor, Veolia Environmental Services, and Cycle Training UK.
Councillor Sally Prentice, Lambeth Council cabinet member for environment, said: "London has the potential to be a world class cycling city - more and more people are taking it up and figures show that although twice as many people are cycling now in the borough than 10 years ago, the number of those being injured in collisions has not risen.
"However, half of all fatalities involve heavy goods vehicles. While there have been no incidents involving cyclists and vehicles driven by Lambeth staff in recent years, we are making sure our drivers get specific training that makes them more aware of the danger.
"We hope other organisations which employ HGV drivers follow our lead on this so we can make London a safer place for cyclists.
"The council is happy to work with companies to promote these initiatives."
In 2006, nine of the 19 cyclists who died on London's roads and nine of the 16 last year were involved in collisions with goods vehicle.
Reader views (42)
Jeremiah, would this be the same campaign that stops motorists using their mobile. And guess what, drivers still ignore the rules. Pedestrians walk in to the road without looking, cyclist jump red lights, and motorists drive using their mobiles. It is a dog eat dog world out there, and no pedestrians/cyclists/motorists are total law abiders. All moan about the other, when all are at fault.
- Dom, London, 06/01/2009 14:59
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This Government is noted for its incompetence. Why not start at the root of the problem, cyclits themselves.How many ride through red lights every day? All cyclists wishing to cycle in London should (1)take a proficency testand (2) have insurance. And the Met should run a campaign to stop cyclists jumping traffic lights
- Jeremiah, London, 05/01/2009 17:50
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Penny,
you think it should be compulsory for cyclists to have lights on their bikes???
It already is!!
it is a legal requirement for all road users in the hours of darkness to show a white light at the front and a red light at the rear and has been for many years.
- John Whitby, Peterborough, Cambs, 04/01/2009 22:38
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I love cycling in London. It keeps me fit and I tend to get places alot quicker than by bus, tube or walking. I also Love driving my car in London. It amazes me how pedestrians think they own the road and stop traffic by walking into the road infront of moving cars. I don't mind this when I'm driving as for a change it will hurt them a damb site more than me. Hopefully a painful lesson learned for people who are to busy with their heads up their own bums to look where they're going.
- Paul Humphreys, Essex, 04/01/2009 21:00
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My walking stick always seems to find the spokes of cyclists on pavements.
I average one a week, my best score is three in a day.
One was removed by ambulance!!
I'm working on a method to get all the terror cyclists that seem to think red lights are irrelevant.
Whats the point of those green cycle boxes at traffic lights? they never stop in them?
- Grumpy, london, 01/01/2009 23:35
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a pedestrian knocked me off my bicycle a while back, just stepped into the road without looking! when are they going to have numberplates fitted so they can be traced, and compulsory insurance so theres some compensation, and compulsory training so that they know how to cross a road. Finally, when are they going to start paying pavement tax for all these pavements being built that are already infringing on motorists narrow space??
- Psycholist, London, 16/12/2008 12:10
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I think that cyclists should have to take a test to see if they are safe to drive on the road, and should carry a 'licence' to show that they are.
The one time I was involved in an accident was when I was knocked over by a cyclist going the wrong way up a one way road! Whilst he did say sorry, he immediately went on his way, again going the wrong way! If a car driver did that they would, quite rightly, lost their licence and possibly end up in prison
- Sally Brooks, london, 16/12/2008 10:58
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Cyclists need to be licensed - with big readable, scan-able numberplates - just like motorists, so that wrongdoers - and there are masses of them - can be easily identified, sanctioned or forbidden on the roads for a term, just as bad drivers are. Once they have numberplates and can be fined for breaking the Highway Code bet you their feral pack mentality of do-as-I-please will instantly improve! They also need to pay annual road tax to contribute to the bill for carving up already narrow inner-city roads further in their favour. Finally, they should have compulsory insurance so that if they cause crashes or treat pedestrians with contempt on pavements - as so many do - at least there is some recourse to insurance to settle claims.
- Divisionbelle, Lambeth, 15/12/2008 16:59
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It's the cyclists who need the training not the truck drivers!
- Richard Munton, Tonbridge Kent, 15/12/2008 14:07
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No question all cyclest should have registration plates the side of number plates fitted to the inside horisontal frame so the identificatcation can be made from either side. Also there must be compulsory 3rd party insurance which can be identified by a badge similar to the German car system.
Any cyclist found riding on a pavement, eg by camera, must receive an immediade 500 pound fine
- Re Cycle, London, England, 15/12/2008 12:30
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Ben, well said. I lose track of the amount of times pedestrians walk out in front of me without looking, and they then yell "slow down". That gets an aggressive response of "look before walking out in to the road you idiot" (the censored response!). They would not (I hope) walk out in front of a car, so dont do it with cycles. Also, pedestrians listening to earphones who cannot hear anything going on around them, are prone to just walking out in to the road without looking.
Pedestrian traingin too is needed.
- Dom, London, 08/12/2008 15:06
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cyclists, like anyone else,are responsible for their own safety.This is typical of the modern age to put your safety onto some one else.Wear the appropriate clothing and be aware at all times, just as we have to be on motor bikes.
- Essexkid, Rainham,,Essex, 06/12/2008 22:38
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Cyclists should be fined for the rules they break on the roads: jumping red lights, careless riding but if cyclists keep getting killed because HGV drivers have poor visiblity on the left side, wouldn't it make sense to improve their visibility? An extra mirror pointing down? Too easy? Is anyone listening?
- Trevor Nelson, Cheshire, 04/12/2008 10:55
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It always amazes me how much anti-cyclist sentiment there is out there.
How many people can honestly say they've been hurt or even inconvenienced by a cyclist breaking some rule or other.
As a cyclist I know that aside from traffic danger there , pedestrians assuming that when they cant hear anything coming it means it is safe to step out are a big danger. On a 6 mile commute I think on average I have to stop or swerve for an innatentive pedestrian trying to take me out.
How about some training for pedestrians?
- Ben, london, 03/12/2008 18:00
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I think that the safety of cyclists is a two-way street. Every evening I see cyclists in dark clothing with no, or non-visible lights. If it were made compulsory to show bright, visible lights both front and rear and also to wear high-visibility jackets or waistcoats, they would be a lot safer and drivers would be at least aware of their presence.
It seems unfair to invariably blame the motorist when many cyclists seem to think that sensible rules do not apply to them. If the above were made cumpulsory by law, there would be fewer accidents - and possibly some Darwinian selection?
- Penny, London, 03/12/2008 15:53
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How about some compulsery training for Cylists
- Neil, Poland, 02/12/2008 15:15
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i suggest cycle riders are licenced and compulsory trained im a bus driver and see cycle riders flout the law every day cycling through red lights and on and off the pavement narrowly avoiding pedestrians overtaking large vehicles on all sides of vehicles turning left and right its about time they took some responsabilty for their actions and think for a change.
- Ian, london uk, 26/11/2008 19:41
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"lorries run into the cyclists, often deliberately, as I've witnessed."
Yeah, Reg, probably cos they're trying to get you.
- Steve, London, 21/11/2008 13:36
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To all those demanding cyclists pay "road tax" to use the roads - how much are you suggesting they pay, given that a Citroen C1 pays 35 pounds, and a G-Wizz pays nothing? Perhaps you should all get less polluting cars more efficient cars, or get off your lazy back sides and cycle as well!
- Psycholist, London, 14/11/2008 17:01
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Edd, your a motorist that thinks they should be the only ones on the road. I do pay road tax for a motor that does 2 journeys a month, with a max annual mileage of 1000 miles. I pay the same road tax as you. So as I pay road tax, I think am entitled to cycle on the road, seeing as my car stays at home. I'll take the same attitude as you, so if you don't like it, tough!
- Dom, London, 14/11/2008 11:44
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Reg, London
so basically what your saying is if a baby harms itself by playing with razor blades ,its the razor blade companies fault ? lets hope you dont crash into me one day !
- Peter Ex Londoner, Hartlepool, 14/11/2008 00:07
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Peter - I doubt a cyclist would crash into you, resulting in serious injury to the cyclist. The nature of all these accidents is that the lorries run into the cyclists, often deliberately, as I've witnessed.
However, let's imagine what you say is possible (I've never heard of it, and I take an interest in these things) - "cyclist runs into lorry". That would be unfair. However, it would certainly make renegade drivers behave more responsibly and carefully. This is already the case in more progressive Germany and Belgium.
These are scales of justice that cannot be balanced without cameras in every building orifice and at every junction. Either you continue to have the minority of drivers who are really murderers getting off scot free, or you introduce a financial penalty which causes lorry drivers as a class to treat cyclists with greater care. It would also cause freight companies to select their drivers with greater care, and supervise them more closely. Any law-abiding, competent driver would welcome this.
The greater good must be chosen, and as I pointed out even with this additional cost per accident, road freight is only half the cost of rail and river freight, yet does far more environmental damage. And freight companies don't pay anything like the damage their lorries do to the roads through road and corporate tax.
Effectively you would insure against this happening and for those that didn't crash, it would make little difference to the premium.
- Reg, London, 13/11/2008 13:11
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Cyclists do themselfs no good at all,thay wear funny cycling clothes,tight fitting Lycra,funny little helmets that look like a bunch of bananas on there heads,goggles,face masks,sun glasses etc then that go and stand on a train.My dad cycled 14 miles a day to and from work,he would get of and walk at dangerous junctions etc,and he never even called himself a cyclist,but then i suppose he was just grateful that he had a cheap/free and very efficient form of transport.
- Kev, london, 13/11/2008 13:08
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Reg, London
so if i drive my lorry and a cyclist crashes into me and its his fault i have to pay a fine of £20,000,loose my job and have to retake my HGV test ? what planet are you on ? your attitude is typical of most cyclists who think the world owes them something for nothing in return .lets hope you dont have an accident soon !
- Peter Ex Londoner, Hartlepool, 13/11/2008 05:49
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The day cyclists pay road tax to use the public highways like the rest of us,...is the day I'll concede they have the right to cycle where I've paid to drive.
- Edd..., Great Bardfield, UK, 12/11/2008 15:23
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The only lesson these people will learn is a compulsory automatic fine of £20,000 for every collision with a cyclist, regardless of fault, automatic driving disqualification and a compulsory re-test. Court cases are expensive, wasteful and inefficient at determining liability in road cases, all too often resulting in "in the interests of natural justice .... the evidence is inconclusive ... we cannot bring ourselves to believe the driver committed a deliberate act of aggression ...". Yeah, and the fake UK driving licences too.
These new legal fines should be part of the normal cost of doing business. It's already 50% the price of rail or river for this environmentally disasterous mode of transport, and they don't cover even a fraction of the damage they do to our roads. About time these freeloaders started paying their way, and acting more accountably. The balance is wrong, and in a legal system with severely finite resources, automatic liability as in mainland Europe is the only way to go.
Should see a bit more respect for cyclist boxes at red lights after that, and less overtaking at junctions, which btw should be illegal in a civilised country.
- Reg, London, 12/11/2008 14:32
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How about lessons on city cycling laws fior Boris Johnson and David Cameron? I can't imagine Gordon Brown breaking the laws as frequently as they are seen to do, and with impunity
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 11/11/2008 20:15
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Wearing safety vests can only help.
Cycle at your own risk, just like life.
- Trunk, US, 11/11/2008 14:19
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Peter from Hartlepool
Perhaps you'd like to think how you'd feel about your little "joke" if you were the family of someone who had been killed by a lorry.
Best wishes
- Roger, London, 07/11/2008 12:33
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It is very rare for a cyclist to be knocked off after sneaking up the inside of a lorry.
Every cyclist fatality this and other papers have written on in the last few months have been of cyclists already waiting at the lights when a lorry overtook and cut across them. In one case the cyclist was right in front of the truck, so not exactly a blind spot, and the lorry just drove straight over them.
Instead of having all these pointless lessons, lets face it these are professional drivers with lots of training already, just introduce instant driving bans.
Instant driving bans are the only measure proven to reduce cyclist fatalities.
If a truck driver knows they'll lose their license and hence their livelihood, they'll be a lot more careful.
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark, 07/11/2008 08:17
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the ones who need a lesson or two are the cyclist because most of them seem unaware of any danger at all cutting buses, no indicating, overtaking you and then stopping all of a sudden in front of you, riding just 2 inches from the side of a lorry or even squeezing past two lorries and do whatever they like with total impunity and taking risks every single day. And don´t dare to tell them off because they get mad at you and become violent.
- John Span, london, 06/11/2008 23:45
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easier still ! why not ban cyclists altogether ! the polution they save will be offset by the fact not so many of them will be buried in the ground at cemetries and poluting the water table !
- Peter, Hartlepool, 06/11/2008 18:25
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Some of the people commentaing on this story need to get a sense of perspective: we are talking about a problem that has killed ten people this year alone. This seems to be a very sensible initiative and I hope other councils and other employers and operators of HGV vehicles will follow it.
- Andrew Miller, London, 06/11/2008 17:46
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Whilst you all get on your high horses (and be careful there isn't a cyclist behind you)and blame everyone else, please remember that it is the responsiblity of ALL road users - pedestrians, cyclists, car drivers, van drivers, truck drivers and bus drivers etc to act responsibly. We all have a duty to ensure that we use the roads safely and that lives are not tragacally lost and people are not seriously injured by careless and irresponsible behaviuor. Anything that helps to improve this situation or raises awareness of the issues be it cycling proficiency tests, cyle lessons for lorry and bus drivers or otherwise has to be a good thing. And I speak as a cyclist, pedestrian and a car driver. Perhaps basic road safety should start at school level - but that's another debate entirely.
- Karl, London UK, 06/11/2008 17:07
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Most London cyclists could do with a few lessons in humility before they start on anything as arduous as the Highway Code. At least lorry drivers don't attempt to drive down pavements like it was their god given right.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 06/11/2008 15:28
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Why do thay need training? All the training in the world wont stop cyclists from sneaking up on your left side just as your turning left and have indicated your intention to do so.Cyclists don't seem concerned for there own safety why should i be?And thay certainly are not concerned about any body else's as my dear mother will testify after been hit from behind whilst walking on the pavement just last week.
- Kev, London, 06/11/2008 15:27
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Maybe there should be compulsory training for pedestrians before they are allowed out on the pavements and roads.
Ipod fitted? Check
Brain disengaged? Check
Cappucino fitted to left hand? Check
Blinkers on? Check
Okay, you're now ready to be a London pedestrian! Make sure you step off the kerb by at least 18 inches BEFORE looking to see what is coming. Remember, if you can't hear anything, then nothing is coming. If you 'nearly' get knocked over by a silent bicycle again, you can grump to the Evening Standard about terrorist cyclists!
- George, London, 06/11/2008 15:22
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There IS training for cyclists, but this article does not mention it. Cycling proficiency tests still exist, in addition TFL has funded extra free cycle training and police are offering cyclists to see the view from inside a cab whilst on there way to work. Some of this is offered through the LCC or CTC who also provide 3rd party insurnace for about 35 pounds a year.
This is not compulsory because it would be very difficult and expensive to enforce.
- Psycholist, london, 06/11/2008 14:11
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Not even the emergency services are imune from thoughtless, boorish and dangerous behaviour around cyclists. The Highway Code tells you not to sound your horn behind a horse so why would you switch on your siren right behind a cyclist??
- Derek, London, 06/11/2008 13:12
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There are both bad drivers and bad cyclists. All cyclists should be made to undertake a cycling proficiency course so they are fully aware of the dangers presented by other vehicles and the dangers they present to pedestrians. No cyclist should be allowed to work as a courier without having passed. I am heartily sick of them treating pedestrians as posts on salom courses!
- Conspiracy Theorist, London, 06/11/2008 12:59
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What a waste of council tax payers hard earned money, why doe's every one have to learn about cyclist safety.....except the bloody cyclists?
- P I Staker, London, 06/11/2008 12:23
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I reckon the worst are skip, scaffolding lorries and tipper lorries (paid by the load. Use roads as a racetrack). These drivers are notoriously unprofessional and careless, the one who killed Emma Foa as he was checking his paperwork whilst turning a corner 
didn't even get a driving ban. He's still trundling round London's roads, as far as I know. Always worth remembering that if you can't see the driver he probably can't see you, but many lorry driver's habits are shockingly dangerous.
- Karl Meadows, West Ham, 06/11/2008 10:40
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