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Family of cyclist killed by truck call for HGV rush-hour ban
Mark Blunden1 Jun 2010
The family and friends of a cyclist who was killed by a 32-tonne tipper truck have called for a full investigation into cycle safety in London.
Television producer Eilidh Cairns, 30, was on her way to work when she was thrown from her bicycle and trapped beneath the vehicle's wheels in Notting Hill Gate. Her sister Kate Cairns, 37, said HGVs should be banned during rush hour in the capital, and fitted with more safety equipment, including sensors.
She added: “We know more measures can be put in place to stop deaths like Eilidh's; there is roughly a cyclist a month being killed on London's roads. We would like to see more research so that we can implement appropriate remedies. Until we know how and why these tragedies are happening we can't do that.”
Seven cyclists have been killed in London this year, compared with 13 in the whole of last year. After Eilidh's death on February 5 last year, truck driver Joao Lopes, 53, was charged with driving while his eyesight was such that he could not comply with requirements of a prescribed eye test. His trial opened at Kingston magistrates' court on Friday and was adjourned until October.
After the hearing, Kate Cairns said current safety measures for cyclists, such as cycling awareness lessons, were insufficient.
“Most of those killed are very experienced cyclists,” she said. “If anyone knew about cycling, Eilidh did — so why did this happen? I don't think it's acceptable to just say that these things happen, part of the problem is that people call it an accident.
“If you don't cycle yourself you know someone who does, it is in the public interest to research this and try to prevent it. My sister's death was preventable and unless more measures are put in place to reduce the rate at which people are dying her death will be in vain.
“It is not enough to just say that there are more cyclists and that's why there are more accidents: 80 per cent of cyclists' deaths are caused by HGVs, yet they only account for five per cent of the vehicles on the road.”
According to her research it would cost £554 to equip a truck with safety equipment, including sensors. “Why isn't that mandatory for an HGV that comes into London? That's saying to me that my sister's life isn't worth that much money,” she said.
Emma Chesterton, 33, who shared a flat with Eilidh and has known four cyclists killed in the past year, said she supported a ban on HGVs during rush hour. She pointed out that such vehicles were already banned at night in London because of the noise, adding: “What's more important — noise or a cyclist a month?”
No one saw the crash that killed Eilidh but an inquest heard that it was probable she had been in front of the truck, which was travelling at about 9mph. Her sister said: “The fact is that the two vehicles are incompatible, there was nothing she could do. But this is not about one individual and his eyesight, there is a systemic failure to protect the most vulnerable by the police, the CPS, the coroner and the industries that put these vehicles on tight roads without proper safety equipment.
“The deaths are all spread out, there is no 100 people dying at a time like in a train accident, and therefore there is no public inquiry, but this affects everybody. The deaths are not taken seriously because it is a cyclist and they are seen as putting themselves in danger.”
Reader views (15)
I will point out (since it has been raised even though its nothing to do with what happened to this poor woman) that if you as a driver cross a cycle lane whilst cyclists are using it, it can be considered as a lane change by you. Driving with due care and attention would mean that you'd wait until its safe to cross that cyclelane and indicate your intention before.
I also think that we dont really need cyclelanes. It would be far more prudent in many areas to use 20mph zones or set up "one-way" systems with cycle contraflow lanes. Its no great deal to have to drive down an extra road and we often do this when there are road works.
Cycling is becoming far more popular due to financial concerns, health concerns and because its a bit of a waste to use the car for less than a couple of miles. We as society need to do more to make the roads safer for all, yet I fail to see how banning HGVs will work. Instead, lets have a crack down by the Police on all the idiots, regardless of their mode of transport.
- DJC, Hampshire, 06/06/2010 15:58
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There seems to be a lot of discussion here about cyclists undertaking on the left - although it did not occur in this particular case, is is a well-known situation in many cyclist-HGV accidents. However, it is incorrect to refer to this as a 'tactic'. As any cyclist will be aware, cycle lanes are usually painted on the left-hand side of the road. To use a cycle lane in such a situation will inevitably mean that at some point you are undertaking a vehicle on the left. To make matters worse, most cycle lanes are much narrower than the recommended minimum width of 1.5m, and many are provisional lanes only. We desperately need better cycling infrastructure that both recognises the right of cyclists to be treated as traffic and protects their safety, not cycle lanes that are squeezed in as an afterthought on our busy roads.
- Bethan, Leeds, UK, 04/06/2010 14:35
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The death of this cyclist s a result of the actions of a driver who was driving with seriously impaired vision raises a number of important questions. The drivers' sight test, which this man failed, is in intself inadequate. It is unscientific and does not measure many vital aspects of vision - e.g. the driver's field of vision. So someone who passes the test may not be able to see movement on the edge of what they are actually looking at - such as a cyclist riding at the side of the road. We need a new and appropriate sight test for drivers and we need it now
- David Craig, Director of Operations, Association of Optometrists, London, UK, 02/06/2010 10:46
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The HGVs, like all other road users are on the road during rush hour for a reason. Banning ANYone would be utterly illogical.
A little exercise in logic - how many of these tragic deaths are cause by cyclists being hit from behind? Now, both sides of the "debate" - extrapolate (if you are incapable of doing so then you have a one track mind and thus cancel out your own arguments).
- Rogan, Irving, 01/06/2010 17:09
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Matt - you might wish to google cycle versus pedestrian fatalities to see how many fatalities and injuries your cycle ban would prevent. Next google car versus pedestrian fatalities (you might even think about child fatalities here) to gain a small little bit of perspective. Perceived risk and actual risk are two very different things. OK, people are aggrieved when cyclists run red lights, but there is a major difference between a car (even a small car about a tonne) and a cycle (about 15 kg) hitting you, let alone the velocity difference. Statistics show most drivers speed on 30mph roads as some time. Travel safely.
- Toby, London, 01/06/2010 16:44
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Terrible tragedy but, maybe it would be safer to ban cyclists during rush hour.
As a pedestrian in London, cyclists are far more of a safety concern than motor vehicles. Motor vehicles tend to obey the traffic laws. The same cannot be said of a lot of cyclists.
- Matt, London, 01/06/2010 15:20
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My Apologies, I am thinking of the wrong incident.
- scotty, london, 01/06/2010 14:42
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"Also was this woman undertaking on the left?"
No, try reading the article before jumping to conclusions.
- George, London, 01/06/2010 14:14
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"Are people suggesting that vehicles should give way to under-taking cyclists at left-turns? Why?"
Try reading the article again. Your eyesight appears to be as bad as the lorry drivers....
- George, London, 01/06/2010 14:11
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The driver of the truck has been charged with, but not yet found guilty of driving with poor eyesight.
So banning HGV's at rush hour would not have stopped someone getting killed by him at some point. Also was this woman undertaking on the left? it seems nearly all the deaths are caused by this tactic. How is that the fault of the HGV. Sure the case is tragic, but I think the family needs to get a perspective and stop lashing out in their grief.
- Kerry, Purley, 01/06/2010 14:04
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The family of this cyclist are incredibly brave to come forward and speak so forcibly in favour of restricting HGVs within London; let us hope that the 'powers that be' are listening.
I'm a cyclist and am often mindful that I 'share the road', however sharing the road with a vehicle (HGV) or driver that cannot see me is no kind of sharing at all...
The problem with HGVs killing cyclists has been well-known for many years now, indeed the British Medical Journal called for a ban about 10 years ago.
The existing 'Lorry Ban' restricts certain lorries from entering London between 9PM and the morning rush hour on the grounds of noise pollution issues. The most cyclist / HGV collisions happen in the morning peak. Why not amend the ban to allow hauliers to work later in the night (therefore doing more work when the roads are clearer) but setting back the time in the morning when they can use the roads? Clearing the AM peak of lorries will do more to improve cyclist and pedestrian safety than any kind of training or awareness scheme. There are half a MILLION cycle journeys in London every day, it's about time this issue was taken much more seriously and that our leaders acted on this! Where is Boris Johnson, the so-called cycling Mayor, on this??
Lastly...
@Scotty No, it was not established the driver was not at fault.
- MarkA, Bethnal Green, London, 01/06/2010 13:59
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Are people suggesting that vehicles should give way to under-taking cyclists at left-turns? Why?
- ST, London, 01/06/2010 12:47
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Why do HGVs ever need to be in the centre of the city? If we want to make London are more pedestrian and cycling-friendly city, to make it a more liveable city, then businesses (I work for one!) should make do with smaller delivery shuttle vehicles. Other UK cities have already embraced pedestrianisation and traffic calming, before we even discuss the rest of Europe, which is years ahead. Yes, it may add some cost. OK, we might need a small window for larger vehicles for construction (eg between 4 and 6am), but we must bring more imagination to making our cities greener and more pleasant places. Proper, segregated cycle lanes (and getting cyclists off pavements) are not expensive and can be done with political will. Think of the health cost savings, environmental benefits at such low cost compared to grand transport schemes that will take decades (eg high speed rail, trams, etc). The issue is not just the failure to test / manage the HGV driver's abilities here, it's about reducing the intimidation and risk created. Bus drivers also need a huge amount of training, as most are inconsiderate and dangerous close to bikes.
- Tom, North London, 01/06/2010 12:32
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Why all the stuff about 'safety features' and banning HGVs when the article states that 'truck driver Joao Lopes, 53, was charged with driving while his eyesight was such that he could not comply with requirements of a prescribed eye test'. Surely the first priority has to be to ensure that all drivers comply with the conditions attached to their licences, before we start introducing more restrictive practices.
- Jim, London, 01/06/2010 12:03
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incidents like these are terrible tragedies and no one can want to see a repeat.
However wasn't it established that the driver of the truck was not at fault?
- scotty, london, 01/06/2010 11:48
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