Death by lorry in the spotlight again
Death by lorry in the news again (BikeRadar)
The risk to cyclists of ‘death by lorry’ will be in the spotlight again this week.
UK journalist Andrew Gilligan will be presenting a special edition of ITV1 show The London Programme, examining the danger posed by HGVs to cyclists in the capital.
Half of all serious and fatal accidents involving London cyclists are caused by lorries pulling away from traffic lights – and turning left into a cyclist as they’ve failed to see.
Mr Gilligan, who shot to notoriety over the Iraq war dodgy dossier affair, now works for London’s main paper, the Evening Standard, which launched a Safer Cycling Campaign last year.
It sets out a manifesto for improving cycling in the capital – including better mirrors for lorries and cycling training awareness for bus and HGV drivers.
The ITV publicity material for The London Programme Death by Lorry edition, states: “One cyclist is killed or seriously injured every day in the capital.
“Andrew Gilligan investigates whether cycling is now too dangerous to contemplate and what can be done to safeguard people taking the healthy, eco-friendly transport option.”
However, London Cycling Campaign, which has long campaigned for better mirrors on lorries, warned the programme could be sensationalising the issue.
Cycling development officer Charlie Lloyd told BikeRadar.com: “I’d seriously dispute presenting the [figures] in that way.
“Ten people are seriously injured or killed every day in London – including pedestrians, car drivers, and by buses. Fewer than one of them are cyclists and others – pedestrians or car owners and other motorists, are in more danger.
“One [cyclist] every three weeks is actually killed. The programme makes it sound much worse than that.”
Last week Transport for London handed out 10,000 special stick-on mirrors, designed to help lorry drivers spot cyclists.
The Fresnel mirrors, worth about £4 each, give an extra angle to a driver’s vision, reducing the number of blind spots. TfL is launching a TV ad highlighting the dangers that trucks pose to cyclists. It is also handing bicycle riders windup bicycle lights to make them more visible, while promoting free or subsidised adult cycle training.
Mr Lloyd said: “We have definitely got a positive reaction from TfL’s freight people.
“We’re pleased that they are taking it’s seriously. It’s something that will make a difference.”
He said one of the most important moves would be to get older lorries retrofitted with better mirrors designed to eliminate blindspots.
New EU laws mean this will be compulsory on older vehicles in a year’s time.
The LCC has accused the Government of dragging its heels on implementing the improved mirrors – an accusation ministers have dismissed.
BikeRadar.com has attempted to talk to the producers of The London Programme but got no response last night.
The London Programme, Death by Lorry, is on ITV London on Friday, March 21 at 8pm.
User Comments
There are 3 comments on this post
Showing 1 - 3 of 3 comments
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SmellTheGlove
Posted Thu 20 Mar, 5:19 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
Ways to avoid tangling with left turning vehicles:
1. take the lane whenever the road noise suggests danger from behind
2. never foot it kerbside at junctions alongside stationary traffic
can anyone add more lifesavers here?
I ride regularly throughout London by the way.
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hodsgod
Posted Fri 21 Mar, 1:27 am UTC Flag as inappropriate
This si a true and acurate story, my father a truck driver all his life pulled up at a signal, two young boys pulled up half way along the inside of his truck. As the signal turned green, the boys wobbled a little, one knocked the other under the rear wheels of my fathers truck. It's a sad story with a young chiold now a man in a wheel chair. It is avoidable and we cyclists have to take responsibility too.
In traffic I make my self as big as possible. I take up a whole lane while waiting in a queue at traffic signals. I never over or undertake at a red light, and therefore I feel happy to take my lane.
The best advice is to not put yourself in such a situation, if you dont ride up the inside, the driver wont miss you.
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charlie_lcc
Posted Tue 25 Mar, 5:12 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
The really dangerous lorries are not the ones you sqeeze up alongside. A big lorry turning left will be a long way from the kerb, often over 2 metres to the right in the outside lane, when they start to turn they cut across you very quickly. Most of the seriously injured cyclists are hit by the front wheels of the lorry, not the back as shown in the London Programme mock-up.
Remember: lorries and cars don't have to make a signal before turning left, if there is a road or entrance on you left some idiot driver could try to cut across you to get there, watch out all the time.
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