MPs recommend HGV access restrictions to drive cyclist safety
A group of MPs has recommended a variety of measures in order to drive up safety standards for cyclists on Britain’s roads, including access restrictions for HGVs at busy times in urban areas.
In a report entitled Get Britain Cycling, the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling Group recommended that HGV safety be improved through: “vehicle design, driver training, and mutual awareness with cyclists”, as well as through the promotion of rail freight.
It suggested that the use of HGVs should be limited: “on the busiest urban streets at the busiest times,” and that “public sector projects” be used “to drive fleet improvements.”
Additionally, the group advocated “strengthen[ing] the enforcement of road traffic law, including speed limits, and ensuring that driving offences – especially those resulting in death or injury – are treated sufficiently seriously by police, prosecutors and judges.”
20mph speed limits in towns should be extended, the report said, and 40mph limits considered on many rural lanes.
More detailed sugggestions, which were raised by cycling organisations in evidence submitted to the parliamentary group, included specific design modifications and the installation of safety equipment. Among the solutions proposed were: “larger windows (and less metal) on the fronts and side-panels of lorry cabs; lowering the driver’s seating position, fitting cameras, sensors linked to audible warning devices, under-running side guards, and simple warning signs to cyclists on the backs of lorries.”
Other recommendations made in evidence included more active roles for the Health & Safety Executive and/or the traffic commissioners, and the implementation by local authorities of Transport for London’s existing Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) or a similar accreditation process, to ensure contractors met minimum design, equipment and training standards.
The report is likely to be music to the ears of the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. The Mayor recently outlined his own cycling vision for the capital which, if implemented, would place numerous new constraints on HGV operators, including requirements for safety equipment, cycle awareness training and possible access restrictions.
The European Commission has also recently announced proposals under which current length limits applying to HGVs could be relaxed in order to incorporate safety features such as rounded cabs, which it said would reduce the number of HGV-related cyclist and pedestrian deaths.
Whilst generally welcoming the report, the Freight Transport Association said some of the suggested measures could be impractical and economically damaging.
On the proposal that HGVs should be restricted from using some busy routes between certain hours, FTA head of urban logistics policy Christopher Snelling commented: “These routes are busy for a reason – they are the economic lifeblood of our urban areas. To prevent lorries using them would add to the difficulty and cost of running shops, offices and other businesses in our towns and cities.
“Just because a route is busy does not automatically mean it is dangerous. It is strange to be talking about introducing restrictions when it is public regulations that currently prevent lorries making deliveries at night, forcing deliveries into the first part of the day just when the most cyclists are on the road. If these deliveries don’t happen when customers need them; businesses will close and cities will suffer.”
He added: “the key factor in improving safety on our roads is about road user behaviour. Drivers and cyclists both have their part to play and the recommendations in the report for more training and better awareness on both sides are supported. The industry looks forward to continuing its work with cyclists to make our roads safer places for everyone.”
