London bid to make trucks ‘safer for cyclists’

Transport for London (TfL) is to lobby the UK’s Department for Transport and the European Union to tighten up exemptions that allow many construction vehicles to operate without sideguards and under-run protection.

The commitment is contained in its document Safe Streets for London: The Road Safety Action Plan for London 2020.

TfL is also going to lobby for commercial vehicles used in urban areas to be designed to give the driver maximum visibility around the vehicle, and for devices such as side cameras and proximity sensors to be fitted to all new vehicles and retrofitted where possible. It hopes to use the forthcoming adoption of Whole Vehicle Type Approval to make such equipment compulsory for tippers and skip-loaders.

“The safe use of construction vehicles also needs to be addressed,” the report says.

“Between 2008 and 2011, 56 per cent of the cycling fatalities in London have involved large commercial vehicles, including a disproportionate number of construction vehicles. A recent TfL report into construction logistics and safety for cyclists identified 12 recommendations, including lobbying the Health and Safety Executive and working with vehicle manufacturers to improve future design. TfL will push for early resolution of the issues highlighted by this report and publish the outcomes.”

TfL also wants the Driver CPC periodic training to include vehicle roadworthiness, mirror alignment, indicating, spatial awareness and blind spots as compulsory subjects.

In addition, it commits to continuing support for the Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS).

 “The scheme is designed to help increase fleet operators’ awareness of road safety issues, paying particular attention to the safety of pedestrians and cyclists through a structured programme to help change management practices and driver behaviour,” it says.

The Crossrail project is highlighted by TfL as an example of the ways in which “contractual powers [can be used] to influence the behaviours of delivery and servicing activity.

“Contracts are being used as a way to ensure that suppliers’ vehicles, including those of subcontractors, conform to the highest practical specifications of safety equipment that protects cyclists, and that all drivers are fully trained in urban driving techniques – gold level accreditation of FORS.

“Furthermore, the Crossrail Lorry Driver Induction Training programme, specifically developed for lorry drivers working on the Crossrail project, aims to ensure drivers know how to drive carefully near to cyclists and other vulnerable road users,” it says.

TfL is also looking to place further restriction upon the size of vehicles that can be used in London, and the times and areas in which large vehicles can be used.

Reacting to the report, the Freight Transport Association said: “Restricting the size of lorries will ultimately lead to more vehicles on London’s roads – it would take 13 vans to carry the same amount of goods as a 26-tonne lorry. The cost to businesses operating in London would be considerable as the price of getting goods delivered would go up. The safety and environmental implications of putting more vehicles on London’s roads also do not seem to have been considered.

“The logistics industry has taken huge steps over the last few years to make vehicles safer and to improve drivers’ road safety skills. Many of the measures in the report will help support the logistics industry’s own efforts to make London’s roads safer. Efforts should be focused on specific problems; blanket measures that would add to the cost of doing business in London should be avoided.”