Boris and DfT announce HGV crackdown in capital

By Categories: NewsPublished On: Saturday 14 September 2013

cyclinglondonThe Department for Transport (DfT) and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, are to establish what is being billed as a “new industrial HGV taskforce”, which they claim will “take direct action against dangerous HGV drivers, vehicles and operators” in the capital.

HGV standards enforcement in Greater London will be strengthened, DfT and Transport for London (TfL) claimed, “by dedicating more VOSA and Metropolitan Police officers to this activity.”

Meanwhile, the Mayor is consulting residents of Greater London “on whether he should use his powers to levy a substantial ‘safer lorry charge’ on any HGV which is not fitted with basic safety equipment to protect cyclists.”

Roads minister Stephen Hammond also announced that the DfT would review current exemptions to vehicle regulations “which mean some construction and waste carrying lorries do not have to be fitted with side guards.” The increasing number of such vehicles operating in London, the DfT said, “present a risk to the growing number of cyclists, who now make up almost a quarter of all rush hour traffic in the centre.”

 The department “will also review the way regulations applying to specialised mobile equipment such as volumetric concrete mixers and mobile cranes are enforced.”

DfT has also called for the European Union to expedite its review on HGV design to increase visibility of vulnerable road users – and is issuing a call for evidence about possible changes to driver training.

Said Hammond: “The government is committed to improving the safety of cyclists and other vulnerable road users. Today’s (4 September 2013) announcement of a dedicated industrial HGV taskforce will target the small minority of large goods vehicle operators who are unaware of, or just wilfully non-compliant with, safety regulations for HGVs and their drivers.

“I have also committed to review vehicle regulations to ensure there are no unjustified exemptions from safety standards and, together with the Mayor, will press the EU to improve vehicle safety designs as soon as possible.”

Boris Johnson added: “I have long been worried that a large number of cyclist deaths involve a relatively small number of problem lorries which are not fitted with safety equipment. In my cycling vision in March, I said that no lorry should be allowed in London unless it is fitted with equipment to protect cyclists. After a lot of work behind the scenes, we have today taken the first steps to make this a reality.”

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) immediately expressed concern about the plans, claiming there were better ways of achieving safer roads than through Johnson’s proposed ‘Safer Lorry Charge’.

Said policy director Karen Dee: “FTA views the Mayor’s decision as unprecedented and authoritarian and considers it to be one that will create a mess of confused standards, leaving HGV operators not knowing what they are trying to achieve.

“Improving road safety is a priority for FTA members and many lorry operators already work to the highest standards. A huge amount of investment has been made by responsible operators who have gone over and above the minimum legal requirements to ensure that safety equipment is fitted to their vehicles. There are better ways of achieving safe roads for all road users.”

Dee added: “We need to see cyclists taking responsibility for their actions, obeying traffic regulations, giving space to HGVs making manoeuvres and generally riding responsibly. Unless you also improve the behaviour of cyclists, the problem will not improve in the way that everyone wants.”

Meanwhile, safety equipment supplier Brigade Electronics said it welcomed the Mayor’s decision to consult on plans to charge vehicles operating in London without safety devices to protect cyclists – but warned that any such scheme must be carefully managed, and that consultation with both operators and equipment suppliers was ‘paramount’.

Emily Hardy, the company’s marketing communications manager, said: “There are quite a few schemes in operation now that require operators to fit devices such as side view cameras, Sidescan ultrasonic obstacle detection systems and reversing alarms.” Among those that stipulate requirements are Crossrail, Transport for London’s Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) and the Mineral Products Association (MPA).

Hardy continued: “Some sites will refuse drivers entry unles they can prove they are compliant. The problem is that we are seeing increasing variations between schemes, and operators are confused as to what product they need to fit and where… What we would like to see is one uniform standard across all these schemes created from a partnership of suppliers, operators and regulators working together to achieve a standard of excellence.”