Boris to ban trucks without safety equipment in London

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has announced proposals which he says will see lorries that are not fitted with safety equipment to protect cyclists and pedestrians being banned from the capital’s roads.

The move follows a spate of cyclist deaths last year, many of which involved collisions with heavy vehicles.

The proposed measure would mean that all vehicles operating in the capital which are more than 3.5 tonnes would need to be fitted with mirrors to provide improved visibility of cyclists and pedestrians, as well as sideguards aimed at protecting cyclists from being dragged under the wheels.

The rules would be enforced through CCTV monitoring and on-street checks, subject to central government approval.

In a press statement, the Greater London Authority said: “Under national legislation, many HGVs must already be fitted with this equipment. However, construction lorries, tipper trucks, waste vehicles, cement mixers and certain other forms of HGV are exempt from these and other safety requirements.

“The rising number of such vehicles in London’s building boom is a hazard to the growing number of cyclists, who now make up almost a quarter of all rush hour traffic in the centre.”

It added that of 16 cyclist deaths in the capital in 2011, nine involved HGVs – seven of which were construction lorries.

Johnson had previously announced an intention to negotiate new powers for limiting HGV activities in London, as part of a raft of measures designed to improve safety for cyclists on the capital’s roads.

But the newly-announced policy of a comprehensive ban has come about through the combination of powers held by Transport for London (TfL), which oversees policy across the Greater London area, and London Councils, the umbrella body representing the 32 London boroughs and the City of London Corporation.

Said Johnson: “In my Cycling Vision, I said that no lorry should be allowed in London unless it is fitted with equipment to protect cyclists. Neither I nor the boroughs have the power to ban lorries without safety equipment on our own. It was for that reason that I proposed to use a power I do have, to levy a hefty charge on lorries without such equipment. But I am pleased to say that after negotiations with London Councils, we can now combine our powers to propose a simple and comprehensive ban.”

The proposal will involve the drafting of a Traffic Regulation Order by TfL, which will ban HGVs without cyclist safety equipment from operating on its own roads, which are among the busiest routes, said to carry around 45 per cent of all HGV traffic in London.

Meanwhile, the transport and environment committee (TEC) of London Councils is proposing to create a concurrent, pan-London Traffic Regulation Order for borough-controlled roads, subject to legal procedure and a consultation. In its press statement, the GLA said this process will be completed “by the end of the year at the latest,” and possibly “as early as September.”

London’s transport commissioner, Sir Peter Hendy CBE, said: “London has long led the way in working with the freight industry to drive up standards, especially in terms of greater road safety, better driver training and reduced vehicle emissions. TfL will work with the London boroughs to deliver this proposed Safer Lorry Scheme and further demonstrate our commitment to safer roads for all.”

Councillor Catherine West, chair of London Councils’ TEC, added: “London Councils is supportive of further action to improve cycle safety in London and will continue to work closely with the Mayor and Transport for London to develop the proposal for a new London-wide Safer Lorry Scheme.

“London Councils is currently consulting on plans to improve cycle safety in London by making changes to the London Lorry Control Scheme that would require all lorries weighing over 18 tonnes to have extra mirrors and side guards before being issued a permit under the scheme.”

Details of the London Councils consultation can be found here.