Police MAN helps drive London cycle safety

As part of its campaign to improve safety for cyclists in the capital, the Metropolitan Police has taken delivery of a new MAN TGX 26.480 6×2 tractor, which will form the centrepiece of its Exchanging Places cycling safety and education campaign.

The police-liveried truck will appear at a series of events across London to demonstrate to cyclists the unique challenges that face lorry drivers operating in the capital.

Sergeant Simon Castle is leading the Exchanging Places campaign. “We are extremely grateful to MAN, and Transport for London, for helping us acquire this superb new vehicle,” he said.

“Its sole purpose is to help us promote safer cycling, particularly when sharing the road with trucks – it’s all about truck awareness. We hope the eye-catching Met Police livery will attract the attention of even more Londoners to our Exchanging Places event, and allow us to show precisely the difficulties truck drivers face from their elevated, and isolated, position in the cab.”

Trucks are involved in the majority of fatalities and serious accidents involving cyclists in London. While just five per cent of all traffic in London is made up of heavy commercial vehicles, over 50 per cent of cycle fatalities involve trucks.

“Despite the appalling casualty figures, there is cause for optimism,” Sergeant Castle, continued. “From over 12,000 cyclists who have attended an Exchanging Places event thus far, 97 per cent stated that they will change their cycling style as a result, with 99 per cent stating they will recommend their friends and family attend a future Exchanging Places event.

“With the new MAN in our tool kit, I anticipate even more cyclists will want to climb aboard and get the driver’s eye view. We will also use the truck to highlight our ‘Three Es’ philosophy – Engineering, Education and Enforcement.”