Action needed to deliver step-change in cycle safety
Posted: 12th February 2013
Posted in: Bicycle Accidents
An independent review has looked at how cycle safety is considered within the design and operation of construction vehicles within the construction industry.
The review was commissioned by Transport for London, after a spate of serious incidents involving construction vehicles and cyclists over recent years. Between 2008 and 2011, 56% of the cycling fatalities in London have involved large commercial vehicles, including a disproportionate number of construction vehicles.
The independent review has made 12 recommendations that will deliver a real step-change in road safety within the industry. These include:
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) should look at extending regulations that govern the reporting of on road collisions. That could help bring greater responsibility on contractors to monitor and, where necessary, improve driver behaviour.
- Vehicle manufacturers should carry out more research into the blind spots of construction vehicles. Research in the report shows that certain models of cement mixers can have a blind spot which is up to 50% larger than that of a 7.5 tonne “curtain-sided” delivery lorry.
- Contractors and their clients should look into setting more realistic time slots for deliveries. That could help reduce pressure on drivers facing challenging delivery deadlines and help reduce the risk of driver errors.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: ‘The report contains some hugely important findings and our task now is to press the construction industry, safety regulators, highway authorities and politicians to make it a priority to take forward the recommendations made in this report.‘
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