Dangers from HGVs to cyclists and pedestrians - Proposals to TfL

[Origamist]

Dangers from HGVs to cyclists and pedestrians Proposals to TfL for a campaign—AAT revised

Background to the proposals

The problem is longstanding and has been the subject of previous initiatives. These have shown that there is no “magic bullet”. A range of measures is needed to make a sufficient impact

Proposals
The proposals are organised by vehicle (HGV), road user, road environment, and safety management.

HGV
1. Mirrors. TfL should examine the imposition of restrictions on lorries allowed on streets in the GLA area. Such restrictions could be progressively tightened. Currently HGVs without front-facing mirrors (unless newer than 2007),

• HGVs with cabs and windscreens designed for inter-urban use, such that drivers cannot see their surroundings and have to rely on up to six mirrors
• HGVs without warning signs, and are allowed on London streets crowded with pedestrians and cyclists.

2. Sideguards. HGVs without side overrun guards are also allowed to operate in London. Exclusions should be reconsidered, The aim should be to go progressively beyond the requirements of national and EU legislation to a situation in which HGV drivers in London can see their surroundings and operations are safe enough to aspire to zero deaths and serious injuries. Steps along this progression could be the establishment of transhipment centres and the development of a “London lorry


3. Sensors and alarms. Operators should be strongly encouraged to introduce sensors and alarms, as has Cemex.


4. Warning signs
a. Cyclists. Every lorry should have a warning sign displayed on the rear nearside
b. Pedestrians. On the sides of HGVs at the front nearside, there should be warning signs about walking close to the front of a stationary lorry


Road user
5. Training programmes
a. Lorry drivers. The new training requirements for HGV drivers ( hours per year) make it possible to develop a focussed module, as has been done by LCC for bus drivers. A challenge will be to reach self-employed drivers and smaller firms. What about extending Lambeth programme
b. Foreign drivers. A special training course should be mandatory for drivers of foreign registered HGVs on London’s roads. [WOULD THIS BE CONTRARY TO EU LAW ON FAIR TRADE?]


6. Public awareness campaigns
a. Cyclists. Messages need to stress the specific dangers, without portraying all cycling as dangerous.
b. Pedestrians. The danger to pedestrians is less well known than that to cyclists and a media campaign may be needed.
c. ‘Exchanging Places’ demonstrations. Placing HGVs in prominent places, such as Trafalgar Square, and inviting cyclists into the cabs should be extended to target pedestrians. To increase HGV drivers’ awareness, similar demonstrations should be organised at lorry parks just outside London.
d. Videos. Clear, easy to understand, videos showing dangers should be made readily available for widespread distribution. The latest Metropolitan Police video is useful, but needs professional editing.
e. Reporting campaign. Cyclists and pedestrians should be encouraged to report bad driving involving HGVs before a death or serious injury occurs. AND THE POLICE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED/ ORDERED TO TAKE THESE SERIOUSLY AND PROSECUTE WHERE POSSIBLE. CAN THEY LEGALLY DO SO ON WITNESS EVIDENCE SUCH AS THIS.

Safety management

7. Coordination
a. Commission. A standing Commission, led by TfL and including representatives from the Metropolitan Police, Cycling and Walking organisations, lorry operators, DfT and others, should be established to ensure good coordination.
b. DfT A closer dialogue with DfT is needed, including on side overrun guards, where the DfT has not followed up the report it commissioned from TRL some years ago

 

[Origamist]

8. Research and policy development
a. Update. Knowledge of the problem and possible remedies should be brought together in a single report. This should take account of the current study on Cyclists’ Safety for the DfT. The research in 2007 on cyclists’ deaths should be brought up to date and extended to cover pedestrians.
b. Database. A constantly updated database of HGV-related deaths and serious injuries should be available to all parties concerned.
c. Reporting. Additional data should be collected on each K/SI collision involving an HGV and a pedestrian or cyclist. This data should include presence of mirrors, sideguard, warning signs, alarms, sensors, height of cab, presence of ‘blindspot’, driver’s vision etc
d. Collision investigators. A meeting should be convened of collision investigators to garner lessons from their experience and insights.
e. Annual review. An annual review should be held with findings presented to the public
f. Research. Research should be conducted into the practicality of a London lorry with a smaller cab design and also the benefits for London of a civil compensation system based on driver liability, as being currently discussed in Scotland

9. HGV operators. A Code of Conduct for operators should be available and promoted through trade associations and the police.

10. Freight Operators Recognition Scheme. This TfL scheme should be expanded as quickly as possible. All public bodies in London, particularly London local authorities, should be gold standard members and should only employ FORS members for haulage contracts.

11. Commercial Vehicle Education Unit. The CVEU has done much good work publicising the risk of HGVs to cyclists and should be continued. Collision investigation reports should include copies of their visit reports to any company whose driver was involved in a fatal crash.

12. Trade associations. The Freight Transport Association, the Road Haulage Association, the Mineral Products Association and other trade associations should be fully brought into this campaign

13. Operators. The new obligations under the Corporate Manslaughter legislation and Health and Safety guidance need to be promulgated more strongly, especially to smaller operators.

14. Prosecutions. A closer dialogue is need with the Ministry for Justice on prosecution policy. The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency has been provided with additional powers and resources, so the current very low level of deterrent prosecutions could be raised.

15. Funding. A campaign adequately addressing the above topics would require funding, both internally and for any NGO input required

16. Considerate Contractor Scheme. This should be extended to include approach roads to construction sites. I see this is a City of London scheme. More widespread is the Considerate Constructors Scheme as my comments above and detail of which is below FYI

Road environment
17. Fatal collision site inspection. Each site of a fatal collision should be reviewed for altered street lay-out there and lessons elsewhere

18. Trixie mirrors. The trials of Trixie mirrors on cycle super highways could lead to more widespread use.

19. Junction design. The indirect road danger from traffic speeds created by curves designed to accommodate HGVs could be reduced by tighter curves, with cobbled areas for HGVs

20. Major construction projects. Special measures should be developed for HGVs for the Olympics, Crossrail and other major projects (A high proportion of HGVs delivering to the main Olympic site failed a Police check last year).

 

[joolsybools]

Good stuff. Have you already sent this or are you looking for comments first?

 

[Origamist]

Good stuff. Have you already sent this or are you looking for comments first?

It was authored by Roadpeace. I think the consultation cut-off is today though.

You can email them through their website.

 

[sheddy]

new consultation on raising speed limits for HGVs on ordinary roads http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-34

Does anyone know waht they mean by 'platooning' in Q9 and Q10 ?

 

[snorri]

new consultation on raising speed limits for HGVs on ordinary roads http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-34

Does anyone know waht they mean by 'platooning' in Q9 and Q10 ?

A build of traffic behind a relatively slow moving lorry, described in paragraph two of the Introduction on page 5 of the Consultation Document.