HGVs in towns and cities
- Thread starter Origamist
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OP
OP
Origamist
Legendary Member
User3143 said:
I'll give you more detail than that...
It's wet and windy in November 2006. I'm doing 25mph in the centre of the inside lane (a bus lane), with a bus behind me. Tipper truck doing 40mph + (in a 30mph zone) in the offside lane overtakes us both on Kennington Park Lane (A3) as we approach lights that are still green. I was going straight ahead in the bus lane towards Newington Butts, he then cuts straight across me whilst braking as he wanted to go to left into Kennington Lane. I slammed on the brakes but was still forced onto the pavement. FYI, bunny-hopping on a fixed wheel bike at speed is not easy. The bus driver opens his doors and checks I'm OK.
Image of the location:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=51.491144,-0.103265&spn=0.001191,0.002403&t=h&z=19
Last time an artic tried it on me was in Camden; I was in a bus lane and so invisible. I probably wasn't going all that fast and had time to pull up and room to avoid the back wheels cutting across. (The lorry was turning into the entrance of a building site, so this wasn't even a road junction.) Another time before that was also in Camden going up Archway when a lorry driver started to pass me then changed lanes. There were some parked cars on the left and I was physically squeezed between them and the side of the lorry. No excuse for the driver on either occasion.
Rhythm Thief
Legendary Member
- Location
- Ross on Wye
User3143 said:
Seconded. See, even other truck drivers have no time for tipper drivers! I'm sure there are tipper drivers out there who are a credit to their profession, kind to animals and who love their mothers, but I've yet to meet one. :?:
OP
OP
Origamist
Legendary Member
OP
OP
Origamist
Legendary Member
Post from uk.rec.cycling:
"We make serious documentaries for British TV - BBC and Channel 4
mostly, and are now working on programme about cycling accidents
involving heavy goods vehicles around the UK.
There have been several accidents, and deaths, in London so far this
year which have been comvered, to some extent, by the press.
But what about accidents outside London around the rest of the
country? We have found these very hard to find. If you know of such
accidents involving heavy good vehicles, outside of London, please get
in touch.
Many thanks. We would like your help."
http://groups.google.com/group/uk.rec.cycling/browse_thread/thread/28eebf9b258c96d0#
"We make serious documentaries for British TV - BBC and Channel 4
mostly, and are now working on programme about cycling accidents
involving heavy goods vehicles around the UK.
There have been several accidents, and deaths, in London so far this
year which have been comvered, to some extent, by the press.
But what about accidents outside London around the rest of the
country? We have found these very hard to find. If you know of such
accidents involving heavy good vehicles, outside of London, please get
in touch.
Many thanks. We would like your help."
http://groups.google.com/group/uk.rec.cycling/browse_thread/thread/28eebf9b258c96d0#
A new European Directive on truck mirrors is coming into force in Mar 09. It demands retro-fitting to current vehicles and will resolve some of the more dangerous blind spots in the near side area beneath the cab. The Directive is
2007/38/EC
Do a google and you will come across some interesting links on the subject.
2007/38/EC
Do a google and you will come across some interesting links on the subject.
Independent analaysis of all serious accidents involving involving cyclists and motor vehicles concludes that the driver was at fault about 75% of the time. This does not mean that the cyclist is never at fault and does not mean that in any individual case the driver was responsible.
Legislation is designed to minimise the dangers posed by motor vehicles in order to keep the roads as safe as possible, rather than allowing them to become dangerous and then requiring the most vulnerable to take extra care. Hence driving is strictly regulated, cycling much less so and walking hardly at all.
The problem with bikes and lorries is clearly indicated here; the driver has a very restricted view of the road nearest to his vehicle.
The law is being changed to improve the driver's view of the road, but without any urgency. Also, additional mirrors and Fresnel lenses don't entirely solve the problem. Compare a lorry with a bus, the bus has a cab like a fish tank by comparison and can see what's directly in front and to the side of his vehicle.
Near where I live there is a junction which has a barrier on the corner and a pedestrian refuge further down. Both are continually being damaged by lorries because the driver can't see exactly where they are when he's turning. A cyclist caught by a turning lorry would be crushed against the barrier exactly as this woman was. It is simply insane that such dangerous vehicles are being used in town when it is clear that such accidents do occur.
Legislation is designed to minimise the dangers posed by motor vehicles in order to keep the roads as safe as possible, rather than allowing them to become dangerous and then requiring the most vulnerable to take extra care. Hence driving is strictly regulated, cycling much less so and walking hardly at all.
The problem with bikes and lorries is clearly indicated here; the driver has a very restricted view of the road nearest to his vehicle.
The law is being changed to improve the driver's view of the road, but without any urgency. Also, additional mirrors and Fresnel lenses don't entirely solve the problem. Compare a lorry with a bus, the bus has a cab like a fish tank by comparison and can see what's directly in front and to the side of his vehicle.
Near where I live there is a junction which has a barrier on the corner and a pedestrian refuge further down. Both are continually being damaged by lorries because the driver can't see exactly where they are when he's turning. A cyclist caught by a turning lorry would be crushed against the barrier exactly as this woman was. It is simply insane that such dangerous vehicles are being used in town when it is clear that such accidents do occur.
You are using a generalising statistic when the risk of undertaking an LGV is a specific risk. Apples and pears I propose and the blame in many situations lies with a cyclist.
Mar 09 is pretty urgent when ALL LGV vehicles have to be retro fitted. You can't bring in a new law if the logistics of getting the mirrors have not been ironed out. I really think you are simply anti-LGV.
Mar 09 is pretty urgent when ALL LGV vehicles have to be retro fitted. You can't bring in a new law if the logistics of getting the mirrors have not been ironed out. I really think you are simply anti-LGV.
cycling fisherman
Senior Member
- Location
- Middlesbrough
Origamist said:
well you say that, but theres one or two members in this thread who are obviously anti lgv, i ask them members to watch this...
View: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HLzGj10fg2g
there are that many traffic offences in that one video your arguement is closed
cycling fisherman
Senior Member
- Location
- Middlesbrough
are you or are you not anti lgv? if you are not then i apologise but there are some members in this thread who are anti lgv
