Transport for London (TfL) is set to announce a number of proposals designed to improve visibility for HGV drivers. (Evening Standard)
The new proposals, which will be announced next month, will require HGVs to have ‘direct vision’ glass panels in passenger doors, larger windscreens and a lower driver’s position.
Unveiled by Val Shawcross, London’s deputy mayor for transport, the new designs are intended to reduce the impact of blind spots and improve the safety of vulnerable road users.
The announcement follows the publication of research commissioned by TfL to identify the most dangerous cab designs.
Carried out by researchers at Loughborough University, the study analysed the cab designs of 19 of the most widely used HGVs and found that those with high cabs have the most blind spots.
The number of cyclists killed or seriously injured in London rose by 59% between 2000 and 2012. In 2015, seven of the nine cyclists killed in London involved HGVs – a key reason behind TfL’s decision to commission the Loughborough study.
In September 2014, TfL introduced a London-wide safer lorries scheme, requiring HGVs above 3.5 tonnes to have extra ‘blind spot’ mirrors and sidebars to prevent cyclists being pulled under the wheels of left-turning vehicles.
Val Shawcross told the Evening Standard: “Direct vision was one of the key commitments of Sadiq’s campaign (to be elected as mayor).
“We will be able to announce something within the next month. The question will be around how quickly can things change in the industry.”
16 August 2016