Ban to protect cyclists from HGVs

LORRIES without safety equipment to protect cyclists and pedestrians are to be banned from travelling through London, it has been announced.

Transport for London (TfL) and local authorities have joined forces to agree a new traffic regulation which will come into force by the end of the year.

The proposed ban will require every vehicle over 3.5 tonnes to be fitted with sideguards to protect cyclists from being dragged under wheels, as well as mirrors to improve a driver's view of cyclists and pedestrians.

It will be enforced by CCTV cameras and on-street checks.

Mayor Boris Johnson said a "hefty" charge would be levied against those not complying with the new regulation.

HGVs have been involved in a number of fatal accidents with cyclists in recent years in London.

There were 14 cyclist deaths in London last year, nine involving HGVs.

Penny Knight, head of the cycling team at law firm Leigh Day, which represents British Cycling members, said: "These measures will be welcomed. However, it is just a shame that they did not come soon enough to save those cyclists and pedestrians who have died under the wheels of lorries in London.

"We still believe that more needs to be done around the infrastructure of the City to ensure cyclists and pedestrians are safe. No one measure will solve this problem."

British Cycling's campaigns manager Martin Key said: "There is a clear link between cyclist deaths, particularly in London, and HGVs. Over 50% of London's cycling deaths last year involved a collision with a lorry.

"TfL is leading the way on sorting this out and today's announcement is a significant step in our campaign to make cycling a more appealing form of transport for millions more people.

"The requirement that all HGVs are fitted with basic safety equipment may sound like an obvious move but the fact is that - despite the equipment being fitted as standard on most newer vehicles - thousands of lorries on the UK's roads are not fit for purpose and are putting cyclists at risk. We hope that local authorities across Britain follow suit and implement these regulations without delay."

By Alan Jones, Press Association