Police advocate 'role reversal' for cyclists and truckers

BRITAIN’S most senior police officer has advocated a scheme to improve cyclists' and lorry drivers' understanding of each other's needs on the road following a spate of deaths.

Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said drivers and cyclists need to think about how they use the road.

Speaking on LBC 97.3, he said: "It's a tragedy that we've had so many deaths in the last few days. I think overall it looks as though there are fewer cycle deaths per cycle journey, but that's no comfort to the poor families who've lost someone.

"We've all got to think about the way that we drive and the way that we cycle. It is difficult for the drivers. They're big vehicles, they can't always see out properly but they've got to take a little bit more care. When you've got such a big vehicle, then obviously they can be killing machines.

"Equally, if you've got your own cycle, you've got to abide by the rules of the road and you've got to think about your own safety."

The force runs a scheme called Exchanging Places where cyclists and lorry drivers swap transport to understand how each views the road.

Sir Bernard said: "We've got the Met's Exchanging Places scheme and that's where cyclists and lorry drivers swap places and see the roads from each other's perspective and 95% of the cyclists who took part said they would never have understood just how difficult it is for lorry drivers. There's huge blind spots.

"But equally, the drivers have got to think that but for a wobble, they could be in front of a vehicle. I think for many people, we've all got to think carefully about how we drive and how we cycle."

Questions have been raised about road safety after five cyclist deaths in London in nine days. A total of 13 bike users have been killed on London's roads so far this year.

By Press Association reporter