Safer trucking

And more from the FTA:

London Councils’ proposals to change Lorry Control scheme
a “missed opportunity” on cyclist safety - claims FTA
London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee decision to review the London Lorry Control Scheme (LLCS) has been described by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) as a missed opportunity. During a meeting yesterday the London Councils’ decided to hold a public consultation regarding changing the conditions of the London Lorry Control scheme to require heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) to fit cycle safety measures such as side guards and extra mirrors, and to consider restricting HGV movements during the morning peak
FTA’s Head of Urban Logistics and Regional Policy-Christopher Snelling said:
“The best thing London Councils could do for cycling safety is to reform the Control Scheme’s night-time restrictions so that quieter HGVs can more easily make deliveries at night. This would allow as many lorries as possible to operate outside the peak hours when most cyclists are on the roads. It seems strange whilst London Councils are talking about banning HGVs from operating during the peak hours, they are not talking about enabling HGVs to operate outside of this time.
“FTA is confused at the rationale for considering restricting HGV movements at peak times. London’s Cycling Commissioner himself has said that only 2 of the 14 deaths this year involved an HGV during the peak. There are also safety implications of replacing one HGV with many vans or having HGVs bunching up just after 9am when more vulnerable pedestrians are on the roads. There would also be significant negative implications for air quality and the cost of living in London from any such restriction.”
Regarding the proposal to add requirements for safety equipment to the Control Scheme’s conditions, Snelling commented:
“Introducing a restriction first at night risks the unintended consequence of some vehicles without these safety features moving operations into the day time when more cyclists are on the roads.”
“The way to improve safety is to take intelligent, targeted measures that can reduce the number of incidents and their severity. For HGVs, this means focusing on low quality operators who fail to follow legal safety requirements, and on ‘tipper’ constructions vehicles which are involved in a significant proportion of the most serious HGV/cyclist incidents.”
For this reason, FTA welcomed the recent increased enforcement efforts on HGVs by the Metropolitan Police on London’s streets, and helped draft and supports the new Construction Logistics Standard - which was launched this week.
Mr Snelling concluded:
“For cyclists this means taking up training; making themselves visible and understanding how HGVs manoeuvre so they do not put themselves at unnecessary risk. The aim should be to enable all users to share the roads safety – not to prevent any one user from using our roads – we all have our part to play in society.”