Sensor that tells lorry drivers when cyclists are in blind spot wins Guardian innovation award

Looking at the diagram I don't think a large blue striped fan shape attached to the front of my bike would really help. The wind resistance without flapping around would be terrible...

I don't think this relies on GPS - the article talks about sensors in the lorry reading info from a transmitter on the bike.

The obvious possibility is that this might be achievable using an app for smart-phones, which presumably will be ubiqitous in a few years. That would negate the need for any special equipment, on the cyclist's part at least. Mobile phones already emit random signals which can be tracked, although the privacy implications are another matter. See here:

http://www.pathintelligence.com/en/products/footpath/footpath-technology

I have to admit a slight bias though. I cycled across Romania with Kevin Fong when we were both young pups. I then lost touch with him, but miss him dearly!!

I was just about to write a reply about all the reasons I think this is a really bad idea, but horizontal dropout has said it all for me....

I think this is quite worrying for several reasons:

The technology here isn't really explained in enough detail but if it relies on GPS I wouldn't trust it. My phone GPS tracker tells me I've been through peoples gardens, over roofs, along the middle of the river etc. Could it this device tell a lorry driver where I am to within half a meter?

As bobbypuk says there is the issue of liability - if the battery in your transmitter has run out and you get run over, who is at fault? What about all the bikes that don't have them? If you don't have one will the courts and insurance companies start apportioning greater liability to the cyclist as they are with helmet wearing?

It's pretty unlikely that all bikes will be equipped with transmitters. Does a lorry driver assume that if there is no warning signal there are no bikes nearby? That increases the risk for those without.

The whole approach seems to be more of the same - make the cyclist responsible, don't address the real problems.

So no thanks, I'll take better infrastructure, better education for drivers and all the other approaches which really make cycling and streets in general better. Jan Gehls would just laugh.

PS, it would be interesting to see the breakdown of motorists and cyclists in the voting for and against this entry.

Strikes me as a REALLY bad idea. Over reliance on technology leads to lazy drivers who don't think or look, just look at people blindly following satnav for an example of this.

And then there's the question of liability. If a cyclist is injured and the alarm hadn't gone off whose fault is it? Could the driver excuse their behaviour based on the failure? Will cyclists assume with these that lorries are aware of them?

Anything that shifts responsibility from drivers and cyclists to anywhere else is a bad idea. The solution is educating both parties, better designed roads and lorries and proper penalties for people making mistakes.

Not only is there little point in a proximity alarm (which is already available on many cars when reversing) unless it's compulsory, but drivers will become dependent on it and not bother to look when they can see in their mirrors.

mmmm, nice thought, slightly misplaced as you say.

These things already exist on Dakar races, they warn approaching vehicles on sanddunes of motorcyclists stranded on the blind side of dunes. Reverse use but same idea.

Cost - thats going to be the main issue here...and then theres the issue of reliance of technology rather than awareness of the road. Could cause more harm than good, almost excluding cyclists that dont have the sensor.

Its a start and a thought.....raising awareness!