Lorries are involved in more than half of cyclist deaths in London despite making up tiny fraction of traffic

A bike trapped underneath the wheel of a truck
Twitter/@‏TwoWheelsGoodUK
Ross Lydall @RossLydall26 November 2015

HGVs are involved in 57 per cent of London cyclist deaths despite making up just 3.5 per cent of traffic, research revealed today.

The shocking statistics were released by leading figures in the construction industry as they vowed to do more to tackle “unacceptable” collision rates.

More than three-quarters of crashes were at junctions, while two in every five were at traffic lights — with none involving cyclists jumping a red light.

Of the deaths at traffic lights, 62 per cent involved lorries turning left or moving off, with the cyclist being struck by the front or near-side of the vehicle.

The findings, which analysed the 107 cycle deaths in London between January 2007 and August 2014, were published by the construction industry cycling commission alongside a 10-point manifesto to improve road safety.

Sixty-one of the deaths involved HGVs, many of which were working on construction sites.

Collision: Moira Gemmill died after she was hit by a lorry near Lambeth Bridge

Lorries were involved in seven of the eight cyclist deaths this year. In at least three — those of Claire Hitier-Abadie, Ying Tao and Moira Gemmill, a leading figure in London’s world of arts and design — it is thought to have been a construction vehicle.

The commission wants the industry to commit to safety measures such as retro-fitting side detectors, safety bars and direct-vision cabs.

It calls for cycle safety to be part of the “considerate contractors” accreditation, for drivers to receive safety training and for “health and safety on the road to be as important as it is on site”.

The industry is also urged to endorse fully segregated cycle superhighways.

Ying Tao was killed in a crash with a lorry at Bank
City of London Police

Commission chairman Mike Hussey, chief executive of property developer Almacantar, said: “The level of cycling accidents in the UK is simply unacceptable.

"As an industry, we have an obligation to improve the dangerous conditions cyclists face, so I urge our peers to join us and commit to our recommendations.”

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