Sadiq Khan announces ban on dangerous lorries but delayed cycle safety measures

HGVs will be subjected to tighter controls under the plans
GLENN COPUS
Ross Lydall @RossLydall30 September 2016

Sadiq Khan today announced plans to ban the most dangerous lorries from London by 2020 by introducing a “star rating” for vehicles based on the driver’s view of pedestrians and cyclists.

However the Mayor faced immediate criticism for abandoning a popular scheme proposed by his predecessor Boris Johnson that would have required all HGVs to retro-fit glass panels in their passenger doors to reduce dangerous blind spots.

The “glass door” idea, which would have been quick and cheap to introduce, was backed by 96 per cent of individuals responding to a Transport for London consultation but was opposed by 81 per cent of the HGV industry, it emerged today.

Mr Khan’s alternative scheme gives lorry operators much longer to introduce safer vehicles. “Zero rated” construction lorries and cement mixers - the most deadly in terms of road deaths, because they have a blind spot almost three times larger than other lorries - will be allowed to remain on the capital’s streets until January 2020.

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

These vehicles have been involved in 79 per cent of cyclist deaths in the last three years, including those of Ying Tao at Bank and Claire Hitier-Abadie in Victoria last year.

Under the Mayor’s plans, only “three star” lorries - those rated “good” for safety - or those with a higher rating will be allowed in the capital by 2024.

Sadiq Khan's vision of 'five star' lorries
Craig Pusey

Vehicles get one star if they make safety modifications, such as fitting an extra side-window or a lower dashboard. Vehicles with side bars and extra mirrors get three stars. Those with low-entry cabs and “direct vision” panoramic views get five stars.

A Loughborough university study found that all of these cyclists are invisible to a lorry driver sitting in their cab

Mr Khan dropped the “glass door” scheme after research by the Transport Research Laboratory found they were of limited use in helping drivers to spot cyclists on their nearside, and would do nothing to help them spot pedestrians walking in front of their lorry.

Crucially, the researchers say that even drivers of “five star” HGVs will not be able to avoid “a significant proportion” of cyclist crashes - effectively highlighting the need for more segregated cycle lanes.

The limited view of cyclists via the lower glass panel favoured by former Mayor Boris Johnson

Last year the number of road fatalities in London increased by nine to 136, including 66 pedestrians, 36 motorbike or scooter riders and nine cyclists, seven of whom were killed in collisions with left-turning lorries.

Mr Khan said TfL would not use zero-rated lorries from next year and added: “I’m confident that many of our lorries will now be upgraded before the ban comes into place.”

Andrew Gilligan, who was Boris Johnson’s cycling commissioner, said: “HGV operators will not be required to make any improvements to their lorries’ safety for a further three-and-a-quarter years, and London’s cyclists will pay the price for it.”

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