Transport for London (TfL) and London Councils including Southwark Council are reviewing their consultation on the Safer Lorries Scheme based on the TfL report Safer Lorry Scheme The Way Forward. This would see a ban on most lorries over 3.5 tonnes that do not have safety equipment to protect cyclists and pedestrians from the capital’s streets.
The exemptions are wrong – lorries carrying containers for example – and hopefully the final scheme will remove such daft exemptions.
A close friend Brigitte Robinson was dragged under a lorries back wheel and died in this way some years ago. It left many of us heartbroken. Tragically this is still happening too often in London and even if the final scheme is implemented as proposed, with daft exemptions, it would improve the safety of all road users – cyclists, pedestrians and others.
The scheme will use a combination of powers held by TfL and London Boroughs to deliver a simple, quick and complete solution across all London roads. The proposed ban will require every vehicle in London over 3.5 tonnes, which are involved in a disproportionate number of fatal collisions with cyclists and pedestrians, to be fitted with sideguards to protect cyclists from being dragged under the wheels in the event of a collision. It will also require them to be fitted with mirrors giving the driver a better view of cyclists and pedestrians around their vehicles.
The ban would operate across London 24 hours a day, seven days a week, covering the same area as the London Low Emission Zone. It would be enforced by on-street enforcement and should move to CCTV cameras to ensure thorough compliance. Sadly this last part is subject to further approval by the Department for Transport and London boroughs.
Sainsbury’s have just revealed their new lorry for London with 360 degree CCTV coverage and working with Mercedes and body builder Solomon is hopefully the first of many companies confirming they will use Safer Lorries BEFORE the Safer Lorries Scheme comes into operation. Well done Sainsbury’s.