'Blind spots' in HGVs analysed to reduce cyclist deaths on roads
- Aug 17, 2016
- EmmaArnold
New proposals to help prevent lorries hitting cyclists are to be revealed next month.
Researchers identified that HGVs pose the biggest dangers to cyclists and pedestrians due to the significant 'blind spot' in some vehicles.
The team from Loughborough University found some HGVs have a 'blind spot' almost three times larger than other lorries.
Research was commission by Transport for London (TfL) after the number of cyclists killed in London rose dramatically in recent years.
The proposed plans will require HGVs in the capital to have larger windscreens, lower driving position and glass panels in the passenger doors.
Gary Herbert, Senior personal injury Solicitor at PotterReesDolan, said:
As a personal injury solicitor it is frustrating that we see so many seriously injured cyclists or pedestrians where the circumstances of their accidents are very similar. Typically they result from lorry drivers being prevented from seeing the victims even when they are very close to their cab by the design of the lorry itself.
Anything that can be done to improve the opportunities for drivers to see vulnerable road users is welcome and hopefully this can produce progress in lorry design beyond London so prevent these accidents.
The plans are based in London as seven of the nine cyclists who were killed in the city last year involved HGVs.
Researchers used data from real-life collisions to recreate dangerous scenes and then modelled the driver's sight lines to determine the driver's blind spots [pictured].
Since the findings, the team are calling for European rules to specify what should be visible from the driver's seat.