New regulations come into force in London on 1 September 2015, which will ensure that only lorries with basic safety equipment fitted will be allowed on London’s roads.
This includes construction vehicles which are involved in a number of fatal collisions involving cyclists and pedestrians.
Under the scheme, vehicles over 3.5 tonnes (with very few exemptions) will be required to be fitted with:
- Class V and Class VI mirrors giving the driver a better view of cyclists and pedestrians around their vehicles
- side guards to protect cyclists from being dragged under the wheels in the event of a collision
Visit Transport for London for more details on the scheme. The requirements under the Safer Lorry Scheme are also necessary for operators that are Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) accredited.
All roads in Greater London (except motorways) will be covered by the scheme. It will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will be enforced by the police and DVSA.
The maximum fine for each breach of the ban will be £1,000. The relevant Traffic Commissioner, who has the power to modify or suspend operator licences will also be notified of companies operating vehicles in breach of the scheme.
3 comments
Comment by janet posted on
i agree with albert, why are the hgv's penalised when the majority of these accidents are actually caused by the cyclist, will there be anything to tackle the problem of cyclist being able to weave in and out of traffic and squeezing past large vehicles? surely the stupiity of these cyclists is the reason that there are so many incidents?
Comment by Marcus posted on
Although I agree with safety as a number 1 priority it's yet another amount of money that the smaller companies have to pay yet again on there vehicles.
For the self employed people out there just to get there o licence costs a fortune! So trying to keep your business running proves harder and harder with enforcements popping up every year.
When are we going to get a little help?
Comment by Albert Matchett, MD Fast Track Drivers posted on
When are Cyclists going to be required to have public liability insurance,
to cover the accidents and damages they can cause to other traffic and pedestrians ?
When a cyclist causes an accident with a lorry,
The lorry operator suffers considerable financial loss and distress.
The lorries driver also suffers distress and financial loss.
Bicycle riders have been proven in courts to have caused thousands of accidents.
A statute law must be made so that all Cyclists who are Road users require insurance cover.