COMPULSORY: CCTV vital, claim Smart Witness
Side, front and rear CCTV cameras should be made compulsory for all lorries, Smart Witness have urged, after another cyclist died on the roads.
A man believed to be 62years old was dragged under a lorry on the Mile End Road, London, on Tuesday, becoming the latest cyclist to be killed by a truck.
He was struck after the HGV driver failed to see him as he pulled away from traffic lights.
Seven cyclist fatalities this year have been caused by lorries, with blind spots on their vehicles often the key reason behind the tragedy.
Simon Marsh, Spokesperson for Smart Witness, said: “The number of tragic deaths can be reduced significantly if lorries, coaches and construction trucks are fitted with safety cameras that clearly show HGV drivers if cyclists or other road users are nearby.
“Long vehicles often have several blind spots and wing mirrors are simply not effective enough for the driver to see what is on his inside or outside, which is especially important if the driver is about to make a turn.”
Image courtesy of Fulla T, with thanks.
John
( Thursday, November 21, 2013 - 13:33 )
I agree with Barrie: The bandwagon in favour of the cyclist has gone too far!
Cyclist should be educated in the risks surounding them and be taught how not to put ones self in a risky position. At the end of this they should be provided with a form of certificate or licence before taking to the road, exactly the same as a motorist or motorcyclist has to.
The idea of a HGV driver who already has up to possibly 5 mirrors to look at then has to take on board information from 3 cameras and still watch everthing else while driving is just getting ridiculous.
Barrie
( Thursday, November 14, 2013 - 13:18 )
It’s not the lorries that need cameras its the cyclists who should have some sort of cycle test before riding on the road, make it a criminal offence also if they are listening to music on i-pods or similar, because it is an offence if a vehicle using is operating a phone or not paying attention. Furthermore if they are using the roads a token road fund licence of say £2/annum should also apply.
The bandwagon over cyclists has swung too far the wrong way!!!