Cyclists more likely to be harmed by Lorries
January 12th, 2012 | 
Author: 
More news has hit the stands about cyclists being harmed by truck drivers. It has been announced that 4,274 accidents have been reported with regards to bicycles and London’s roads. These accidents were reported during August 2010 and July 2011. There were 12 deaths of cyclists within these numbers and at this time. It is said that lorries are involved in two thirds of cyclists’ deaths in London due to these numbers.
These numbers are why HGV training is becoming a hot topic of discussion. It is the reason CPC training has become mandatory every five years. The UK is trying to solve the many deaths that are occurring. In fact there are now some places which are offering cyclist training for drivers. They are putting the driver on a bike and then driving a lorry around them. It helps the driver feel, hear, and see what the cyclist does when on the roads.
Unfortunately it may not be enough to solve the issue. The lorry drivers are being targeted as the problem in most of these accidents, but there is also another side to this story. Driving in a lorry is not easy. Tight corners, small roads, parked cars, people walking, and bikes can all be hazards a driver has to watch out for, but if the cyclist or other people in vehicles or walking do not pay attention the driver has very little that they can do.
There is a reason a lorry needs to apply their brakes much earlier than a car. In a lorry the weight of the truck and trailer make it more difficult to stop on a “dime” as the US would say. In a car a person usually has to start braking about two car lengths ahead. In a truck it is better to make that distance double, so the truck is sure to stop no matter the issue.
When a cyclist is carelessly riding down the road and suddenly decides to move in front of a truck it could be too late. As the incidents with the deaths of cyclists are not completely revealed it is impossible to explain the exact nature of what is going on, but the cyclists should also become aware of what happens inside the cab of a lorry. They need to know the lorry limitations too in order to protect themselves better.
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