Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, earlier this week announced plans to use Greater London Authority planning powers to strictly prescribe the routes which HGVs can take to deliver to future major construction projects in the capital.
The proposals, if implemented, would require HGVs to avoid roads heavily used by cyclists or take a route that minimises the number of left turns, which are seen as the most dangerous manoeuvre undertaken by trucks.
According to an announcement from the mayor’s office “discussions with the London boroughs and the construction industry have already started to ensure that this [strengthening of GLA planning powers] happens as fast as possible”.
The proposals form part of a wide consultation to investigate how cycling can be made safer in the city. But the consultation itself is only due to take place at an unspecified point in the future – and after Johnson has left office in May 2016.
Peter Jacobs, non-executive director at logistics specialist Wilson James and a former CIOB president, also doubted whether proposals to prescribe routes taken to site were workable.
“Anything that can potentially make cycling in the city safer is a good thing. However, a blanket ban on turning left is probably the wrong answer,” he told Construction Manager.
Boris Johnson: “vigorous enforcement action against the laggards”
“It is the right debate to have and this idea has been discussed within the industry before, but I am just not sure that it is practical. The devil is in the detail and there needs to be a lot of work done to see if it is possible.”
News of the future consultation came as Transport for London’s Safer Lorry Scheme, which requires all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes entering London to be fitted with side guards to protect cyclists from being dragged under the wheels in the event of a collision, came into effect at the beginning of this month.
Under the scheme, which covers the same area as the Low Emission Zone, vehicles will also need to be fitted with Class V and Class VI mirrors, giving the driver a better view of cyclists and pedestrians around their vehicles.
The maximum fine for each breach of the ban will be £1,000 with repeat offenders referred to the relevant traffic commissioner, who is responsible for the licensing and regulation of HGV operators.
These moves will be followed by a consultation on further stipulations next year, according to a statement from mayor Boris Johnson.
He said: “We have, from this morning, begun vigorous enforcement action against the laggards. A very disproportionate share of cyclist deaths and serious injuries are caused by lorries, and today’s scheme will undoubtedly save lives.
“But this big step forward is only one element of my work to protect cyclists and pedestrians from lorries. I announce today that I propose to require further safety modifications to all HGVs in London, including the retrofitting of bigger side windows to further reduce the driver blind spots that contribute to so many tragic accidents.”
The mayor’s office hopes to have this consultation completed before the current mayor leaves office.
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