The Government has dismissed a call for better safety standards for LGV (large goods vehicles) drivers in relation to cyclists.
More than 4,000 people signed the petition on the 10 Downing St website to 'reduce to zero' the number of cyclists killed by LGVs.
The petitioner, Joanne Clegg, called for a two-part safety standard that would be in addition to the LGV licence. Drivers would have to have extra safety awareness training and their vehicles must be suitable for city centres. If they satisfied both, they would be given a permit to enter ciuty centres during rush-hour periods.
"These measures," wrote Ms Clegg, "can be rooted in bigger government strategies - combating obesity, congestion, global warming - while supporting and encourage cycling. The petition aims to make clear that “share the road” has failed to address the fundamental issue that sharing is not possible when the LGV drivers do not always see the cyclist. Implementing these measures could make the UK one of the most cycle friendly countries in the world.”
The Government was blunt in its dismissal of the petition, saying that such additional measures would be expensive to operate and difficult to enforce.
In a statement on the website, it said: "We believe a better way to help all road users to share road space safely is to raise skill levels. The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence, which we introduced in September for professional lorry drivers, will help them maintain and develop their driving skills.
"Lorry drivers now have to take extra tests on top of a LGV licence to get a Driver CPC. They then have to take 35 hours of approved periodic training every five years to retain the CPC and continue to drive professionally. There is no evidence to suggest that a LGV safety certificate would make lorry drivers more aware of cyclists.
"There is a number of questions in the LGV driving theory test (the test a person takes to acquire a LGV licence, whether they need a CPC or not) which tackle specifically the issue of large vehicles sharing the road with cyclists, particularly at junctions. The Driving Standards Agency’s publication Driving Goods Vehicles, one of the main test source materials, also refers to cyclists in a number of sections."
Ms Clegg pointed out the eight people had been killed in London in 2009 as a result of collisions with LGVs. One of these was 24-year-old student Maria Fernandez, whose story was posted today on road.cc.
Radar tells me their closing speed, if they are slowing and how far away. Then I decide to say a prayer. The change of light pattern is incidental.
Quite so, which is why our village 20mph zone covers the whole residential extent. Of course, enforcement is another thing..
£4.
No, that's very doubtful while proper testing would be fully destructive.
In that £1000 exactly scenario, beginners should probably be made aware that pedals will be extra.
What's wrong with dropping down on to the Millenium Bridge, or the swing bridge, then the brief, but satisfying climb back up the hill? #training....
The relatives might of course disagree, but in general I'd countenance a relatively light sentence* if only we could fix it so that those who...
Id forgotten that I got a second hand set of project two's for my getting to work bike over twenty years back.
My bet is that all these tires popping off are from people with bad pressure gauges or they're simply just putting too much air in on purpose. ...
David9694 - you were right! These new autonomous vehicles really are conspiring to run out of control!...