truckers tackling cycle safety?

Industry-backed code launched to improve cyclists' safety around lorries
Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London's Director of Environment and Digital, met the President of the Freight Transport Association (FTA) on Wednesday 22 June to officially launch the leading trade body's code of conduct to improve the safety of cyclists around commercial vehicles.

The Cycling Code sets out reasonable expectations of all road users and provides a standard for on-road behaviour to make a meaningful reduction in road collisions and casualties. It has been endorsed by Transport for London (TfL) and leading lorry operators including Cemex, Clancy Docwra, Keystone Distribution, Travis Perkins, John Lewis and DHL Trade Team.

At 08.45am on 22 June, Kulveer Ranger, Director of Environment and Digital at The Mayor of London's Office met FTA President Stewart Oades at St Paul's Cathedral to officially launch FTA's Cycling Code.

Cycling in London has doubled in the last ten years and the Mayor's objective is to see it increase fourfold in the next ten. Road space will not increase at all over that period so measures to promote harmonious sharing of the road are essential.

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London's Director of Environment and Digital, said: "Large freight vehicles top many cyclists' list of potential hazards when they are out on the road. That is why it is good news that a Cycling Code has now been written by the association for freight drivers, and is also backed by some key operators. Their commitment to investing in driver training and improving safety features on their vehicles can only help make the capital's roads safer for cyclists."

The code was developed by FTA in co-operation with the London Cycle Campaign, the Metropolitan Police, the Institute of Advanced Motorists and TfL.

The FTA President was also on hand to officially begin the final leg of FTA's Transaid Cycle Challenge, which marks the final leg of a gruelling UK-wide cycle tour to raise money to improve transport operations in developing countries (see notes for editors). The tour has seen Stewart and his industry peers clock up around 700 miles in 13 days. Oades said:

"As a keen cyclist myself, I am all too aware of the dangers that vulnerable road users encounter on our roads, but there is a lot that we, and those we share the roads with, can do to dramatically improve our safety.

"Tragically, London sees by far the highest proportion of cycle and lorry collisions in the UK. But road safety is not a one-way street and for safer roads to be a reality there needs to be a greater understanding all round of the rights and responsibilities of all road users. This Code is the product of co-operation between industry, the Met police and TfL and with the backing of lorry operators, drivers and cyclists we hope it will mark a significant step forward that will ultimately save lives."

FTA is inviting other operators and cyclists' organisations to add their support to the Cycling Code and will be working with TfL and other local authorities around the country to promote awareness of the Code widely in London and across the UK.