London Bridge

[stoptherock]

 

[JediGoat]

I would suggest a motorcyclist who veers over three lanes and across a raised central reservation after a collision with a vehicle travelling in the same direction was going too fast.

I would suggest trying to allocate blame when you have only a few bits of secondhand information is pointless.

You don't have to be travelling fast to hurled a long way down the road. A helpful motorist once shunted me (not my motorbike, which they kindly crushed under their car) easily 20 yards down the road (I slid past one double-decker bus in the process). My speed at the moment of impact? 0mph.

 

[stoptherock]

STR, you do not know all the facts about this case. Please stop jumping to conclusions based on partial evidence.

I haven't commented on culpability, speculated or drawn conclusions in this case, read what I've written.

London's bridges have an appalling safety record because after medaeval street layouts motorists can see the road ahead for longer than anywhere else and regularly flout speed limits.

 

[Theseus]

Probably the most intelligent thing you have said yet.

 

[CotterPin]

Here is the report from the Evening Standard. It does not mention any fatalities.

I note that the item is linked to the issue of cyclists and lorries though can't quite see how that is relevant in this case.

 

[very-near]

If the bike struck the bus on the right, then it is unlikely from this pic that it has traveled more than 50ft

 

[stoptherock]

A man was killed in a hit and run on London Bridge northbound a couple of years ago- a moped rider later handed himself in to the police. The lanes can be tricky but from the scant details it appears the cyclist here did absolutely nothing wrong at all, no amount of life-savers, blind-spot checking or mirrors could have prevented this. Just awful.

 

[Jake]

good points:

The accident raises further concerns about the safety of cyclists on London roads. Lorry drivers were today being given free mirrors to help them see cyclists in their blindspots.

The cycling safety events, "Exchanging Places" at two police roadshows in central London, follow the deaths of seven cyclists after collisions with heavy goods vehicles in the capital this year. It is backed by the Standard's Safer Cycling Campaign.
Officers will stop lorry drivers in The Mall and Trafalgar Square to warn them of the dangers of cyclists riding up on the nearside. They are distributing free stick-on Fresnel mirrors to improve visibility. Cyclists also have the chance to climb into HGV cabs and see how hard it is to see bikes.

Inspector Graham Horwood said: "Although the number of people cycling in London has increased, collisions between cyclists and trucks remains a significant problem.
"This is not just something that happens to other people - it could happen to you."

The Met has also produced a YouTube video on how to avoid collisions.

 

[Jake]

ps, think the ambulance cre/paranedics with their fast response cars and bikes do an amazing job. Always my first choice for charity.

 

[Blackandblue]

In the circumstances, it seems to have been pure (bad) luck that the cyclist was hit. It could so easily have been a car, van, lorry, motorcyclist or even a pedestrian. If a pedestrian would we have news reports claiming that the incident raises further concerns about the safety of walking the streets of London?

This accident raises general concerns about the safety of London's roads for all users. If there are any lessons to be learnt from this (and it is presumptious to do so with respect to this incident until more is known about the causes of the accident) it would be that measures need to be undertaken to make the roads safer for all users.

My thoughts are with those involved and particularly with the families of anyone who has died as a result of this accident.

 

[Lizban]

Very sad indeed, it all feels so much closer if it happens on a road that you use. Let's hope the reports of a death are wrong.

 

[very-near]

The bus drivers don't use their mirrors around here either when pulling out.

 

[stoptherock]

Linking this accident to the dangers of lorries seems daft, and, if free mirrors are being handed out to lorry drivers, isn't that official recognition that the industry can't be trusted to carry out safe practice themselves?

 

[gazzaputt]

Standard reports:

Three people were taken to hospital today after a crash involving a bus, a motorbike and a bicycle which closed London Bridge.

Two people were said to have suffered "multiple injuries", one with cuts, grazes and neck pain, and the other has "minor injuries".

The accident happened at 8.20am in King William Street, near London Bridge. Northbound traffic was diverted after the crash, which also closed the southbound carriageway, police said.

Two of the injured were being treated at St Thomas' Hospital and a third wastaken to the Royal London in Whitechapel.

A City of London police spokesman said: "Three people have been injured and officers are investigating the scene. The bus driver is helping with enquiries. Roads also closed around the scene are Monument Street heading westbound towards London Bridge and Arthur Street heading eastbound towards London Bridge.

 

[joolsybools]

Sounds hopeful that no-one is in a critical state.