Mayor's Transport Strategy and HGVs

[Origamist]

A few proposals re: HGVs and cycling conditions

Aim for 50 per cent of HGVs and vans serving London to be members of Freight
Operator Recognition Scheme by 2016.


The Mayor, through TfL, and working with the DfT, boroughs, road freight operators and other stakeholders, will improve safety for cyclists in the vicinity of HGVs, by:
a) Encouraging the Government to amend legislation and remove the current exemption for HGVs being fitted with sideguard protection
Working to increase the number of HGVs with sideguards or fitted with electronic warning devices that detect cyclists

The Mayor, through TfL, and working with the DfT, boroughs, road freight operators and other stakeholders, will seek enhanced vehicle and driver safety from organisations operating corporate fleets by working with the freight sector and other stakeholders, promoting increased membership of the Freight Operator Recognition Scheme, and encouraging operators to uptake and demonstrate freight best practice.

The Mayor, through TfL, and working with the London boroughs and DfT, will encourage changes to be made to the Highway Code that improve conditions for cyclists.​

The Mayor, through TfL, and working with the London boroughs, the DfT and other
stakeholders, will undertake public information and engagement to improve road user behaviours and reduce the risk of collisions.​

The Mayor, through TfL, and by working with the DfT, boroughs and Health and
Safety Executive, will seek to improve road safety by developing initiatives and working
with employers to increase work-related road safety and to reduce casualties involving work-related vehicles and activities.​

However,

Growth in freight movements is also expected, with the number of LGVs forecast to grow by 30 per cent between 2008 and 2031, accounting for 15 per cent of traffic on London’s roads.

Not much of a "cycling revolution":

2% Cyclist modal share in London at the moment
5% taget by 2031

Source: http://mts.tfl.gov.uk/docs/MTS09_Complete.pdf

 

[dellzeqq]

......and the TfL training unit is being shut down.

 

[Origamist]

......and the TfL training unit is being shut down.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/stand...s-down-specialist-police-lorry-safety-unit.do

 

[Origamist]

Mayor's QT:

*HGVs and safety*

*Question No: 2697 / 2009*

Jenny Jones

Could you confirm the number of HGVs stopped by police in London for each year since 2000, the proportion that were found to be driving illegally, any breakdown of offences and the proportion that were stopped by specialist traffic police? How will your future policing priorities ensure that there are additional specialist police availableto monitor increased HGV flows that are likely with major construction projects such as Crossrail, Thameslink and the Olympics?


*Answer from the Mayor:*

The MPS did not, until 2008, keep a record of the number of HGVs that were stopped. Below I have set out the available information requested:
_Number of HGVs stopped per year since 2000_
In 2008/09 3,000 vehicles were stopped (all types including lightweight vans). Of these 1329 were ‘trucks’ over 7.5 tonnes.
_Proportion found to be driving illegally_
Offences were found in an average 80% of these vehicles. It should be noted that these are experienced officers adept at spotting defects and this is unlikely to be a representative percentage of offences in all commercial vehicles using London’s roads.
_Proportion stopped by specialist traffic police_ -** See above__
_Breakdown of offences_
Approximately 36% of offences relate to Tachographs (mainly driver’s hours) and 10% relate to mechanical defects. Other offences relate to overweight or insecure loads, mobile phone, operator licence, driving licence and insurance offences.__
_Future policing of HGV traffic in light of major construction projects___
The MPS recognises that current and future construction projects in London bring a threat of increased collisions involving Large Goods Vehicles (LGVs). In the last 18 months additional enforcement has been dedicated predominantly in East London, and will continue with this focus whilst the high risk remains and will be reviewed as other large construction projects start on site. Enforcement around the periphery of the Olympic site has been ongoing since March 2008, through operations led by the combined Commercial Vehicle Unit (CVU) and Commercial Vehicle Education Unit (CVEU). In addition to enforcement the CVU continues to offer specialist advice and support to fleet operators at the site and the Olympic security team. This engagement with freight operators using the site, and also with the Vehicle and Operators Services Agency (VOSA), victim groups and cycling campaign groups has contributed to fewer fatal collisions involving LGVs in east London against a backdrop of the substantial increase in the number of heavy vehicle movements.
Although the TfL funding for the CVEU ends on 31 March 2010, the industry-led Freight Operators Recognition Scheme (FORS) has indicated to the MPS that it hopes to continue all the educational and administrative functions previously carried out by the police.
Traffic OCU is undertaking a review of all of its functions and staff including how to manage commercial vehicle enforcement in the future.

http://thebikeshow.net/cycling-questions-and-answers-from-the-mayor-of-london-oct-09/

 

[Origamist]

Early Day Motion

CYCLISTS' SAFETY IN LONDON
22.10.2009


Abbott, Diane
That this House is saddened and alarmed by the tragic deaths of 10 cyclists on London's roads this year; notes that eight of these deaths have involved heavy goods vehicles; further notes Transport for London's decision to shut down the Metropolitan Police Commercial Vehicle Education Unit (CVEU); recognises that the CVEU is the only unit in the country with the power to investigate lorry operators; further notes with concern that 70 per cent. of the lorries checked by CVEU since 2005 were found to be defective in some way; believes the work of the CVEU is desperately needed to improve road safety for cyclists; and calls on the Mayor of London to reinstate the funding for the Commercial Vehicle Education Unit.




http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=39378&SESSION=899

 

[Origamist]

Focus on Freight:

Cycle Safety Action Plan Action for safer cycling
October 2009

pp12-16 deal with HGVs and cyclists.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/businessandpartners/cycle-safety-action-plan-draft.pdf

 

[dellzeqq]

good stuff on the removal of sidebar exemption for construction traffic, but it's a bit confused - if construction traffic is responsible for a disproportionate number of cycling deaths, why the emphasis on 'freight'?

 

[Origamist]

Lambeth Cycling/HGV training:

http://www.lcc.org.uk/documents/Cycle awareness for HGV drivers.pdf

 

[Origamist]

Boris Johnson (Chair, TfL) and Peter Hendy (Commissioner, TfL)
HGVs and Cyclists
Question No: 239 / 2009

Valerie Shawcross
I have been asked to put the following question to you by a member of the public:
Do you think it is sufficient to rely on a voluntary scheme such as the Freight Operators Recognition Scheme when 8 out of 10 cyclist fatalities have involved collisions with lorries? Some cyclists would like to see a rush hour HGVs ban, what is your view on this?

Answer from the Chair and Commissioner:
TfL is very much aware of the issue of cyclist safety relating to HGVs and we are working on a number of initiatives to further improve cyclists’ safety. Most recently we launched an autumn Cycle Safety campaign that seeks to raise awareness, among all users, of the need for safer and more responsible behaviour on the Capital’s roads. The campaign has a particular emphasis on reducing the conflict between cyclists and goods vehicles. Please see the attached appendix for a summary of activities taking place within the campaign.

I do not believe there is case for a rush hour ban on HGVs entering London given the vital role Freight plays in supporting London’s economy. Such a measure would be difficult to introduce, operate and enforce; and I doubt that it would be supported by freight operators or those reliant on their services – not least London’s many businesses. Such a ban might encourage operators to use larger fleets of smaller vehicles, with potential knock-on effects on congestion and emissions. A better alternative, I believe, are Delivery and Servicing Plans (DSPs) which aim to reduce the number of freight trips overall, particularly during peak periods, and which are promoted through TfL’s London Freight Plan. DSPs promote the consolidation of delivery and servicing activities so that fewer vehicles are needed and encourage out of hours deliveries where appropriate. DSPs also encourage the use of operators who have a proven record of safer operating practices and standards, such as those belonging to FORS.

I believe it is possible for HGVs and cyclists to share the road safely and TfL is pursuing the initiatives I described above to ensure this is realised.
Activities being promoted under the Autumn Cycle Safety Campaign include:

- Lobbying Central Government for more stringent safety measures on HGVs, for example retro-fitting of mirrors to give drivers better all-round visibility and side-guards to help prevent cyclists going under vehicles, ?
- Encouraging goods vehicle fleet operators and those who use their services to adopt improved and safer operating standards and practices, for example through membership of the Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS), ?
- Publishing research that examines in detail cyclist fatalities arising from collisions between HGVs and cyclists and the lessons that can be learnt,?
- Launching a draft Cycle Safety Action Plan that will better co-ordinate and focus activity to improve safety conditions for cyclists and to encourage safer cycling & ?
- Establishing a Cycle Safety Working Group drawing on the experience and expertise of a wide range of agencies to make sure the Action Plan is effective?

http://thebikeshow.net/mayors-question-time-cycling-dec-09/