Scheme Aims To Reduce Rider Accidents In Capital

Transport for London (TfL) has launched a new plan designed to improve cycling safety in the capital.

The body has made major changes to its Cycle Safety Action Plan as it looks to find the best ways of reducing deaths and injuries to riders when they use the streets of the city. It is now opening this up to public scrutiny for comments and ideas.

Among the major new initiatives is the trialling of quiet vehicle technology aimed at moving delivery times to off-peak periods of the day, in order to reduce the extent to which lorries and cyclists are sharing the same stretches of road. Another technological innovation will be the installation of cyclist detection equipment on buses.

TfL is also proposing to double the number of adults taking part in its advanced cycle training courses and the provision of safety training for 10,000 HGV drivers. It also wants to communicate with cycle manufacturers on finding ways in which more reflective materials can be incorporated into the frames of bikes to improve visibility.

Cycling commissioner for London Andrew Gilligan commented: "The mayor is spending hundreds of millions of pounds on better bike infrastructure to cater for the vast growth in cycling on London's roads. This document aims to see that those projects are delivered to higher standards."

However, he added, TfL and City Hall do not have a "monopoly of wisdom" on cycling safety and therefore public input will be very important, noting that many of the new ideas in the document have been adopted from measures already tried out in individual London boroughs. The consultation lasts until July 25th.

Figures produced by TfL last week indicated that overall road safety in London has improved, with the number killed or seriously injured falling by 23 per cent in 2013 compared with 2012.

The number of deaths or serious injuries suffered by cyclists fell from 671 to 489, although the number who died remained the same at 14.

Our specialist road traffic accident lawyers have experience helping a wide number of people who have suffered injuries following a cycling accident. Visit our Cycling Accident Claims page for more information.

Expert Opinion

We welcome these new plans to improve cycling safety in London as in the past year alone there has been a sharp increase in serious or fatal accidents involving cyclists. <br/> <br/>“It is clear that more and more people are cycling both in London and in other cities across the UK so it is an issue that is not going to go away. <br/> <br/>“The consequences of a cyclist colliding with a motor vehicle can be devastating and serious head or brain injuries are often life-changing. Drivers need to show cyclists more respect on the roads and recognise that they are vulnerable road users.” <br/> Stephen Nye - Partner