Cyclists can get an HGV driver’s eye view of the road at the Freight Transport Association’s Managing Freight in London Conference sponsored by Transport for London which takes place next month.
The Metropolitan Police will be hosting an ‘Exchanging Places’ event which will be taking place the evening before the conference at The Kia Oval to highlight safe tactics for sharing the roads and giving cyclists the opportunity to see the road from the driver’s seat of a large goods vehicle. The vehicle will be provided by Volvo Trucks which is also sponsoring the one day conference. Already more than 18,000 cyclists have taken part in the scheme, with 97% saying they will change their riding as a result and 99% offering to recommend it to a friend.
The Met’s Sergeant Simon Castle said: “We’re proud of what we’re achieving with the Exchanging Places programme and keen to continue its success. However, we are conscious that this issue needs to be addressed from several angles.
“The Met’s Cycle Safety Team works with Transport for London and local authorities to improve London’s road network. With the Industrial HGV Task Force and Commercial Vehicle Unit, we target unscrupulous and dangerous hauliers and work with the industry to develop better practices, better drivers and safer vehicles. The Freight Transport Association is a key partner in this important work.”
FTA offers a selection of cycle safety products which are available through Shopfta – for more information go to www.shop.fta.co.uk
