BIKES AND HEAVY GOODS VEHICLES

This paper was written in response to the growing concerns of many members of the Cyclists' Touring Club about the relationship between cyclists and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on the road. The study reported by the paper aimed to identify the reasons for the disproportionately high level of cycling accidents, involving HGVs, which result in serious injury, and to recommend possible remedial actions for the future. HGVs both deter cycling and are dangerous to cyclists, especially on urban and suburban streets, where the vast majority of cycle trips occur. Although HGVs comprise only about 7% of the traffic volume on British roads, HGVs cause about 30% of cyclist fatalities. In Greater London, there were 224 cyclist fatalities during 1984-93, of which 40% involved HGVs, and HGVs cause 30 times as many cyclists' deaths as cars and five times as many as buses. About 10% of lorries have no operator's licence. Of lorries weighed in 1993-94, 20% were overloaded, and 6.6% justified immediate immobilisation. Possible remedies include: (1) reduced access of HGVs to urban areas; (2) strict enforcement of HGV laws; (3) measures for better visibility of cyclists; (4) installation of side guards on HGVs; (5) staggered and advanced stop lines, and guard railings, at junctions; and (6) better education of HGV drivers and cyclists.