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Lorry drivers need specialist urban safety training

DeliveryX

The co-chair of the All Parliamentary Cycling Group has called for lorry drivers who make regular trips into urban areas to receive specialist training.
Ruth Cadbury MP made the statement during a roundtable debate session organised by HGV Training.

It has also led to a number of questions being submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling MP.

Those questions include:

  • Will steps be taken to amend road accident investigation procedures, to enable more data to be gathered about road accidents?
  • Will steps be taken to incentivise road haulage businesses to purchase vehicles with (a) lower driving positions, (b) observation cameras, (c) glass doors and (d) other advanced safety measures?
  • Will the government introduce a compulsory module on understanding the needs and risks of vulnerable road users to the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence syllabus?
  • What steps are being taken to ensure that people who drive heavy goods vehicles in city centres receive training that specifically addresses the risks of urban driving?

James Clifford, co-founder HGVtraining.co.uk and Chair of the Westminster roundtable says, “We are pleased to see that the Department for Transport is taking seriously the concerns held by both the cycling and road haulage community. By engaging the DoT in discussion on key issues such as reforming the Driver CPC and incentivising fleet operators to adopt advanced safety measures on their vehicles, we have taken the first steps towards improving road safety.”

Much of the attention on HGV related safety in urban environments focuses on the deaths of cyclists in London, where – on average – more than one per month will die as the result of a road traffic accident. Not all involve HGVs. Last year, nine cyclists died on London’s roads, compared with 13 in 2014.

Last week, DPD found itself in the Daily Mail’s cross-hairs when it shared a video showing one of the carrier’s drivers apparently knocking a motorcyclist over, and then getting into an argument with both the motorcyclist and a pedestrian before driving off. DPD told the Daily Mail the driver has since had his contract terminated.

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