Safe Speed Forums

All road safety depends on our sharing the road and negotiating with each other. Now it seems more are embracing the ideas behind COAST ... but using their own catch phrases

It boils down to the same thing though

TFL is currently highlighting the dangers to cyclists from HGVs. Most incidents involving London cyclists have apparently involved lorries. 56% of 2004 fatalities per the TfL site as reported in CW.

Look do not ride down the inside of one. They will be in the outer lane with a left indicator flashing for a reason.. and that is because they need that room for manoeuvre.

We have a "Give Cyclists Space and Room" initiative. We also need as car drivers, bikers, cyclists and pedestrians to be aware that a lorry may need extra space at times too.

The initiative on the TfL and London Cycling campaign sites do have some useful tips as to how to avoid or minimise incidents. COAST based

Now there is an EU directive which requires all HGVs to have extra safety mirrors. Hauliers are complaining at the cost - equivalent to a tank of diesel.

The UK government has delayed this directive because of the complaints over the cost of the new mirrors.






We need cyclists to observe the lorries .. you can hardly miss them .. and to anticipate any hazard or threat posed to their safety and plan to avoid at all costs on one side of this coin - and just to be aware that they may be "in the wrong lane for a left turn for a reason just as logical as our adopting a primary position for safety reasons!

We also need to get systematic and smooth MSM/PSL/COAST style standards back into our normal practices as drivers.. and over reliance on speed and other cameras are not going to do this.

Yes .. the trucks could do with these mirrors .. but does anyone know how big they are. They give a great view down the truck and are convex to give a clearer view of blind spots.. but some styles are a bit "sticky out" I think this is what the DfT are looking at before they implement this directive

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Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.

They can also lead to a problem similar to the "A Pillar" blind spot for cars. Not good for motorcycles and bicycles.

So instead of running over a cyclist who should know not to be on the inside of a left turning lorry. The lorry pulls out in front of a vehicle it did not see. Causing a smidsy.