Blind spot sensors for HGVs
Discussion
http://road.cc/content/news/56929-institution-mech...
So the IME are calling for compulsory sensors to be fitted so that cyclists can be 'detected' where they can't be seen.
Here is a thought, why not concentrate on educating those who insist on putting themselves in danger? If a cyclist is injured as they are sneaking up on the inside (or outside) of a large vehicle then they only have themselves to blame IMO.
Let's consider the left turning lorry, with the system fitted what is supposed to happen when the driver is mid turn? Once is starts beeping will he slam the brakes on? What happens if further cyclists try and sneak through as there is now an almost stationery lorry on the corner?
At this point I should declare an interest, I'm an occasional HGV driver as well as a much more frequent cyclist and being on the road in an HGV has changed my attitude to cycling, if more people had the benefit of both viewpoints that would certainly be an eye-opener for them.
So the IME are calling for compulsory sensors to be fitted so that cyclists can be 'detected' where they can't be seen.
Here is a thought, why not concentrate on educating those who insist on putting themselves in danger? If a cyclist is injured as they are sneaking up on the inside (or outside) of a large vehicle then they only have themselves to blame IMO.
Let's consider the left turning lorry, with the system fitted what is supposed to happen when the driver is mid turn? Once is starts beeping will he slam the brakes on? What happens if further cyclists try and sneak through as there is now an almost stationery lorry on the corner?
At this point I should declare an interest, I'm an occasional HGV driver as well as a much more frequent cyclist and being on the road in an HGV has changed my attitude to cycling, if more people had the benefit of both viewpoints that would certainly be an eye-opener for them.
Edited by TheFungle on Thursday 19th April 15:58
pablo said:
totally agree. Left side = Suicide.... its not rocket science...
+1, spot on, but cyclists generally want everyone but themselves to be responsible for their actions (except the cyclist of course)They are a very small vocal group so they tend to get noticed & push/direct policy, a dangerous way to go rather telling them to be responsible for their own actions, there are now experiments ongoing with traffic light mirrors to aid drivers avoid flattening the stupid/cyclist.
I think some years ago (possibly in London) some womans cyclist daughter was sandwiched being a 'suicide rider' & it seems to be her lifes mission to now get all trucks signed up with notices for the stupid & whatever else it takes cameras, sensors, miirrors etc at mammoth cost, rather than 'EDUCATE CYCLISTS' but hey ho those who shout loudest eh.
Saw the title and assumed it would be someone claiming the benefits of such a system - so glad I was wrong; I completely agree with you. People claim that cycling in London is dangerous and there are so many deaths etc, when you see people scooting up the inside of a bus/lorry because there isn't enough road space to cycle, you realise why the death toll is in the tens! Educate the cyclists who don't see the dangers, don't spend the money on technology for the lorry drivers.
Hmmmmm, is cycling stupidity just an evolution of the natural selection process............?
Trouble is, you cannot legislate for stupidity, so technology may be able to fix the problem of those who have no road sense getting squashed by HGV’s etc, but these people will go on to find new and even more innovative ways of shedding the mortal coil.
Money would probably be better spent on free public education programmes, or making free high-vis cycling vests available to those who feel vulnerable.
Trouble is, you cannot legislate for stupidity, so technology may be able to fix the problem of those who have no road sense getting squashed by HGV’s etc, but these people will go on to find new and even more innovative ways of shedding the mortal coil.
Money would probably be better spent on free public education programmes, or making free high-vis cycling vests available to those who feel vulnerable.
Totally agree with Education (awareness campaign) and Training for drivers and (more so) for riders but it's wrong to assume it's always the fault of the cyclist filtering or positioning themselves badly at a junction.
An acquaintance was crushed by an HGV which went to overtake him then suddenly turned left before it was even half way past, pinning him to the kerb with the trailer wheels running over his legs. I always ensure I'm either directly in front of or directly behind vehicles when waiting at or crossing a junction and always do my best to help someone complete their overtake as quickly as possible but nearly being 'sideswiped' simply whilst being overtaken is a common danger.
I'm not sure how much retro fitting the 'warning buzzer' technology would cost or how effective it would be but surely blindspot mirrors and warning signs on the back of lorries (as I've seen on some) are both comparatively cheap.
For the record, if I know I have time and room to filter carefully and position myself on the cycle box I often do but if I'm not sure, or I can see the road ahead is narrow but fast and I'm just going to cause an obstruction I often just keep my place in the queue in the middle of my lane until I've crossed the junction at which point I'll pull further over to the left to continue. I'm just as fast as a line of traffic accelerating up to around 25mph by which time I'm across the junction without inconveniencing anyone.
An acquaintance was crushed by an HGV which went to overtake him then suddenly turned left before it was even half way past, pinning him to the kerb with the trailer wheels running over his legs. I always ensure I'm either directly in front of or directly behind vehicles when waiting at or crossing a junction and always do my best to help someone complete their overtake as quickly as possible but nearly being 'sideswiped' simply whilst being overtaken is a common danger.
I'm not sure how much retro fitting the 'warning buzzer' technology would cost or how effective it would be but surely blindspot mirrors and warning signs on the back of lorries (as I've seen on some) are both comparatively cheap.
For the record, if I know I have time and room to filter carefully and position myself on the cycle box I often do but if I'm not sure, or I can see the road ahead is narrow but fast and I'm just going to cause an obstruction I often just keep my place in the queue in the middle of my lane until I've crossed the junction at which point I'll pull further over to the left to continue. I'm just as fast as a line of traffic accelerating up to around 25mph by which time I'm across the junction without inconveniencing anyone.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff