Construction Health & Safety News, Advice and Information from PP Construction Safety

Seven London cyclist deaths in 2011 involved construction related vehicles

London Mayor Boris Johnson has outlined a “comprehensive programme of work” to reduce cyclist deaths in London. The announcement follows his meeting with the family of Brian Dorling, a cyclist who died in east London on October 24 2011. The mayor said:

“I am determined to do everything possible to make our roads safer for cyclists and I have asked TfL to embark on a great deal of work to do so. We will do our utmost to minimise any future casualties and are focusing on several key areas where we believe improvements might be made.”

The programme will include an “independent review of the design, operation and driving of construction industry vehicles, for example skip lorries, tipper trucks and cement mixers in London”.

TfL believe these types of HGV have been involved in at least seven of the eight incidents this year which have led to cyclist fatalities. Initial results will be available in the spring 2012.

Comment

The deaths referred to above are unlikely to be included in HSE Construction sector injury statistics. The incidents will be regarded as a road traffic accidents rather than work related deaths. The construction sector official statistics show 2 deaths involving a member of the public in 2010/11.

Data published recently by the Department for Transport show that in 2010 the number of fatalities fell for almost all types of road user whilst pedal cycle fatalities rose by 7 per cent.  

This article was posted on 23rd November 2011 in ALL LATEST NEWS, DRIVING FOR WORK, PUBLIC RISK.
PP Construction Safety H&S Assistance and Consultancy service.