New THINK! campaign launched to improve cycle safety

New campaign THINK! launched to reduce cyclist accidents and fatalities caused at left turns.

The government have launched new safety campaign THINK!, which will remind cyclists and HGV drivers of the dangers of the left turn, following data which shows that last year, a fifth of cyclist fatalities included HGV’s.

The Department for Transport launched the campaign today, which encourages cyclists to “hang back” from lorries, and be aware of the blind spot on the left side.

The campaign comes following statistics showing that a large proportion of deaths happen when a cyclist is at the front left of the truck, and almost a third of all crashes between cyclists and HGVs happen when the lorry is turning left. Research shows that many cyclists believe that this danger spot is a safe place to be.

The campaign focuses on London and Manchester, the two cities in England with the highest number of cyclist deaths.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “We are investing £300M over the next 4 years to help make Britain a cycling nation.

“Reducing the number of cyclists killed on our roads is a key priority. Since 2010 the number has decreased to its lowest level.

“This campaign will raise awareness amongst urban cyclists and help make our roads safer for those on 2 wheels.”

As part of the campaign, a video has been released called “Things you shouldn’t get caught between”. There are also posters which carry the message “Don’t get caught between a lorry and a left turn. Hang back”.

Christopher Snelling, FTA’s Head of National and Regional Policy, said: “We need to make our busy urban roads as safe as possible for all users and it’s important that both HGV drivers and cyclists understand the risks created by sharing the limited road space and know what steps they can take to minimise them.

“This DfT campaign highlights one of the key danger zones – the blind spot at the front left of an HGV. New design innovations such as transparent cab doors all have a part to play in improving safety in the long term but increased awareness can have immediate impact. FTA encourages all HGV drivers and cyclists to visit the campaign website to find out more about this important message.”

 

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