2009-03-20 - Rider Down, Uxbridge Road + Askew Road

I've been making a list of factors that might contribute to the problem. Anything to add?

truck trouble:

• blind spots
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• while turning some regions are completely hidden
  

• easy to overlook small low things from hight of driving position, even if they are right in front, and especially on the front left corner.
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• mirrors
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• no rear-view

• need wide-angle (or auto-rotating mirror) to cope with changing angle of trailer on articulated lorries

• wide-angle -> small images

• the back is simply a long way from the cab

• lots of mirrors to keep track of

• some vital mirrors not compulsory on all vehicles
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• too easy to get underneath
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• big wheels

• lots of ground clearance

• often huge space between back of tractor unit and trailer wheels
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• heavy, hard, some sharp bits, much more solid than a car

• driver may not see, hear or feel collisions.

• driver has a lot to think about while turning

• road position before turning invites undertaking, and then rear wheels travel further into the curve, closing the gap as the vehicle turns

• need a lot of road-space to get around sharp corners - may not be possible to leave a gap on the inside. Non-articulated can be worse for this.

• some bits that swing out while turning

• even heavy modern lorries can accelerate scarily fast

bike trouble:

• small - harder to see than cars
  
• soft & squishable, no crumple zones
  
• can manouver through traffic - hard to keep track of
  
• usually no mirrors - perception of traffic behind relies on hearing or turning head to look backwards (often infrequent)
  
• cycling can be hard work - can reduce alertness
  
• often slow, so get overtaken a lot - generates risk and contributes to habit of cycling on the inside as if it was always a separate lane, not paying attention to traffic in the rest of the lane
  
• generally like to keep rolling because accelerating requires real effort and stopping is awkward - leads to overtaking at junctions, often on the inside
  
• fear puts the slowest on the inside.
  
  
  

road trouble:

• city streets narrow, with sharp corners
  
• cycle lanes invite undertaking, encourage habit everywhere
  
• cycle lanes and ASLs invite cyclists to stop in lorries' blind-spots.
  
• railings can trap cyclists on the road
  
  
  

What to do if you find yourself to the left of a turning lorry?

• If you are level with or behind its rear wheels, stop and wait for it to go.
  
• If you are further forwards than that, scream loudly and try to get off the road.
  

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