2009-06-12 - Rider Down/Fatality, Holborn

Thoughts going out to friends and family. And hoping that the first rider was ok.

The frequency of these threads is terrifying. What is worrying, is that given the numbers of cyclists on the road in London (and the cycling ability of some of them), there seem to be relatively few casualties from cars these days. What seems to have increased is the number of collisions with heavy vehicles.

If I recall correctly, the statistics about cycling injuries on London roads from 2004, it was only 6 fatalities, all of which were left hooks from heavy vehicles. From reading this forum, it seems that that figure has been passed in the first half of this year.

2004 was the lowest for a while. Since 2000, the number is 6 - 9 London cyclists killed by collisions with lorries per year. I think it highly unwise to speculate about the cycling ability of those killed. Emma Foa and Eilidh were both relatively experienced cyclists, and Eilidh was well aware of the dangers to cyclists from lorries.

I don't know where you got the number that all 6 fatalities were left hooks - I don't remember seeing a breakdown for 2004 by manouevre. As far as I know, the only such analysis of London cyclist fatalities was the London Road Safety Unit survey of 1999 - 2003.

More stats and stuff here: http://www.movingtargetzine.com/article/met-police-traffic-unit-says-9-london-cyclists-killed-by-lorries-in-2008

My own view of how to deal with lorries is here: http://www.movingtargetzine.com/article/the-junction-where-emma-foa-was-killed