• Mirrors and cameras can solve the physical HGV blind spot(s) problem and I think they should be used so that the operators can see to all directions around their vehicles.

    BUT they don't solve the psychological part of the HGV blind spots(s) problem. When a driver turns left he needs to have his focus forward to see where he is going and to see the pedestrians crossing the street he's about to enter. If the driver has his focus on a mirror or CSTV-screen looking backwards for cyclists, he doesn't look forward. There's only so much focus in a human head; if it's divided between more directions, the human will make more errors.

    In addition to the undertaking cyclist not being seen problem, there's the possibility of priority rules and communications problems that can leave a brother/sister dead under the wheels. OK, the lorry driver has managed to see the undertaking cyclist, now he has to understand that the cyclist has a right of way and is about to use it. That means that the cyclist should make clear he's going to continue forward. But good cyclists don't undertake HGV's flashing left. Is that to be changed, so that HGV-drivers will adapt? Cyclists too will adapt to perceived/real HGV driver yield rate to undertaking cyclists and that means more cyclists taking the risky route. Irresponsible "it's not the cyclists' fault"-campaigns will lead to more righteous brothas asserting their undertaking "right of way". The only sustainable solution is that cyclists learn to travel in tandem with HGV's at each point where a left turn is possible.

About

Avatar for chainwhip @chainwhip started