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Skip lorry operator bringing direct vision vehicles to London to improve cyclists' safetyMercedes Econic.jpg

Skip lorry operator bringing direct vision vehicles to London to improve cyclists' safety

Cab features panoramic windscreen and full-length glass doors
by Alex Bowden
Wed, Mar 30, 2016 15:16
13

A north London waste disposal firm has bought three trucks offering drivers the kind of panoramic view recommended by cycling campaigners. O’Donovan’s Mercedes Econic vehicles are thought to be the first of their kind used in Britain.

So-called ‘direct vision cabs’ increase the driver’s field of view in front and to the sides of a lorry. CTC, the national cycling charity, is urging Transport for London (TfL) to adopt a road map for their widespread introduction and three London mayoral candidates have so far expressed their support for the proposals.

The London Evening Standard reports that the trucks were put on display at the Construction Logistics and Cyclist Safety exhibition at ExCel London on Monday. As well as offering a panoramic view, the cube-shaped cabs also feature full-length glass doors to help minimise blind spots.

There are several versions of the £100,000 Econic with O’Donovans to make use of the skip lorry. Jacqueline O’Donovan, the firm’s managing director, said: “We want to ensure our drivers have the best training and safest vehicles. The Mercedes cabs really are safer.”

O’Donovan also requested a range of additional safety features, including a side scan system, side under run protection, left hand turn audible alarm and conspicuity markings.

Last September London implemented the Safer Lorries Scheme which demands that all HGVs operating in the capital must be fitted with certain safety equipment, including sideguards and improved mirrors. Nevertheless, most campaigners would like to see further improvements.

Simon Munk of the London Cycling Campaign, said of the Mercedes Econic: “The view for the driver is much better than on a normal lorry and this is a step in the right direction.”

Mike Brown, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: “I encourage all companies to follow O’Donovan’s lead.”

direct vision
HGVs
London
Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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13 comments

Avatar
gmac101 | 8 years ago
1 like

Lorries with "hi - viz" cabs were once quite common.  I remember a lot of these BMC/Austen lorries around when I was a kid.

Avatar
Redvee | 8 years ago
0 likes

The cab design is nothing new, it has been used on refuse lorries for quite a while as the crew needs to get in and out of the cab numerous times during the collection round. What is new is the use of the cab design on a differennt vehicle with some modifications for our benefit.

Avatar
Roger Geffen | 8 years ago
1 like

P.S. My previous comments are all the more relevant in the light of this awful verdict today:

http://road.cc/content/news/184574-family-devastated-london-lorry-driver....

 

Note the prosecutor's comments about the cyclist, in the final paragraph of this article:

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/janina-gehlau-lorry-driver-should-h...

 

Roger Geffen

CTC, the national cycling charity

 

Avatar
Roger Geffen | 8 years ago
2 likes

Several comments have rightly asked what can now be done to make these lorry cabs the norm as quickly as possible.

That is exactly the point of CTC's 'road-map' for safer lorries, which we're asking London's mayoral candidates to sign up to.

We are also talking to HS2 Limited (the Government-owned company promoting the HS2 Rail Bill) and Highways England (formerly the Highways Agency, i.e. the Government-owned company that manages England's motorways and trunk roads) to set a preference for direct vision lorries for work on their contracts, which should in due course become a rule.

For more information, see https://www.ctc.org.uk/news/20160210-safer-lorries-cyclists.

Avatar
jrg_uk | 8 years ago
1 like

It's a good question.

This company is based very nearby to me, and they do seem to "walk the walk" when it comes to safety, keeping their fleet well maintained, and their drivers trained. I've even seen their drivers out on bikes doing cycle-awareness training on Saturday mornings.

I don't know how frequently their skip lorries are replaced, I'll keep an eye for the first new cabs appearing and try and remember to report back.

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Bmblbzzz | 8 years ago
0 likes

It looks as if the cab is a little lower than 'conventional' lorries, is that right? If so, it would make it more efficient to use,  apart from being safer,  for waste collection lorries where the crew are jumping in and out every minute. That doesn't apply to skip lorries of course. 

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Eugene-Stryker | 8 years ago
1 like

I have made decisions on which local supplier to use based on the behaviour of their van drivers when passing me on my commute to work. I have made it clear to the suppliers when they have won business because of it and when they have lost business.

If every cyclist in North London needing a skip lorry uses these folk and insists having one of these lorries, they will soon update their fleet in line with the uplift in business.

Their competitors will soon follow. Creating a market will be quicker than waiting for central government to legislate.

It would be even better to be able to source suppliers from a bike friendly list and those to avoid.

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Bob's Bikes | 8 years ago
0 likes

That's great but....

(now for the splash of cold water) how long before all of their fleet is changed?

and will others follow suit?

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oldstrath replied to Bob's Bikes | 8 years ago
0 likes

fatbeggaronabike wrote:

That's great but....

(now for the splash of cold water) how long before all of their fleet is changed?

and will others follow suit?

Probably only  if they have to, which  would require the government  to care about someone other than themselves. 

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brooksby replied to oldstrath | 8 years ago
0 likes

oldstrath wrote:

Probably only  if they have to, which  would require the government  to care about someone other than themselves. 

That's very unfair.  Of course the Government care about someone other than themselves: what about their financial backers,  the people they went to the Right School with, the people they know down the Club, their close relatives, and the friends of their family?

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P3t3 | 8 years ago
0 likes

These can't come quick enough.  

However I have definately seen these in use already.  When on my bike I was pretty much face to face with the driver which is great.  

I can't see why the truck company wouldn't spec these if they are buying new trucks anyway.  Firstly in the light of the noises being made about safer lorries it future-proofs them and second, no well-run company wants blood on its hands, its never good publicity.  

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drop.bar | 8 years ago
0 likes

They are pretty standard here in Germany, Hanover. The local waste disposal company use the previous models since around 5 years ago. Most recent I saw a paper distribution and fire rescue using trucks with these cabs too.

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Jonny_Trousers | 8 years ago
0 likes

Good. 

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