London Cycling Campaign urges cyclists to sign lorry safety petition

London Cycling Campaign (LCC) is urging cyclists to sign a petition calling on each of the 33 borough councils throughout the capital to introduce cycle awareness training for their HGV drivers. Currently, only four borough councils do so.

The petition, which you’ll find here, forms part of LCC’s No More Lethal Lorries campaign, launched earlier this year, and as it doesn't ask for location, you don't need to be a resident of the capital to sign it.

LCC’s lorry campaigner, Charlie Lloyd, explains that “Many lorry drivers admit they are too frightened to cycle in London. We need to get them on bikes so they understand what it’s like to be a cyclist, and reduce dangerous driving."

As a result of its lorry-related campaigns, LCC has managed to have cycle awareness training introduced for drivers on the Crossrail project, as well as in skills courses for drivers organised by the Freight Unit of Transport for London (TfL).

It has also distributed some 15,000 spoke cards to cyclists giving advice on how to avoid lorries’ blind spots and other danger zones, and has successfully lobbied to make HGV safety the main priority for TfL’s Cycle Safety Working Group.

Currently, LCC is urging TfL to change the focus of its blind spot campaign to improve driver behaviour instead of blaming the cyclist, and it is also working with RoadPeace, TfL, the police and the Freight Transport Association to further improve safety.

However, TfL says that there is still a long way to go towards implementing its five-point plan, making every signature on the petition crucial.