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MUNICIPAL VEHICLES Ealing unveils lorry cycle safety system There has been intense debate over a wave of cyclist deaths that occurred last year in London. Many of those who died were hit by lorries. Liz Gyekye finds out what a west London council is doing to help make vehicles safer for the driver and cyclist. O f the 13 cyclists killed in London last year, 11 died after collisions with large vehicles, eight of which were lorries, media reports suggested. This means that councils remain under increased pressure to improve their vehicles, especially refuse collection ones. According to CTC, the national cycling charity, during the period 20082012, 102 cyclists were killed by heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in Great Britain, an average of 20 each year. Goods vehicles represent only around 3.6% of non-motorway motor traffic mileage on all the roads of Great Britain, yet are on average involved in 18% of the road deaths of cyclists each year (and, in 2012, 15% of deaths of pedestrians).Most collisions between cyclists and goods vehicles occur during lorry manoeuvres and/or at junctions. Roundabouts and left turns are a particular problem. The group called on the Government and HGV industry to help make lorries safer. It called on lorries to be designed with cycle safety in mind. It said that lorries are designed in such a way that drivers have very poor visibility of the space around their vehicle. So, what innovative measures are councils doing to help solve the problem? Last November, Ealing Council launched a new innovative lorry safety system which warns drivers when cyclists and pedestrians are close to the vehicle. It is thinking about rolling it out to RCVs if a trial proves successful. According to the west London council, the Cycle Safety Shield System is the first of its kind that can detect cyclists and pedestrians 360 degrees around the vehicle while filtering out other Cllr Mahfouz cycling next to lorry fitted with new kit inanimate objects, such as bus stops and lamp posts, reducing unnecessary distractions which can be caused by other detection alarms. Using image recognition technology, the system has the ability to detect multiple cyclists and pedestrians within 30 metres and displays the position of each on a monitor inside the lorry's cabin. An alarm only will sound to the driver if a cyclists or pedestrian becomes too close to the vehicle. The monitor also displays 360 degree bird's eye view of the vehicle, completely eliminating any blind spots. Cameras are all around the lorry. The system also helps to improve driver training and awareness by scanning the road ahead for speed signs, road markings and other vehicles. The system notifies drivers if they are travelling above the speed limit or if they drift into another lane. It also ensures drivers keep a safe distance behind vehicles in front, and automatically dims the lorry's high-beam lights if on-coming traffic is detected. According to the manufacturer of the technology, it uses image recognition software to cut down on the warnings that are not needed and desensitise the driver. The system costs around £800. Ealing Council has fitted the system to a ten-plate grab lorry, which is operated by its highway repairs contractor, Murrills Construction. The system's effectiveness is being tested over a six month period and findings are expected to be released by this summer. Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "Road safety is a priority for us and we need to do what we can to avoid any more cyclists losing their lives in accidents involving lorries. "The difference between this system and others is that it is intelligent – it can decipher between objects and people, and works with drivers to help them become more conscientious on the road. "This trial is the next step in the council's plans to transform Ealing into a safer and friendlier cycling borough, and builds on the cycling awareness training we have already provided for more than 150 of our lorry drivers." January 2014 Local Authority Waste & Recycling 19

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