LAWR

SAFETY EQUIPMENT Cycle-friendly waste trucks unveiled to prevent accidents The Mayor of London Boris Johnson and local authorities have recently united to draft city-wide laws ordering companies and hauliers to meet new safety standards to protect cyclists and pedestrians. Liz Gyekye finds out what councils and refuse collection vehicle (RCV) manufacturers are doing to improve safety for crews and cyclists. he Mayor of London announced his lat- est move because of the outcry over the number of cyclists who have died beneath lorry wheels in recent years in the city. Of the 14 cyclist deaths in the capital in 2013, nine involved heavy goods vehicles. In 2012, 25 cyclists nationwide were killed by lorries, mostly construction vehicles, latest figures show. To address this problem, Johnson's proposed ban will require every vehicle in London over 3.5 tonnes – a dispropor- tionate cause of cyclist and pedestrian deaths - to be fitted with sideguards to protect cyclists from being dragged under the wheels. It will also require them to be fitted with mirrors giving the driver a better view of cyclists and pedestrians around their vehicles. The London Borough of Sutton is one council that is installing cameras and sensors to prevent cyclist deaths. It is working with vehicle safety specialist Innovative Safety Systems to install CCTV camera recording technology and a cyclist warning display system called Cyclear to its refuse and recy- cling trucks. The system comprises an illuminat- ed sign and speaker to alert cyclists and vulnerable road users when a vehicle is turning left. The latest version also has an optional sequencing sensor, which T September 2014 Local Authority Waste & Recycling 35 odour lab No.1 for ODOUR ANALYSIS UKAS ACCREDITED ISO 17025 standard £85 odour threshold analysis £95 odour acuity testing £125 odour workshop training day " It is better to be safe than sorry " ►

• Cover