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OPERATOR CASE STUDY KELTB RAY
Page 44
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The Keltbray Group is one of the UK's largest specialist demolition and civil engineering contractors. Within its HGV fleet, it runs 32 tippers, operating mainly in the City of London, taking waste to landfill sites in Kent and Essex. All are equipped with Brigade's Sidescan (see panel right).
The company's daily urban working environment provided the major catalyst for fitting a nearside detection system.
Keltbray wanted a solution that warned both the driver and a cyclist of a potential danger. Moreover, it was also keen to help increase the driver's field of visibility.
Haulage operations director Adrian Scott explains: "We try to do everything over-and-above what's required of us to ensure a high level of safety, and to give our drivers and members of the public the chane to be safe."
Scott also notes: "There's a higher concentration of cyclists in [central] London then in the suburbs. Many are not what you'd describe as 'passive' cyclis they're cycle couriers, and one of our major concerns was the lack of understanding some of them have to how we could share the road safety. Unfortunately, in the event of an incident, regardless of the kind of motor vehicle involved, the cyclist is going to be more vulnerable, so we felt we really needed to protect them and ourselves with a system to help that situation."
Scott reports that the feedback from Keltbray drivers using the system "has been positive'. He adds: 'They feel it's been a positive step towards ensuring everyone's safety on the road."
Using the Sidescan system, Keltbray's drivers are alerted to the presence of anything in the front nearside blindspot, while those who are within the archetypal danger zone are warned via a spoken message that the truck is about to turn. Four sensors are fitted along the bottom of the cab on the nearside, with the 'Backchat' speaker (audible warning system) located behind the cab. Although it's not been easy to come up with definitive data with regards to specific risk reduction, Scott believes the absence of reported incidents since fitting Sidescan to Keltbray's vehicles is testament to the system's effectiveness.
"It's an ongoing situation, and although there's no such thing as a foolproof scheme, we're aware of our responsibilities towards sharing the road safely with others." Scott says, "Since Sidescan has been fitted by Brigade, we're confident we're achieving a high standard of health and safety on public highways, both for Keltbray and other road users. Hopefully, it will be taken up by a lot more hauliers."
Having already been awarded bronze status by the Transport for London Freight Operators Recognition Scheme for its high standards of driving practise and vehicle safety, Keltbray is currently working towards its silver standard.