FTA believes Trixi mirrors will improve cycle safety
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cnris.tindattrarbi.co.uk THE FREIG1IT Transport Association says it is convinced that the use of •Trixi' safety mirrors at road junctions in London will improve cyclists' safety when they ride alongside HGVs.
Transport for London (TfL) and mayor Boris Johnson unveiled the first mirror in Tooting last week, and 37 more are due to be installed across the capital's cycle superhighway routes for a six-month trial.
TfL says they give lorry drivers a better view of cyclists at junctions and should reduce the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured in collisions with HGVs.
The trial coincides with a poster campaign highlighting the potential dangers cyclists put themselves in when they ride to the left of HGVs at junctions. ETA head of urban logistics policy Gordon Telling says that if the trial shows the mirrors are safe then more will be installed.
"It's ideal for us, because we have gone as far as we can go with mirrors on trucks," he says. am convinced from having seen one in place they will improve cyclists' safety, but the first step is to prove they are safe to have in use."
A memorandum of understanding has also been signed. which commits the mayor.T1L and the FrA to work together to improve cycle safety. Telling says the ETA hopes eventually to use the agreement as leverage to relax delivery restrictions.
—This agreement is to head off sabre rattlers that say ban trucks." he explains. "We are saying no, a careful and considered process is needed."