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Study finds driver behaviour the main cause of accidents
Page 8
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LGVs turning left can be a huge danger to cyclists Dylan Gray looks at a German study that says the mirrors aren't to blame.
A GERMAN STUDY looking into the main causes of accidents between LGVs and bicycles has found that driver behaviour and not mirrors is the main cause.
The traffic situation the study looked at was that of LGVs turning right (in the UK this would be left) and striking cyclists who are going straight ahead.
The report from the VDI (professional association of engineers) concludes that: drivers are not making optimal use of existing mirrors:that mirror design should take the driver's direct view more into account; and that there is more potential for safety benefits in improved driver training than in adding more mirrors.
A number of WV drivers were equipped with a specially designed helmet, which was host to many items of electronic measuring equipment, including a special camera to monitor the user's eye movements. The test route was through the centre of Berlin.
One of the main observations was that the moment the tractor unit turned into the road, the driver would accelerate. At this point in the manoeuvre, the visibility of the side of the truck is drastically reduced.
The study showed that the danger must be identified before the truck turns in, though drivers' viewing behaviour differed a lot. Some would check their mirrors early and watch their mirrors intensely, whereas others would look into their mirrors only when it was too late.
While the study recommends improved driver training, it also says more experiments should be carried out relating to driver behaviour, such as monitoring heart rate and stress levels.