The Freight Transport Association has voiced disappointment at the Mayor of London’s proposed Safer Lorry Charge scheme, saying there are better ways of achieving safe roads for all road users.
Transport minister, Stephen Hammond, and London’s transport commissioner, Sir Peter Hendy CBE, today joined London mayor, Boris Johnson, to announce a series of measures set to improve cycle safety throughout London, including changes to the way HGVs around the city operate.
But the FTA says the majority of HGV operators are already working to the highest safety standards, by installing additional equipment and training drivers.
“The FTA views the Mayor’s decision as unprecedented and authoritarian and considers it to be one that will create a mess of confused standards, leaving HGV operators not knowing what they are trying to achieve,” said director of policy at the association, Karen Dee.
“Improving road safety is a priority for FTA members and a huge amount of investment has been made by responsible operators who have gone over and above the minimum legal requirements to ensure that safety equipment is fitted to their vehicles.
“We now need to see cyclists taking responsibility for their actions, obeying traffic regulations, giving space to HGVs making manoeuvres and generally riding responsibly. Unless you also improve the behaviour of cyclists, the problem will not improve in the way that everyone wants.”
