Health and Safety Concerns for Cyclists
HGV drivers are targeted for lack of health and safety. A recently completed study of British fatalities demonstrates that there were twice as many cyclists killed on roads in the last ten years than those who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are many worried about the trend that cycling is turning into a health and safety risk. Cyclists have to worry about health and safety at work if they bike in according to the study, since there is a high rate of cyclists not even making it to work if they travel by bike.
The study is asking officials to take note that many roads are not safe for cyclists. It is not just the high number of cars on UK roads that account for the high rate of deaths. It is also due to HGVs being involved in 50% of the cyclist deaths that occur. It does not mean the HGV driver is at fault considering the blind spots they must work around, but it does mean that some have been targeted as the reason safety and health is lacking on the roads.
There are a few companies taking note of the issue, and there is now training for both cyclists and drivers to learn what it is like from the perspective of the other. It means that HGV drivers are being put on bikes and cyclists are being put in the cab of an HGV truck to help both parties to understand what it is like on the other side.
