United Kingdom - HGV blindspot awareness

For the non-VC, sidewalk and bike lane cyclists out there and for the VC types who keep slipping back into bad habits (me):


Diagrams of an HGV and it's blind spots (red)

http://www.movingtargetzine.com/forum/discussion/598/diagrams-of-hgv-blind-spots-from-nozzer-these-could-save-your-life/#Item_0



London Cycling Campaign HGV awareness event

http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=1159

HGV awareness days in Richmond Park
A series of cyclist/HGV awareness days will be taking place over the next few months to highlight awareness of the potential dangers of heavy goods vehicles to cyclists and pedestrians.

The events, organised by the Met Police along with MAN UK and DHL, will give people the opportunity sit in the cab of both an articulated lorry and a rigid lorry so they can see the road from the driver's position.

The lorries will be stationed at Roehampton Gate Car Park in Richmond Park on Saturday 28th June, Saturday 19th July and Saturday 9th August.



Polite request to cyclist from and HGV (bus) driver

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=15021


Dear Cyclists in the Leeds area

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Could you please stop hiding behind buses and then moving round them as the bus is about to pull away, forcing the driver to have to stop again. It would be greatly appreciated if you want to pass if you could make yourself visable in good time, ie move towards the centre of the road so the driver can see you and know not to pull out until you have passed. Hiding behind the bus is silly and potentially dangerous and can cause both you and the bus to get into a pickle!
Three times yesterday I had cyclists who'd hidden themselves in my blind spot directly behind the bus and decided to pull round just as I am pulling out, meaning that I had to stop again. Now if you use the primary position further back I can see you in my mirror and know to wait, unless you wave me out (which is also very much appreciated).

Thank you

A Bus driver

The blindspots are quite a bit bigger than you'd think looking at those diagrams, it can be very hard for them to see anything that isn't a car.

Once you're beside them it's too easy for them to forget about you, had a few close calls with HGVs overtaking then pulling back into the lane before they'd passed me. I'd not even think about undertaking one, those things are lethal.

The blindspots are quite a bit bigger than you'd think looking at those diagrams, it can be very hard for them to see anything that isn't a car.

Once you're beside them it's too easy for them to forget about you, had a few close calls with HGVs overtaking then pulling back into the lane before they'd passed me. I'd not even think about undertaking one, those things are lethal.

Agreed

The one that get's me are the bike lane types who filter through on the left and then tuck themselves in virtually under the front bumper. There was something on ITV about HGV blindspots and even if you're 1 or2m in front of the HGV you're probably still invisible to the driver because of the height difference.

The blindspots are quite a bit bigger than you'd think looking at those diagrams, it can be very hard for them to see anything that isn't a car.

Can be very hard to see anything, full stop. The Road Haulage Association once did a demo of HGV blind spots where they hid something like 38 cars behind an articulated box lorry.

I was once parking a rigid HGV in an awkward space. I got out and walked round to check all was clear. In the time it took me to get back in the cab, a light (car based) van drove round me and parked immediately behind my truck.

The first I knew of it - despite considerable caution and use of the mirrors - was the panicked sounding of the horn. By that time, I'd already pushed the van up on to two wheels and over to quite an angle. I didn't feel the truck hit, nor could I see him in the (large, correctly adjusted) mirrors, even once I knew he was there.

Unless you can see the driver in the mirrors and are pretty sure he's seen you, assume he has no idea you're there.