Improving HGV Safety: A Critical Step in Reducing Pedestrian and Cyclist Accidents

Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) are the backbone of logistics and transportation, ensuring the delivery of goods that keep our economy moving. However, their presence on urban roads comes with significant risks, particularly for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. While HGVs account for a small percentage of overall traffic, their involvement in serious and fatal accidents is disproportionately high. Addressing HGV safety is not just a regulatory challenge—it’s a moral imperative that can save lives and make our cities safer for everyone.

The Reality of HGV-Related Accidents

HGVs are involved in a worrying number of fatal road accidents, especially in urban areas where the mix of cyclists, pedestrians, and large vehicles creates a dangerous environment.

Key Statistics

• In London, HGVs accounted for 63% of cyclist fatalities and 25% of pedestrian fatalities between 2015 and 2017, despite making up only 4% of London road traffic.¹
• Nationally, the UK Department for Transport (DfT) reported that in 2022, HGVs were involved in over 15% of road fatalities, even though they represent just 2% of vehicles on UK roads.²
• Research by Cycling UK indicates that blind spots on HGVs are a leading factor in collisions, with 31% of cyclist fatalities involving vehicles turning left at junctions.³

These figures paint a stark picture: without targeted safety interventions, HGVs will continue to pose an outsized risk on UK roads.

The Unique Challenges of HGVs

HGVs present several specific risks that make them a unique safety challenge:

1. Blind Spots
   Traditional HGV designs often leave drivers with significant blind spots, especially around the sides and rear of the vehicle. Vulnerable road users in these areas are at higher risk of not being seen.
2. Size and Weight
   The sheer size and weight of HGVs mean that collisions often result in severe injuries or fatalities, particularly for unprotected road users.
3. Urban Environments
   Narrow roads, tight corners, and busy junctions make urban areas particularly hazardous for HGVs and those around them.
4. Driver Fatigue
   Long hours on the road can lead to fatigue, reducing reaction times and increasing the likelihood of accidents.

Shared Responsibility: The Role of Cyclists in Road Safety

While improving HGV safety is critical, it is also important to acknowledge that road safety is a shared responsibility. Cyclists, like all road users, must be aware of risks, particularly when navigating busy urban areas with large vehicles.

A key concern is situational awareness, especially around HGV blind spots and at junctions. Many collisions occur because cyclists position themselves in areas where drivers may not be able to see them, such as directly alongside a turning lorry.

One potential solution to improve cyclist safety is the introduction of compulsory or widely encouraged cycling proficiency programmes, similar to the Bikeability scheme currently available for school children. A structured programme covering road positioning, visibility, and awareness of HGV movements could greatly reduce accident rates and improve overall road safety.

Encouraging cyclists to undertake such training, especially in high-traffic urban areas, could help prevent avoidable accidents and foster better understanding between all road users.

Solutions for Safer Roads

Efforts to improve HGV safety must focus on both vehicle design and broader policy measures.

1. Technological Innovations

Modern technology offers a range of solutions to mitigate the risks posed by HGVs:

• Blind Spot Cameras and Sensors: These systems alert drivers to the presence of pedestrians and cyclists in blind spots, reducing the likelihood of collisions.
• Sideguards: Physical barriers fitted to the sides of HGVs prevent vulnerable road users from being pulled under the wheels in the event of a collision.
• Audible Warnings: Systems that emit warnings when an HGV is turning can alert cyclists and pedestrians to potential dangers.

2. Policy Interventions

Policies like London’s Direct Vision Standard (DVS) have demonstrated how targeted regulations can improve safety. The DVS assesses HGVs based on the driver’s direct line of sight and requires vehicles to meet minimum visibility standards or be retrofitted with additional safety equipment.

Early data from Transport for London suggests the DVS has contributed to a reduction in HGV-related fatalities since its introduction in 2021⁴. Expanding similar policies to other cities could have a nationwide impact on road safety.

3. Driver Training

Enhanced training programmes for HGV drivers can raise awareness of vulnerable road users and improve defensive driving skills. Courses such as Safe Urban Driving⁵ place drivers on bicycles to give them first-hand experience of a cyclist’s perspective.

4. Infrastructure Improvements

Urban planning can play a crucial role in reducing conflicts between HGVs and vulnerable road users:

• Segregated Cycle Lanes: Dedicated lanes for cyclists reduce the likelihood of direct interaction with HGVs.
• Improved Junction Design: Changes such as advanced stop lines for cyclists and traffic light phasing can prevent dangerous turning conflicts.

The Push Towards Safer, More Liveable Cities

The focus on HGV safety aligns with broader urban planning trends, including the concept of 15-minute cities. These neighbourhoods aim to reduce car dependency by ensuring that most daily needs—work, school, shopping, leisure—can be reached within a 15-minute walk or cycle.

By prioritising pedestrian and cyclist safety, cities can encourage more people to adopt active travel modes, reducing congestion, improving air quality, and promoting healthier lifestyles. However, this vision can only succeed if measures like HGV safety improvements and increased cyclist road awareness are integrated into the planning process.

The Business Case for HGV Safety

Investing in HGV safety not only saves lives, which should be enough, it also makes good business sense:

• Reduced Costs: Fewer accidents mean lower insurance premiums, reduced legal liabilities, and less vehicle downtime.
• Enhanced Reputation: Companies with a strong safety record demonstrate corporate responsibility, improving their standing with customers and clients.
• Regulatory Compliance: Adopting safety measures now ensures businesses stay ahead of future regulations, such as expanded DVS-like policies in other cities.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

The statistics make it clear: addressing HGV safety is essential to reducing pedestrian and cyclist fatalities on UK roads. Through a combination of technology, policy, training, and infrastructure improvements, we can significantly lower the risks posed by HGVs, creating safer, more liveable urban environments for everyone.

However, responsibility doesn’t lie solely with HGV operators—cyclists must also take steps to enhance their safety and awareness on the roads. Encouraging formal cycling proficiency tests, particularly for those frequently navigating city traffic, could be a crucial step in reducing avoidable collisions.

As policymakers and businesses take steps to modernise HGV fleets and improve road safety, the message is apparent: the time to act is now. Safer HGVs, better cyclist education, and improved urban planning together will create a future where cities are not only more efficient but also more equitable, sustainable, and enjoyable for all.

Sources

¹Source: Transport for London (TfL) data, as reported by Cycling UK. cyclinguk.org

²Source: Reported by Van Fleet World, based on Department for Transport (DfT) statistics. vanfleetworld.co.uk

³Source: Department for Transport (DfT) “Reported road casualties Great Britain: road user risk, 2022 data. gov.uk

⁴Source Transport For London, the number of serious injuries involving HGVs decreased from 48 in 2017 to 17 in 2021. tfl.gov.uk

⁵Source FORS Professional Safe Driving https://www.fors-online.org.uk/cms/fors-professional-safe-driving/