News

A German study looking into the main causes of accidents between LGVs and bicycles has found that driver behaviour and not mirrors are 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 that are heading straight on. 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 in improved driver training than in adding more mirrors.

A number of LGV 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 in to 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 only look into their mirrors when it is too late. While the study recommends improved driver training,  it also says more experiments should be carried out relating to driver behaviour, such as heart rate and stress levels.