Insurance giant Norwich Union is urging truck operators to take stronger action to prevent their vehicles being involved in an accident with cyclists - or risk being prosecuted for health and safety breaches or even corporate manslaughter. Mike Smith, Norwich Union's commercial motor technical manager, insists that UK hauliers should press ahead with retrofitting close-proximity 'blind-spot' mirrors to vehicles now rather than wait for their
mandatory fitment, under EU law, in March 2009.
"Apart from the moral obligation to more vulnerable road users, killing or injuring cyclists can seriously damage truck companies' reputations," says Smith, who warns that an accident can "lead to prosecutions and even driver absence due to stress". Smith reports that the additional blind-spot mirrors can increase a driver's field of vision to the side, front and rear of their vehicle. "Drivers and fleet managers alike should be looking at upgrading the type of mirrors that are fitted to their LGVs now in an effort to reduce the risk of a collision with any other road users," he says.
"If fleet managers breach their duty-of-care requirements towards cyclists, safety procedures could be the focus of an investigation by the police and/or the Health & Safety Executive should a serious accident occur. The company could also be prosecuted under the Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007 if a fatality was to happen."
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