There was a particularly sad story in The Sunday Times about a 56-year-old mother who died after being involved in an accident with a cement mixer. The story said that the driver was only fined £300 and allowed to keep his licence. It is difficult to know without hearing the case whether this was a light fine or not.
But the case does highlight how trucks and bicycles do not mix well, particularly with the increasingly busy roads. Ideally bicycles should have their own lanes, separated from the road. But councils do not seem keen on this; probably because of the cost and the lack of space.
The article said that every year about 150 cyclists are killed or serious injured in London. According to the Sunday Times report “In urban areas about half of cyclists’ deaths are caused by HGVs – most frequently when they turn left. A third more men than women die on the roads, but when women are killed it is most likely to be by HGVs”
The daughter of the 56 -year-old women has now persuaded RMC to fit all their vehicles with sensors (says the article) so that an alarm will sound .if a cyclist is alongside.
It does sound like a good idea to fit these alarms, as long as they work. Maybe they should be fitted as standard.
What do you think? Do such alarms help?

Research into bikes, trucks and accidents