MPA launches Cycle Safe campaign
Metropolitan Police endorse Mineral Products Association’s six-point plan to improve road safety
ON Wednesday 15 June, the Mineral Products Association (MPA) launched its national Cycle Safe campaign to prevent collisions between cyclists and large goods vehicles (LGVs) at the Metropolitan Police’s ‘Exchanging Places’ event at Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, London.
Transport for London (TfL) statistics show that last year 10 cyclists were killed on the capital’s roads and 13 died in 2009.
Nigel Jackson, chief executive of the MPA, said: ‘The health and safety of all those who come into contact with our sector is critical to us and we think it’s the responsible thing to do to try and go for a preventative strategy to avoid any accidents between cyclists and LGVs.
‘As an industry that operates some 20,000 lorries, MPA members want to be at the forefront of helping to improve road safety and our six-point Action Plan looks at how this can be achieved from driver training, to raising awareness, sharing experience and examining technological features for LGVs.
‘To date, at least 27,500 industry drivers have had cyclist awareness training as part of the Driverskills scheme required by MPA policy.’
The MPA’s six-point Action Plan for Cycle Safe is as follows:
- Promote driver and industry awareness.
- Promote cyclist and public awareness.
- Improve driver training.
- Encourage members to use appropriate technological adaptations to minimize risks to cyclists and exchange experience.
- Liaise with schools.
- Work in partnership.
At Wellington Arch, MPA members Day Aggregates, Brett Group, London Concrete and CEMEX provided four vehicles to support the Metropolitan Police’s ‘Exchanging Places’ event and the launch of Cycle Safe.
Cyclists were given the opportunity to get into an LGV to see what visibility is like from inside the driver’s cab and the MPA also distributed free high-visibility vests and safety leaflets.
The launch was co-hosted by Nigel Jackson and Chief Inspector Ian Vincent of the Metropolitan Police.
Chief Inspector Vincent said: ‘The Metropolitan Police endorse the MPA’s Cycle Safe campaign – we are pleased to have the sector’s support for our ‘Exchanging Places’ events in London and welcome the MPA’s plans to run events of its own in different parts of the UK.
