Seeing The HGV Blind Spots

Ahead of Brake’s Road Safety Week (17 - 23 November) Cycle Alert gives you the lowdown on HGV blind spots…..

The blind spot is the area around a lorry over which the driver lacks a direct or indirect view.  Blind spots therefore vary very much from lorry to lorry and cab to cab.

The most common incident involving blind spots and lorries in the UK occur when the lorry turns left without being able to see the cyclist in a blind-spot area to the side and to the front.  The cyclist is knocked off the bike and falls under the lorry as the corner is cut off (as the lorry turns) and the cyclist go under the back wheels.  Though HGVs only make up a tiny 4% proportion of the traffic in the UK, they are accountable for 18% of cyclist fatalities: in London this figure rises to 54%.

One can see that there is a particular (though not isolated) HGV blind spot on the front diagonal and sides of the lorry that creates major problems for lorries particularly at junction turnings.  In fact, more than 80% of cycle KSIs happen at, or within 20 metres of a junction.  Though there is currently EU legislation that requires the fitting and retrofitting of mirrors to lorries in order to reduce blind-spots, there are still many instances in which blind-spot accidents occur.

So how do you stay out of blind-spots?

For the optimum experience in what drivers have to contend with, we advise that you visit an Exchanging Places event, where you’re able to see line of vision from a driver’s perspective. Here are some handy tips on how to keep safe and be seen:

Be Seen; it’s Vital!

Fit high quality lights to the front and rear of your bike and wear brightly coloured and/or reflective clothing and accessories.  Use of a high-visiblity jacket - though not mandatory - can make you up to 5 times more visible.  I took this picture whilst at an Exchanging Places event and I think it very neatly demonstrates the importance of high-vis.  Look over your shoulder at regular intervals and make eye-contact with the driver wherever possible in oder to ensure they’ve acknowledged you.

Avoid Cycling in the front-left Lorry Risk Zone

Beware of cycling into the front-left lorry risk zone - though accidents are not exclusive to the left-side of the vehicle, statistically it is the position in which most accidents take place.  If a lorry passers you and puts you in the risk zone, slow down/brake in order to drop behind.

Always remember; if the truck is ahead, stay back.  If the truck is behind, get ahead.

If you’ve stopped in front of a lorry or bus at a junction, position yourself well forward of the cab and to the centre, so the driver can easily see you.  If possible, make eye contact with the driver to show that you have both acknowledged each other.  There is a large blind spot in front of the driver’s cab which you may not be aware of – do not assume that because you are in the ASL, you can be seen – try to get at least 5 metres ahead of the vehicle.

Do not assume the lorry is going to travel in the direction you think.

Do not assume that a large vehicle is going straight ahead just because they are not signalling.  If you are approaching a set of traffic lights and there are already lorries or buses waiting at the lights ahead of you, hold back in the traffic and wait for the truck to move on and complete its turn.  Remember that lorries may have to pull out to the right in order to manoeuvre left and vice versa.

Take your time

Cycle calmly, be patient and give large vehicles lots of room.  If this means leaving for work/school earlier, for example, then so be it. 🙂