Jacqueline O'Donovan, managing director of O'Donovan Waste Disposal, says the Safer Lorry Scheme is "extremely welcome and will no doubt have a positive impact". However, she adds, "we need to combine the introduction of enforced HGV safety equipment with more training and education for both drivers and cyclists".
Donovan Waste Disposal, a FORS gold-accredited operator, invests heavily in driver training and participates in the Met Police and TfL Exchanging Places programme. "This type of experience for cyclists and pedestrians needs to be more widely implemented so more lives can be saved," says O'Donovan.
She continues: "If real impact is to be made and more lives saved, all parties need to take a more collaborative approach to safety and well-being.
"HGV owners need to see this ban not as a burden, but more as an opportunity to help the industry shake its reputation as the 'bad guys' in this situation," she urges. "By combining fleet safety measures with stringent training programmes for drivers, operators can take control of their own destinies.
"Cyclists and pedestrians, too, could benefit from further knowledge on the challenges facing HGV drivers. If we all work together to improve awareness, we can share in the benefits of less incidents and more lives saved – a win for everybody involved."