14 February 2011
Media enquiries: Angelika Schneider on +32 2 28 41019 / 07950 184 194 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Today (Mon 14 February) a delegation led by the bereaved family of Eilidh Cairns, a cyclist run over and killed by a truck, will leave for Strasbourg to call for improved European legislation to tackle cyclist deaths and injuries involving HGVs. The campaign is being backed by Team GB cyclist Rebecca Romero, competitive cyclist Elise Sherwell (nee Laverick), and national charity Brake, which supports bereaved and injured families and campaigns for safer roads.
The campaign aims to raise awareness about the dangers posed by truck blind spots to cyclists and pedestrians, and call for tighter legislation ensuring trucks have the latest devices fitted so that drivers can see around their vehicles. About 400 people are killed each year across Europe as a result of HGV blind spots – mostly cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists.[1] Many of these tragedies could be avoided through devices such as cameras and sensors.
A European Parliament written declaration on HGV safety, tabled by Fiona Hall MEP, is currently under consideration, proposing that new trucks should be fitted with the latest blind spot equipment. MEPs have until 17 February to sign the declaration, and members of the public are being urged to email their MEP now asking them to sign WD81.
Before leaving for Strasbourg, Kate Cairns, bereaved sister of Eilidh Cairns, will join competitive cyclist Elise Sherwell to demonstrate truck blind spots. The demonstration is being run by CEMEX, a building materials supplier that has fitted the latest blind spot devices to its HGVs. [1]
Media are invited to attend the blind spot demonstration and interview opportunity:
WHEN: 11.30am-12.30pm, Monday 14 February 2011
WHERE: Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, London
FILMING/PHOTOS: journalists can film and photo in and around the vehicle while CEMEX and cyclist Elise Sherwell demonstrate the blind spots
INTERVIEWS: bereaved sister Kate Cairns; cyclist Elise Sherwell; Brake campaigns director Julie Townsend; Chief Inspector Ian Vincent, Metropolitan Police
CEMEX supports the Metropolitan Police Exchanging Places initiative, an award winning programme that allows cyclists to see the blind spots around large vehicles, which will continue in 2011 at several central London locations. Chief Inspector Ian Vincent, from the Metropolitan Police Partnership Unit, will be available at the blind spot demonstration to talk about this.
As well as supporting the campaign for improved legislation, Brake is working to advise fleet operators on improving the safety of their vehicles through its Fleet Safety Forum. Brake is appealing to HGV operators to fit the latest blind spot devices to all their vehicles, to minimise the dangers they pose. Operators can order a free e-guidance sheet on blind spots, and find out about the Fleet Safety Forum, by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Kate Cairns, bereaved sister of Eilidh Cairns, said: “Eilidh’s death has affected more people than we could have imagined; there are so many that loved her. It’s vital that truck visibility is addressed to prevent more needless deaths among cyclists. It is outrageous that so many HGVs are allowed to ‘share’ road space with vulnerable users but are not required to have even this simple and low cost safety equipment that is proven to save cyclists’ lives.
Julie Townsend, campaigns director of Brake, says: “While some HGV operators fit devices to make their vehicles as safe as possible, too many trucks pose an unacceptably high risk to people on foot and bicycle. We’re appealing to all operators to fit the latest technology to reduce blind spots, and we’re calling for the law to be tightened up – to help prevent more families going through the devastation of sudden, violent deaths and injuries.”
Rebecca Romero, Olympic gold-medal winning Team GB cyclist, says: “It’s tragic so many cyclists lose their lives each year by being hit by commercial vehicles, often as a result of the driver failing to see them – yet many of these tragedies could be prevented by devices fitted to vehicles to reduce blind spots. I’m backing Brake’s campaign calling on all commercial vehicle operators to fit devices that help drivers spot people on bikes and on foot.”
Elise Sherwell (nee Laverick), a double Olympic rowing medallist with Team GB and competitive cyclist, says: “I cycle all the time on London’s busy roads, but even as an experienced cyclist it’s frightening to think that sometimes drivers of large vehicles just can’t see you. Given that we want to get more people cycling, we have to make it safer; changing the law so trucks have to fit the latest blind spot equipment is surely crucial to this.”
Fiona Hall MEP, who tabled the European written declaration, says: “Sensors and cameras should be compulsory on all lorries so that drivers are always aware when someone is close to their vehicle. This is everyday technology that is used to help car drivers with parking – on lorries it will save lives.”
Ben Plowden, Director of Better Routes and Places at Transport for London, said: "The safety of London's cyclists is a priority for the Mayor and TfL and we are committed to making cycling in London as safe as possible. TfL has been working with road safety and cycling organisations and the freight industry to develop and deliver a Cycle Safety Action Plan. This plan highlights the actions we and our partners are taking to tackle the issue of cycle safety in London, including working with the freight industry to avoid deliveries at peak times on main cycle routes, providing HGVs with warning signage and safety mirrors, and investing in cycle safety campaigns. We support any measures that will boost cycle safety and continue to work with the Department for Transport to encourage the inclusion of cycle safety training.”
Case study
TV producer Eilidh Cairns, 30, cycled 20 miles a day commuting across London; she was a fitness fanatic and loved the outdoors. She was an experienced cyclist who didn’t take unnecessary risks and knew what she was doing.
On the morning of 5 February 2009 she was crushed under the wheels of a HGV as she cycled to work. She was still conscious as she lay trapped beneath the wheels of the 32 tonne truck. A woman passer-by who was the first on the scene told how Eilidh took hold of her hand, asked for help and said “Don't leave me. Don't leave me”. After being freed by the fire service Eilidh was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service but died of her injuries hours later.
On March 7, 2009, more than 300 people attended a memorial bike ride for Eilidh. Later, London's first city-approved, permanent ghost cycle memorial was installed near the site of her death.
For all media enquiries, and to arrange interviews with Kate Cairns, Brake or cyclist Elise Sherwell, contact Angelika Schneider at Fiona Hall MEP’s office on +32 2 28 41019 / 07950 184 194 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Notes to editors
About Brake
Brake is an independent national road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the six deaths and 70 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake produces educational road safety literature, runs community training programmes and runs events including Road Safety Week (21-27 November 2011). Brake’s Fleet Safety Forum provides up-to-date fleet safety resources to fleet managers and runs a year-round programme of events. Brake’s support division cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.
About CEMEX
CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high-quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. In the UK, as well as ready mixed concrete, cement and aggregates, CEMEX also produces asphalt, and has a significant share of the roof tile, rail sleepers, concrete-block paving, and concrete-block segments. CEMEX has a national supply network in the UK to ensure that quality building materials are available to customers locally. For more information, see www.CEMEX.co.uk or www.CEMEX.com
[1] CEMEX has fitted the latest cyclist safety features, including blind spot devices, to its HGVs in a rolling programme of retrofitting on existing vehicles and specification on new vehicles. The company supports the London Metropolitan Police’s Exchanging Places programme plus other cyclist events throughout the country to raise awareness among cyclists about vehicle blind spots.
[1] Fitting Blind-Spot Mirrors on Existing Trucks: A Consultation Paper (European Commission, 2006)
