London lorries banned from left turns to curb cyclist deaths

London construction lorry drivers will be barred from turning left in a radical tightening of measures to prevent cyclist deaths.  

London mayor Boris Johnson today unveiled plans that would force heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) delivering materials to large building sites to follow direct routes and help drivers avoid collisions with cyclists.

So-called ''left hooks'' were one of the biggest dangers on the road and had led to many fatalities.

Seven of the eight cyclists killed in London this year had been in collision with HGVs or goods vehicles.

The measure goes into effect as the first phase of Johnson's safer lorry scheme - the first in the UK - came into force today across the capital.

Under the scheme all vehicles weighing above 3.5 tonnes would need side guards to prevent cyclists being dragged under their wheels, and extra mirrors to help drivers spot pedestrians and cyclists.

The second stage of the scheme will require lorries to be retro-fitted with glass doors to reduce blind spots. Consultation would begin in January and Johnson had vowed to make a final decision on glass doors before he stood down as mayor in May.

According to Johnson, the scheme was a "life-saver".

Each breach of the ban carried a maximum £1,000 penalty and repeat offenders risked losing their operating licences.

The new rules would operate 24 hours a day and cover all roads in London except motorways.

Charlie Lloyd from the London Cycling Campaign said, "The new mirror system is really good news but most lorries already comply," BBC reported.

"What we'd like to see is a total re-design of a lorry cab... the driver is brought down to the level of a transit van, he can see everything around him, it solves most of the problems."

"We are ahead of any other part of the UK in closing the legal loopholes that allowed many HGVs to operate without basic safety equipment," Johnson said.

"I am delighted that over the 18 months since we announced the safer lorry scheme, the vast majority of operators have got the message and fitted safety equipment to their vehicles in anticipation of the ban."