not worth taking a chance on a lorry driver's blind side

A lorry is about to cross a roundabout when a cyclist approaches from behind. There's a tempting gap, which is a death trap disguised as a cycle lane, but the lorry may need extra space even if turning right and the driver may not be able to see a cyclist in a blind spot. DON'T GO THERE

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Cambridge
• cyclist
• lorry
• HGV
• blind
• spot
• cycle
• lane

[WannabeCPH]

In this vid I totally agree with you on staying back (the driver should have pulled a bit more right too IMO). Knowing the "geometrics" of a lorry, this was unsafe, but I have other ideas on the "lorry driver's blind side" vid I commented 3 minutes ago...

[mailpauljonescouk]

I've never seen a lorry driver do this any better here. Some get stuck coming out of this narrow entrance, needing to shunt back and forth for while before they can go. I've never driven a lorry, but I thought the manouevre was perfect and careful executed.

[nickperry68]

Saw a mother take her own bike and guide her cycling child up the inside of a lorry last week -- must have been a 1 foot gap between lorry and kerb -- had one foot on pavement and scooted up brushing the side of it - fairly heavy traffic -- red light ahead -- could have turned to green at any moment -- somehow lorry driver spotted her and waited until they were out of the way until he moved off -- cyclists make a rod for their own back sometimes

[mailpauljonescouk]

Yes. I would ask lorry drivers to watch their kerbside mirrors carefully when waiting in slow moving traffic especially when proceeding to turn. A good driver will often know when a cyclist has entered a blind spot and take that into account by waiting for the cyclist to move off into view again and turning cautiously. Cyclists will often not appreciate the hazard: about half the cyclist deaths in Cambridge involve HGVs.

[scania27]

cyclist are not told or trained in how hgv deal with junctions and roundabouts and how much room they need to negotiate them and they are not told to stay clear give them plenty of room the laft hand side of the truck is a major blind spot for the driver so remember stay clear stay safe

[gaydanzig]

thanks for this educational video.

[frognsausage]

Yes, ride defensively. Plan your actions. Anticipate the actions of others.

[cabcamman]

that is good advice at anytime , in bad weather it is especially difficult for drivers of large vehicles to see clearly out of thier nearside mirrors . well done on the advice

[nigglenoo]

One reason, of several, why cycle lanes next to the road are more dangerous than actually riding on the road. Another risk, as this poster points out elsewhere, is from cycle lanes that run next to parking spaces: you are at risk of injury from car doors being opened and if you are a fast rider it could be serious or even fatal. Another problem is people reversing off their driveways (actually an illegal manoeuvre if joining a main road but you would not know from watching) across cycle lanes

[neicykm]

i think its an offence to drive in a cycle lane safer for truck to wait for gap in traffic in opposite lane if he needs more room.We have to assume a child is using a lane especially marked to cycle in and would have limited knowledge on driving a hgv

[EdinburghFixed]

A good illustration of how useless cycle lanes are on roundabouts. Unless you are turning left you should be out holding the lane (as you show), to prevent all kinds of vehicle from cutting across.

This is a great example - the only way it could have been better is if the HGV had swung left and closed the gap... but you can't have everything!

[kentrj007]

Hi

Thank you for posting this video, really shows how cyklists should be more aware of the dangers of just going before thinking, this is a common problem in Denmark and has claimed many lifes.

[TheNameIsBEATTIE]

This is a very good comment, And i would ask the cyclist to be more aware of their suroundings, stop using ipods & mp3 players so loud that you cann't hear what is around you. Bike Vs Cars WHO WINS, ASK YOURSELF.

[TheNameIsBEATTIE]

This was a carefully exit by the driver,

nothing wrong with that, and he did exactly what, i would have done, move over to the kerb, and stop the idiot bikers, who think just because the is a cycle lane, they must have the right to be in it. WRONG when it comes to going down the side of an HGV at a junction(The cyclist did it right in this video)Be patient,