Posted on 21st May 2015 by Hintons
The Mayor, Boris Johnson, recently announced that there is to be a London-wide ban on lorries that are not fitted with safety equipment, in order to protect nearby pedestrians and cyclists.
In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at what the ban is and exactly what it involves, so if you’re in an industry similar to us here at Hinton’s Waste, you can make sure that your fleet of vehicles are fully compliant with new legislation and able to drive freely on London’s streets.
Safer Lorry Scheme
This new security measure is called ‘Safer Lorry Scheme’ and has been very successful, receiving 90% support from the general public.
The Safer Lorry Scheme is to be launched on 1st September 2015 and will be covering the same areas as the Low Emission Zone, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The new regulations apply to any vehicle in the demolition, construction and waste industries, including grab hire lorries and skip lorries.
What Will It Require?
Any company owning vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are now required to make sure their vehicles are fully equipped with safety equipment, including:
– Side guards to protect cyclists from being dragged under the wheels, should a collision occur.
– Fitted with Class V and VI mirrors, allowing the driver to have a better view of any pedestrians or cyclists surrounding their vehicle.
What Are The Penalties?
If any vehicles don’t comply, they will be banned from driving on the streets of London and could find themselves facing certain consequences:
– A Traffic Commissioner will suspend the operator license and notify companies using vehicles in breach of the scheme.
– The offence can potentially carry a maximum £1,000 fine, per breach.
– Can be issued with a £50 Fixed Penalty Notice.
Why Is This Being Introduced?
As Boris Johnson quite simply explains, this new scheme is an attempt to improve the overall safety of London’s roads, as a priority. Boris then goes on to reveal, “ We know that a large number of cyclist deaths and serious injuries involve a relatively small number of trucks and lorries that are not fitted with basic safety equipment. Such vehicles are not welcome in the capital and the Safer Lorry Scheme will see them effectively banned from our streets. The lives of thousands of cyclists and pedestrians will be much safer as a result and I urge all operators of HGVs to get on board and make it a success”.
Setting a great example to the rest of the industry, O’Donovan Waste Disposal has been the pioneer for the success of this project. They have recently introduced three new lorry designs at Transport for London’s (TfL) Construction Logistics and Cycle Safety (CLOCS) progress. They have also invested in an advanced driver training scheme and spent over £5,000 on safety equipment for each vehicle they own.
So, if you operate HGVs, grab hire lorries or skip lorries around the London area, as we do at Hinton’s, make it your job this summer to make sure all your vehicles are in the line with the new Safer Lorry Scheme, ready for 1st September 2015!
If you’re looking for reliable recycling services throughout the London area, then Hinton’s Waste are the people to call. We ensure your waste is dealt with responsibly, and make it our mission to recycle at least 90% of all the waste we collect. Call us locally on 020 3124 1971 today to arrange a collection or delivery of your skip, and together, we can help lower your carbon footprint!