HIGH NUMBER OF VRU DEATHS

Alarmingly, in 2018, Vulnerable Road Users (VRU) in Australia accounted for 36 percent of total road deaths; and in urban areas, almost one third of all road crash deaths were pedestrians. In Sydney, from 2015 to 2019, 51% of fatalities involved in heavy truck crashes in Sydney region were vulnerable road users. Source.

It was noted that, for many crashes, heavy vehicle blind spots were a contributing factor.

The problem is compounded by VRUs not being aware of:

• The limitations of heavy/commercial vehicles, particularly articulated ones, in terms of response times, braking and turning.
• The blind spots that many heavy vehicles grapple with when the driver is on the Right Hand Side and the vehicle is turning left.

MORE STRINGENT VEHICLE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

In the coming decade there will be increasing safety regulations levelled by all levels of government to provide greater protection to Vulnerable Road Users – this will require additional safety equipment becoming standard on all medium to large vehicles.

This is already happening in Europe and London, when a report found that 55 % of cyclist fatalities in London between 2008 and 2013 involved a heavy goods vehicle, many of which were construction vehicles. Following the report, the UK construction logistics industry identified actions to improve road safety, which led to the establishment of a single standard, known as the “CLOCS Standard”, now recognised as a world leading approach due to its rapid success.

ADDITIONAL MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR GOODS VEHICLES EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 2020

After the success in the construction industry, on the 26th of October 2020, the UK’s Direct Vision Standard (DVS) came into force. To drive into Greater London, all goods vehicles over 12 tonnes require a permit and must meet a minimum star safety rating, increasing to 3 star by 2024.

The following devices are required to comply with the DVS:

• A Class V mirror fitted to the nearside of the vehicle;
• A Class VI mirror fitted to the front of the vehicle;
• A Side under-run protection fitted to both sides of the vehicle;
• External pictorial stickers and markings to warn vulnerable road users of the hazards around the vehicle;
• A sensor system that alerts the driver to the presence of a vulnerable road user fitted to the nearside of the vehicle;
• An audible vehicle manoeuvring warning to warn vulnerable road users when a vehicle is turning left;
• And a fully operational camera monitoring system fitted to the nearside of the vehicle.