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RoadPeace calls for action on lorry blind spots

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One of the key elements of the eight point cycle safe campaign announcement by The Times yesterday was a demand that lorries entering a city centre should be required by law to fit sensors, audible truck-turning alarms, extra mirrors and safety bars. 

Some of these recommendations has long been the demand of the Eilidh Cairns family, who have tirelessly campaigned to get lorries fitted with sensors and cameras that could help lorry drivers with their blind spots (both here in the UK and in Europe), via their See Me Save Me campaign that is dedicated to the memory of their daughter.

Eilidh was run over and killed by a lorry with a blind spot while she was out cycling in February 2009.

RoadPeace takes over See Me Save Me campaign

Coincidentally with the launch of The Times campaign, comes an announcement by RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims, that is is launching a new campaign website dedicated to saving lives by reducing lorry danger and it will take on the work on the work of the See Me Save me campaign of the Cairns family.

The site, seemesaveme.com, will launch on February 5, which is the third anniversary of the death of Eilidh Cairns.

The main focus of the website is to call for the elimination (via legislation) of a lorry driver’s blind spot through the use of HGV safety technologies such as sensors and cameras. It will also highlight other measures that are being implemented to prevent collisions between lorries and cyclists and pedestrians, as well as supporting and empowering bereaved families and those seriously injured by lorries in navigating the justice system.

European Union fight

The See Me Save Me campaign was initially launched by Eilidh’s family and friends to get the European Union to include the mandatory fitting of sensors and cameras on newly built HGVs through a European Union directive (Directive 2007/38/EC). That campaign has been successful in forcing the European Commission to come up with proposals to improve the current law to improve safety technologies on HGVs. We are yet to see those proposals announced.

Helping other families

Since Eilidh’s death, a further 50 pedestrians and cyclists have died in collisions with lorries, just in London and Kate Cairns, Eilidh’s sister, said that it was time to say ”enough is enough” when it came to deaths caused by lorries.

“Since Eilidh was killed, we have tried to spare others this terrible fate.  We have campaigned at Westminster and at Strasbourg. But the deaths go on with more families suffering on a level not possible to imagine unless you have been there. Today we say enough is enough and we mark three year’s absence of my sister by launching a website aimed at saving other families from having such anniversaries.”

The See Me Save Me campaign website will have an official launch this Sunday (Feb 5) where bereaved families and campaigners will gather at the ghost bike of Eilidh Cairns in Notting Hill. This will include a minute’s silence and the laying of flowers and photos.

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See also

Proposed “death by dangerous cycling” law runs out of time

The Times calls for cities to be made fit for cyclists

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