Cycle safety technology fitted to Council Refuse Collection Vehicles
Transport and Environment Convener Lesley Hinds unveiled the new fleet of Refuse Collection Vehicles earlier today.
After
a trial on eight trucks, the City of Edinburgh Council has rolled out the ‘Cyclear’
technology, aimed to reduce the likelihood of accidents involving cyclists and
lorries, to a further 17 new vehicles in the fleet. It now looks set to be
installed in all future Large Goods Vehicles council vehicles.
The equipment comprises three elements, including an illuminated sign that
lights up to alert anyone travelling towards a lorry when it is turning left
and a speaker announcing the manoeuvre for additional warning.
Sensors on the side of the vehicle also detect when a cyclist travels alongside
it, alerting the cyclist with an audible message, and sounding a warning buzzer
to the driver.
The new vehicles have an Euro 6 engine emitting low emissions and fitted with
air suspension meaning its better for roads in the longer term. Five cameras are
installed on the new vehicles with screens in the cab giving drivers optimum
views of their surroundings.
Transport Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “Cycle safety is of utmost
importance to the Council. To equip our vehicles with technology that minimises
risk for all road users is a step we can’t afford not to take.
“The Council is determined to make Edinburgh’s roads as safe as possible for
all road users, including cyclists. A significant rise in cycling has occurred
in the city, while the rate of collisions involving cyclists continues to
fall.
“Edinburgh is bucking the trend with more people cycling, walking or using
public transport to get to work than anywhere else in Scotland and these newly
equipped vehicles are an important step in increasing safety and raising
awareness.”
A driver of one of the Refuse Collection Vehicles said “I really like the new
system, the sensors trigger an alarm so I’m made immediately aware of the
cyclists when they are not in my vision”
The Cyclear system, provided by Innovative
Safety Systems (ISS), has been fitted to seventeen of the Council’s new
refuse vehicles, with more on the way.
Last year, in collaboration with Cycling Scotland, the Council introduced
Driver Awareness training for drivers of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), aiming to
make them more aware of the dangers facing cyclists on the roads.