Cameras would help

Published: 13 October, 2011

• THE only way to keep cyclists safe on our roads is to put separated cycle lanes on all roads big enough (as on Royal College Street and St Pancras Way) and to make it an offence for a cycle to be on the road where such a lane is available.

The Advanced Stop Lines (ASLs) don’t work as drivers ignore them as they are not enforced. All traffic lights should have cameras on them (I’m sick of drivers jumping red lights) and it should be an offence for a motorised vehicle to stop in a green box (as in yellow boxes) with no excuses acceptable; a fine and three points might concentrate the mind.

Now that we have brought the traffic lights back six feet, a single cycle-only traffic light should be installed, this would enable cyclists to move off 10-15 seconds before cars.

The little green patches on the approach to traffic lights are the most dangerous markings on the road, encouraging cyclists to ride up the side and put themselves in mortal danger.

I for one ignore them totally and, if possible, I will wilfully obstruct them.

Another cycle safety improvement would be to force all new goods vehicles to be fitted with cameras to be used instead of wing mirrors.

This would remove the blind-spots and the cost would be minimal compared with the carnage on our roads (the mirrors would be kept for emergencies); we already have reverse cameras on trucks, this may need to go though the EU.

If so, let’s get moving.

I saw side cameras, on an NHS mobile dental truck, I was blown away, then the driver said they were for security only.

Cyclists in general, and female cyclists especially, need to be more assertive, take possession of the lane and not be bullied into the gutter.

I used to cycle Somers Town to White City daily until I was knocked off for the second time.

That was 20 years ago and I have not cycled on the roads since.

I now hold a category C+E licence (old HGV 1) and drive a 30ft rigid.

GEORGE CURLEY
York Way, N7