Cyclist-friendly tipper truck to make debut at PACTS conference

A new construction vehicle fitted with safety equipment and developed in partnership with Transport for London (TfL) will debut at Safer Vehicles 2016.

The conference, organised by Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), is being held in Westminster on the 14 June.

The Dennis Eagle Elite tipper has more direct visibility than standard construction tippers as the cab is lower with panoramic windows and narrow pillars. It is fitted with a camera system and a Cyclear warning system to caution vulnerable road users - pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists – of left turn manoeuvres by the vehicle. The system also alerts the driver when people are passing on the nearside.

The vehicle has been developed as part of TfL's Construction Logistics and Cyclist Safety (CLOCS) and Safer Trucks Programmes to encourage the supply and uptake of safer vehicles with improved direct vision and reduced blind spots. 

The projects have seen TfL collaborated with vehicle operators and challenged vehicle manufacturers to come up with new specification vehicles that address issue of HGV/vulnerable road user collisions.

David Davies, executive director of PACTS, said: “Transport for London is a prime example of an authority that is really prioritising the safety of the groups most at risk, which make up 80% of serious and fatal collisions. 

“TfL will share its latest work into progressing standards of vehicle safety across London. Including HGVs, buses, and the wider fleet, TfL is influencing and prescribing vehicle design and in doing so improving road safety for those in the capital and across the UK.

“Safer vehicles – including HGVs, buses, cars and motorcycles – are increasingly important in the push to reach road safety objectives in the UK, across Europe and globally. The London safer lorry scheme may be extended; the UK Government aims to boost the uptake of safer cars; a review of European vehicle safety regulations is imminent; and NCAP schemes across the world are gearing up to deliver the UN Sustainable Development road safety goals.”

Safer Vehicles 2016 is run by PACTS in partnership with Highways England, TfL, Thatcham Research, Global NCAP, RoadSafe, ETSC and iSAFER.

The PACTS Safer Vehicle 2016 conference is being held at the QEII Centre on 14 June.