Large Goods Vehicles

Transport written question – answered at on 16 December 2013.

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Photo of Graham Brady Graham Brady Chair, Conservative Party 1922 Committee

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the practicality of fitting sensors to heavy goods vehicles for the protection of cyclists.

Photo of Robert Goodwill Robert Goodwill Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport (DFT) commissioned Loughborough university in conjunction with MIRA Ltd, to assess sensing systems as part of a wider investigation on improvements to driver vision from vehicles. The report was published in 2011. The expert appraisal of sensors highlighted the differing capability of these systems in detecting vulnerable road users compared to mirrors and cameras. The research also collected information from 14 drivers routinely using vehicles fitted with sensors. They reported concerns with annoyance/distraction of the audio feedback and unreliability/over-sensitivity giving rise to false alarms. However, the Department recognises that sensor technology is developing and is currently engaging with manufacturers to understand the latest developments.

A full impact assessment of these systems will be needed before reaching a decision on requiring installation on vehicles.

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