Press release

16 October 2008

A SWOV study has indicated that a considerable drop in the number of blind spot crashes in the Netherlands is indeed possible. This can be achieved by the introduction of a set of short and long term measures.

For the short term a coherent set of measures can reduce the number of blind spot crashes between lorries and vulnerable road users considerably. These measures are:

1. A separation of cyclists and lorries at locations where lorries can turn right. This can be achieved by traffic measures like (the distance from) halt lines or give-way road-markings.
2. A behavioural code for cyclists about where to position themselves in relation to a lorry and where not. This requires a media campaign.
3. Build in an extra check by the lorry driver in which the front view mirror or camera must be used. This extra check must be included in the driver training and refresher courses for lorry drivers.
4. All lorries should be fitted with a new front view system, including the vehicles that were constructed before 2007. In that year a front view system was made compulsory for new lorries.

For the long term SWOV proposes investigating a solution that makes it impossible for lorries and vulnerable road users to physically meet. The realisation of this separation requires only admitting heavy freight traffic to the main road network where distribution centres are situated. The secondary road network will then only be used by light distribution traffic.

The introduction of the above measures is the most important recommendation in the SWOV study The circumstances of blind spot crashes and short- and long-term measures.

During the past four years, the number of fatalities among cyclists in blind spot crashes was approximately 15 per year. Blind spot crash casualities are a small proportion of the annual number of road crash casualties, but these serieus crashes are for the most part avoidable.
Research shows three main causes of blind spot crashes for which measures should offer a solution:

1. (high) lorries manufactured before 2007 do not offer their drivers a view of cyclists who are positioned in front or at the right front of their cabin; front view mirror or camera remedy this situation, but as yet they are insufficiently applied and used;
2. lorry drivers fail to notice cyclists who are positioned at the right of their cabin due to inadequate use or poor adjustment of the right mirror;
3. cyclists do not always make sensible use of their right of priority. Although lorries turning right should yield right of way to cyclists, cyclists sometimes claim their right of way in an inappropriate manner.

The study analyzed the serious blind spot crashes in the Netherlands and the corresponding police reports for the years 2006 and 2007. This data was supplemented with the results of a survey among cyclists who were injured in blind spot crashes and the lorry drivers involved. The researchers also gathered observational data at locations where blind spot crashes had occurred.

To gain insight in the way cyclists and lorry drivers deal with the blind spot issue in actual practise, both road user groups were interviewed. In addition, the actual everyday traffic situation at the crash location and lorry drivers' behaviour in the cabin were studied.

The study also looked at products that are intended to prevent blind spot crashes. For the long term SWOV proposes investigating a system that detects cyclists. Such a, for instance radar, system can warn drivers when a cyclist is present.