Be aware of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs)

Posted 25 Feb 2010 to News by Ciaran Fallon


Research has shown that nearly three quarters of cycle fatalities in Dublin are caused by left turning HGVs. Drivers can struggle to see you, especially if they’re turning left and you’re going straight ahead:

  • Risk can be minimised if drivers and cyclists are aware of each other and behave responsibly.
  • Never ride up on the inside of a left-turning truck. Trucks have limited visibility and often can’t see you.
  • Remember that on sharp turns, articulated HGVs often swing out right before turning left.
  • Be extra alert when either passing or being passed by an HGV.

We have produced this short film with the Road Safety Authority to help cyclists and HGV drivers navigate Dublin’s streets more safely.

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4 Comments

John Power

- February 27, 2010 at 3:57 pm

Nice Film,this all goes to prove that these HGV’S are Lethal on our Dublin Street’s and should be Banned as well as Motor Traffic Generally.

Do not always assume that the Drivers will automatically obey the Rules,many dont. Many of them are in such a Hurry that they will surge by you and cut you off going around that Corner. Whether by Accident or design they just do not notice you half the time. That also applies to the Cyclist,but if a Cyclist makes a mistake it can be fatal. If approaching a Junction when I can I like to keep over to the right to stop them cutting you off when they turn . I try to keep away from high sided Vehicles as much as possible in narrow Streets,this applies to Buses as well as Trucks.

How many Motorists actually keep out of those ASL’s very few,and how many Motorist’s keep from encroaching on those Cycle Lanes again very few. There should be Mandatory Cycle Lanes,meaning no Vehicles allowed on the Cycle Lanes.

I noticed on the Film that a Van Door was open,this can have fatal consequences when a Door suddenly opens in the path of a Cyclist. Is it not about time that they brought in Dedicated Cycle Lanes on the left of Parked Cars leaving a Door’s Gap between the Car and the Cyclist and giving Parity to the Cyclist at Junctions ,do things right.

S. Zammit

- April 20, 2010 at 2:05 pm

Proper education to motorists is always needed, however, in the end it’s up to the cyclist to be aware of the surroundings and be cautious. They should never assume right of way, even if it is their right after all!

Garry Nolan

- May 21, 2010 at 1:47 pm

Many of the trucks that are banned in Dublin city centre can get around the ban by lifting one or more axles. I believe this can be solved by banning goods vehicles over a certain weight – 12 tonnes? Any other ideas? G.

Ciarán Fallon

- May 25, 2010 at 4:45 pm

@Garry: Axles are counted whether they are lifted or not so lifting the axles is not a way around the ban.

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