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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 5 October 2007

MP warns cyclists will die under Olympics lorries

THE rise in numbers of heavy lorries on London’s roads in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics will cause more cycling deaths, Islington MP Emily Thornberry has warned.
The Labour MP, a champion of cycling in the capital, said that more cyclists will die unless a change in legislation required all lorries to be fitted with wide-angle mirrors.
The Islington South and Finsbury MP paid tribute to Amelia Zollner and Madeleine Wright – two Islington women killed by lorries in March – during the BBC television documentary Inside Out on Wednesday evening.
Holding up a copy of the Tribune carrying coverage of the tragedies, Mrs Thornberry said: “Earlier this year two young cyclists were killed in my constituency within 24 hours of each other.
“I can’t believe that vehicles can be allowed on the road that can’t see cyclists when in London we have so many cyclists.”
More than half of all cyclist fatalities in London involve drivers of heavy lorries. Mrs Thornberry has demanded a change in the regulations that currently stipulate only new lorries need to be fitted with wide-angle mirrors.
She said: “What is so shocking is that something can be done about this but the lorry companies won’t do anything. In London 90 per cent of lorries don’t have these mirrors and there is nothing to make them get them.”
She added: “I’m determined to get all vehicles working on the Olympic site fitted with these mirrors.”

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