MPA cycle campaign gains support

UK-based 2897 Mineral Products Association (MPA) has launched a new national campaign in a bid to reduce the risk of accidents between cyclists and lorries. The Cycle Safe initiative was launched at an event in London last week and aimed to highlight the problem to both cyclists and truck drivers.

MPA chief executive Nigel Jackson said, “The health and safety of all those who come into contact with our sector is critical to us and we think it’s the responsible thing to do to try and go for a preventative strategy to avoid any accidents between cyclists and LGVs.

“As an industry that operates some 20,000 lorries, MPA members want to be at the forefront of helping to improve road safety and our Six Point Action Plan looks at how this can be achieved from driver training, to raising awareness, sharing experience and examining technological features for LGVs. To date, at least 27,500 industry drivers have had cyclist awareness training as part of the Driverskills scheme required by MPA policy.”

At the London launch of the Cycle Safe campaign MPA members 4486 Day Aggregates, 3712 Brett Group, London Concrete and 643 Cemex provided four vehicles to allow cyclists the opportunity to get into an LGV to see what visibility is like from inside the driver’s cab and MPA also distributed free high visibility vests and safety leaflets.