Industry body backs Times cycle safety campaign
The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has welcomed The Times newspaper's campaign to improve cycling.
The Times' editor James Harding gave evidence to the Transport Select Committee today.
"HGV drivers and training for them is really important," he said.
The MPA has backed the Cities fit for Cycling campaign and said its aims "broadly align with the MPA's Cycle Safe Campaign and 6 Point Plan" which was launched last year.
Nigel Jackson, Chief Executive of the MPA, said: "Our sector is committed to playing its part in minimising hazards and risks for all road users and we support the objectives of The Times' Cities fit for Cycling campaign to prevent accidents involving cyclists and other road users.
"We have carried out, and are planning, a number of actions in support of Cyclist Safety via our 6 Point Plan, which is at the forefront of our strategy. In particular, we are developing an approved industry training course focussed specifically on reducing collisions between industry vehicles and vulnerable road users, including cyclists."
To date over 27,500 industry drivers have undertaken the additional mandatory "Driver Skills" safety training required by MPA and members, which includes cyclist safety within its scope. The new training course which MPA is pushing is focussed specifically on cyclist safety and vulnerable road users and will support current training requirements.
LGV drivers are now required to have a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification in addition to a driving licence. The existing "Driver Skills" training undertaken by drivers working for MPA members has been approved for CPC purposes and MPA will ensure that the vulnerable road user course now in development is also CPC approved.
Mr Harding told the committee that government progress on cycling is "seriously inadequate".
"The reason we are not seeing casualties climbing is because people are being scared off the roads," he said.
"It may even suit the Department for Transport to think they'll keep a certain number of people off the roads and this will deal with the problem."
PoliticsHome Newsletters
Get the inside track on what MPs and Peers are talking about. Sign up to The House's morning email for the latest insight and reaction from Parliamentarians, policy-makers and organisations.
