Updated: No witnesses to "accidental" death of London cyclist

AV - yes I know that. I've posted various items on HGVs and their associated risks for cyclists before, including the disproportionate number of female riders being killed by them. I'm not sure any researcher has yet sufficiently explained why female riders have a higher rate of fatalities in relation to HGVs, although the suggestions is that it is ebcause they tend to be more cautious and less on the limit, as you say. Electronic sensors with audible warnings for HGV drivers may provide an answer. But cyclists need to be very very aware of HGVs and their risks. Certain categories of HGVs seem to have a particularly high risk for vulnerable road users, as I mentioned earlier. I've been commuting in London for over 20 years by bicycle, so I reckon that means I'm an experienced cyclist by now.

Old Ridgeback - cyclist fatalities in London (and I suspect many other cities) stubbornly static for HGV's per year, whilst other vehicles total continues to fall. Has now risen to over 50% of deaths in London linked to vehicles which make up less than 5% of the vehicle count.

This sound like the most common sequence - truck driver enters roundabout looking right completely oblivious to the fact they are overhauling a slower moving cyclist heading straight on, and drives 'through' the path of the cyclist.

London Wall 2000, Bethnal Green 2010 et seq

Factor in deaths like Eilidh (Driver unfit through defective eyesight), and Catriona (Driver unfit through drink and using mobile phone) and no forest of mirrors of calls for cyclists not to ride up the nearside (very few are killed by doing this) will reduce the toll. Only some really serious follow throughs to the standards of Rail and Air 'Accident' Inquiries are going to put the weight of culpability on the drivers and operators who fall so far below a safe standard - and get away with it.

When did the driver discover that he had hit something - did he do a walk round inspection when he next used the truck or was it necessary to track the vehicle down by other means?

What does also stand out is the disportionate level of female cyclists being killed. One possible link is in the findings of a 5000 cyclist survey (OxCam) where female rider reported a problem in looking back to observe vehicles coming up behind them, and this detail aligning with reported incidents involving female cyclists where rearward observation was a factor. Is it likely that male riders possibly riding more on the limit and continually checking traffic coming from all directions are more aware of a truck bearing down on them and more assertive in blocking those fatal left turn moves by moving out and eyeballing the driver before the fatal sequence can even start to roll?

What is clear is that there is a blind spot in promoting road safety, and using 4 pieces of road safety equipment that almost everyone has effectively - 2 eyes (primary) and 2 ears (back-up system). It isn't just looking but using your eyes to make sure the other road user has seen you, with your ears that vital safeguard for the fact you do not have 360 degree vision, and may sometime need a prompt to check your 'blind spot'

Bit of info from the DfT - in 2008 accidents involving HGVs accounted for 15% of fatalities on UK roads.

I soon learned to take a different route to the place I worked at. To be honest, that junction isn't that great in a car or on a motorbike either and I take a different route when I'm using engine powered wheels as well.

The UK road network has many bad spots that have been poorly designed and which cause unnecessary risk to all road users.

A good example of extremely bad road design is the junction between the A21 and the M25. If you've driven through it, you'll know what I mean.

I also know this junction well and have cycled it many times. It is a complete nightmare for a cyclist.

I used to live locally, it really was a badly thought-out junction and especially for anyone not in a motor vehicle.

To get to the local Sainsbury's, built as part of the Millennium regeneration of the peninsula, you could either follow the crossings etc which take you miles out of your way, or do what pedestrians tend to do and go round the railings and dodge the traffic.

We're not talking about being a matter of yards here and wanting to save a few seconds, we're talking minutes.

Pretty scary to negotiate on a bike too.

Welcome to Greenwich, birthplace of Henry VIII - where the car is now king.

I used to cycle thru that junction some mornings on my way to work. It has been 'improved' since then with the new cycle lane, which makes it worse.

My condolences to Ms.Skrzypiec's family.
I live near this junction and use it most days, althugh rarely on my bike, as there are better alternative routes. Two narrow traffic lanes feed into a tight roundabout, with many large vehicles turning left for access to the motorway. A metre-wide nearside cycle lane deposits the unwary between left-turning vehicles and a high kerb backed with railings. A perfect example of a cycling facility we'd be better off without. Any cyclist who passes here will have a pretty good idea what happened. Was the lorry indicating? Did he check his nearside mirrors as he moved off? Did he really not notice the coming together?
Cyclists should be able to get about without fear of dying at the hands of careless lorry drivers. Until then, don't ride up the nearside of large vehicles, whatever colour they paint the road.

bikeandy - the car and motorcycle tests now have a greater focus on maintaining traffic flow I'm told. Drivers previoulsy were told to stop at key junctions but are now encouraged to slow down but not halt instead.

Yes, traffic light timings are a major cause of concern. I'm trying to have some changed near where I live as there have already been a number of close calls and a fatality will occur unless further safety measures are taken, it is only a matter of time.

Slightly off topic but related to the comments on traffic light timing. In both my motorcycle test (1980) and car test (1988) I was critised by the examiner for being overly cautious at road junctions which could "reduce the speed of other traffic". Bear in mind that we are talking 20 to 30 years ago and the main concern was maintaining traffic speed over my concern for road safety. Traffic conditions were a lot "better" than today and where there is plenty of talk of safety I feel the biggest concern is still keeping traffic speed "up".

hile i have no knowledge of this junction i do often wonder about the timings on traffic lights. Do the people who set the lights factor in cyclists or other slower moving traffic into the timing scheme? from my experience it would seem not, occasionally you find yourself going through just as it turns yellow and before your halfway across the other lanes are zooming out at you!

I think lights with ACL's in particular (as they obviuosly expect cyclists on that junction) should be investigated to see if they timings are safe for cyclists.

It would be interesting to see a statistical breakdown of HGV categories against the numbers registered on UK roads and against the number involved in accidents. I saw a breakdown of this sort some years ago and the accident statistics surrounding waste rehandling vehicles in particular were horrific - since then I've tried to keep my distance from vehicles such as skip lorries - remember it was a waste rehandling vehicle that nearly took out London mayor Boris Johnstone and some other cyclists last year (the video clip was on this website).

From what I've seen on the roads, I would expect tipper trucks also to figure highly in accident statistics. Vehicle condition is a factor in road accidents and tipper trucks and waste vehicles seem to figure poorly in this regard. It is partly due to the operating environment as the on-off highway application means they suffer high wear and tear rates with tyres showing the most obvious damage. I work in Kent and regularly see tipper trucks hammering along the roads at excessive speeds (40 in a 30 limit) then being flung into corners, with the drivers happily talking away on cellphones.

It is possible that the driver of the truck in this case felt a bump but did not know he had killed a cyclist. I know that junction and it is a bad one.

Poor woman. Please correct your spelling of her surname, it should be Skrzypiec. (Polish, pronounced "Sk-ship-ee-ets").

Surely if she went under the wheels he'd have felt going over her?

These tipper driver are for the most so moronic it is untrue.

I work very close to where this accident happened and witness every the reckless way these tippers are driven around the area. They have total disregard for the size of vehicle they are driving and for other motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.

There are two large aggregate depots and a waste transfer station so there are a high volume of these tippers in the area.