London Police Cancel Cyclists' Fines

The Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Police are to strike a bargain with cyclists given fixed penalty notices last week and the start of this week in Islington, Southwark and the City.

They will cancel tickets issued with a voucher in exchange for attendance at a cycle safety event.

The two police services will take the popular cycle safety event, 'Exchanging Places', to the streets outside St Paul's Cathedral on Thursday 26th November to give cyclists the opportunity to learn about riding safely, especially near HGVs.

Traffic officers will be stationed from 12.30pm to 6pm ready to cancel tickets issued with a voucher and speak about safety.

They will encourage cyclists to sit inside a truck's cab to experience first hand the limited visibility that HGV drivers have on their nearside.

However, anyone is welcome to attend the event but cyclists who wish to have their tickets cancelled must bring the ticket and voucher and not pay the ticket in the meantime.

We will only cancel unpaid tickets issued with a voucher between 16th - 26th November.

Ch Insp Graham Horwood, from the MPS Traffic Unit, said: "Having your ticket cancelled is a great incentive for cyclists to come along to this event but everyone is welcome.

"Far too often cyclists are killed or seriously injured in collisions with trucks.

"The frustrating and tragic thing is that they can be prevented through awareness on the part of both cyclists and HGV drivers.

"If you cycle or drive a truck do come and join us. "We're also reminding cyclists that bright working lights are not only a legal requirement but a must for staying safe.

"Any cyclists without working lights on the front and the rear of their bike will be liable to a £30 fixed penalty notice."

So far this year a total of 11 cyclists have died on London's roads, eight of those involved collisions with heavy goods vehicles and seven out of the eight people killed were women.

Four trucks will be present at the event, provided by MAN trucks, Cemex and Keltbray Group.

These are modern vehicles, fitted with all the mirrors and visibility aids required by current legislation, and are being used to demonstrate that even with these aids the size of these vehicles does cause blind spots.

(BMcC/GK)