HGV drivers will be taking to their bikes in Belfast as part of a scheme aimed at improving safety for all road users.  Last year the Freight Transport Association joined forces with walking and cycling charity Sustrans to create Safe Urban Driving – a best practice training programme to help prevent collisions with vulnerable road users in an urban environment.  

During the one-day course, around 20 drivers get on bikes to experience the road from a cyclist’s perspective in an initiative designed to improve road safety and increase awareness.

A cvourse on May 3 is already full, building on the success of last year and continuing to improve road safety between HGVs and cyclists in Belfast and Northern Ireland.

Seamus Leheny, FTA’s Policy & Membership Manager for Northern Ireland, said: “The feedback from local HGV operators on this road safety initiative has been extremely positive, and we are delighted to be running the scheme in Belfast again this year.  It is vital that as an industry we play our part in improving road safety, especially in Belfast city centre and our other urban areas, and FTA is delightedwith the proactive response from members towards this scheme.”

Karen Mawhinney, Sustrans Cycling Skills Co-ordinator said: “We’re really pleased to see the high demand for the Safe Urban Driving course. It’s not that surprising to us as lorry drivers who have already participated have said they enjoyed it and learned a lot. The more awareness training drivers receive, the safer the roads are for cyclists. We all have to learn to share the road.”

The Driver CPC accredited course was developed by FTA and Sustrans in partnership with Cycle Training UK (CTUK) and is funded bythe Public Health Agency (PHA) and Belfast Strategic Partnership.

As part of the course, a leaflet has been produced highlighting safety tips for both drivers and cyclists.

Freight Transport Association

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