Trucks to bikes for Belfast awareness scheme

HGV drivers across Belfast will be swapping their trucks for two wheels as part of a scheme to raise awareness of safety for all road users.

Organised by the Freight Transport Association, with the assistance of Sustains, a walking and cycling charity, the Safe Urban Driving programme aims to help prevent collisions with vulnerable road users in an urban environment.

Building on a successful year running the programme in 2015, the programme sees around 20 drivers travel by bike to gain experience of the road from a cyclist’s perspective.

Seamus Leheny, FTA’s policy and 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 delighted with 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.”