Making the Most Dangerous Trucks Illegal in London

Heavy trucks can endanger active commuters, according to a story in Streetsblog by Angie Schmitt. "In London, city officials estimate that 58 percent of cyclist deaths and more than a quarter of pedestrian deaths involve heavy trucks, even though trucks only account for 4 percent of traffic." While problems related to heavy trucks are prevalent in the United States a proposed new law in London would prohibit the most dangerous trucks within city limits.

The city will use a six-point scale to rate how well the truck driver can directly see from cab. "Beginning next year, the city government will not work with contractors who use “zero-star” vehicles," Schmitt tell us. Khan plans to ratchet up these regulations over time, so that by 2020 the most dangerous trucks will be banned from the city and by 2024 only three-star and above will be permissible. These regulations go far beyond anything that exists in the U.S., partly because in America the power to regulate vehicles is held at state and federal levels. Still, from mandating guardrails to improving street design, bike advocates in the United States insist there's much that can be done to help the situation.