Truck hits pedelec rider
Truck turning right
Sequence of events:
A truck driver turned right at a junction and, in doing so, hit a 70-year-old pedelec rider. The pedelec rider was traveling in the same direction as the truck and intended to keep going straight on. When she collided with the right-hand side of the truck, both she and her pedelec fell to the ground and she was run over by the rear right-hand dual tires of the truck.
A truck driver turned right at a junction and, in doing so, hit a 70-year-old pedelec rider. The pedelec rider was traveling in the same direction as the truck and intended to keep going straight on. When she collided with the right-hand side of the truck, both she and her pedelec fell to the ground and she was run over by the rear right-hand dual tires of the truck.
Persons involved in the accident:
One pedelec rider and one truck driver
One pedelec rider and one truck driver
Consequences/injuries:
The pedelec rider suffered fatal injuries as a result of the accident.
The pedelec rider suffered fatal injuries as a result of the accident.
Cause/problem:
Although the truck is equipped with all the legally required mirrors, there are still areas that the driver cannot see either directly or indirectly via the mirrors (blind spots). In the unfortunate event that the pedelec and the truck are traveling at the same speed and the pedelec rider maintains a constant distance from the side of the truck, the pedelec may remain in the truck driver’s blind spot for a prolonged period of time. The pedelec rider, who was using the combined bicycle path and footpath, rode straight on at the junction instead of following the path provided as it turned off slightly and crossed the junction via the central island.
Although the truck is equipped with all the legally required mirrors, there are still areas that the driver cannot see either directly or indirectly via the mirrors (blind spots). In the unfortunate event that the pedelec and the truck are traveling at the same speed and the pedelec rider maintains a constant distance from the side of the truck, the pedelec may remain in the truck driver’s blind spot for a prolonged period of time. The pedelec rider, who was using the combined bicycle path and footpath, rode straight on at the junction instead of following the path provided as it turned off slightly and crossed the junction via the central island.
Avoidance measures, mitigation of consequences/ strategy for road safety measures:
The accident could very probably have been prevented by a turning assistant in the truck. Camera and radar systems detect pedelec riders, cyclists, and pedestrians on the right-hand side of the vehicle and warn the truck driver in real time if they are in an immediate danger zone. Even though truck turning assistants will not be a legal requirement for all new vehicle types until 2022, retrofit systems currently available can also help. Cyclists should be aware of the problem of truck drivers having limited visibility. Extra care must always be exercised in the vicinity of trucks that are signaling right or maneuvering. If the pedelec rider had followed the path provided, the collision would not have occurred.
The accident could very probably have been prevented by a turning assistant in the truck. Camera and radar systems detect pedelec riders, cyclists, and pedestrians on the right-hand side of the vehicle and warn the truck driver in real time if they are in an immediate danger zone. Even though truck turning assistants will not be a legal requirement for all new vehicle types until 2022, retrofit systems currently available can also help. Cyclists should be aware of the problem of truck drivers having limited visibility. Extra care must always be exercised in the vicinity of trucks that are signaling right or maneuvering. If the pedelec rider had followed the path provided, the collision would not have occurred.
In the wake of the accident, the local council improved the design of the road; these improvements.