Operation Atrium - HGV/Cycle Campaign
Operation Atrium is an ongoing safe cycling campaign which is
led jointly by the City of London and the City of London Police.
Its objective is to reduce casualties in the City of London and has
been run jointly by the Road Safety Team and Temporary Sergeant
Antony Wolfson. The campaign (which is ongoing) proved to be a huge
success and won first prize at the 2009 London Transport
Awards.
Operation Atrium is delivered in a number of ways so both heavy
goods drivers and cyclists are targeted. The primary concern for
these two road user groups is that of a cyclist getting 'lost' in
the blind spot of the heavy goods vehicle, especially when the
cyclist rides up the nearside of the HGV when the vehicle is
turning left. A cyclists risk being dragged under the rear wheels
of the vehicle as the space between them reduces as the HGV turns
the corner. To help prevent this kind of accident the Road Safety
Team have carried out a number of campaigns including:
- Road Side Campaigns - stopping drivers and handing out safety
information and resources.
- Enforcement - handing out fixed penalty notices when drivers
enter the advanced stop boxes at traffic lights.
- Construction Sites - the drivers of construction vehicles have
been given safety information and Fresnel lenses for the nearside
cab windows (these lenses give extra visibility in the blind
spot).
Drink/drugs drive
The drink/drugs drive campaign is usually targeted at key times
of the year when there seems to be an increase of the offence
taking place, this is usually during the summer and the Christmas
period. The City however does not have a serious problem with
drink/drug drivers; however commuters and tourists can often take
the problem home with them by getting off the train and jumping
into their cars. We also have incidents of morning drivers who
still have alcohol in their system from the night before.
With the help from the London Fire Brigade, the London Ambulance
Service and The City of London Police the team sets up a mock
accident scene using a scrapped vehicle. A drunk driver is rescued
from his crashed vehicle after the fire brigade has removed the
roof of the vehicle. The driver is then taken from the scene by the
London Ambulance Service and the vehicle is made safe. These
reconstructions have taken place in two locations during each
campaign; Liverpool Street and St. Paul’s Courtyard/Paternoster
Square so that a large audience can be targeted. Safety information
is handed out on the day. The team is often asked if the scene is
real. Safety information is handed out at the scene.
For further information contact:
The Road Safety Team
Department of Planning and Transportation
PO Box 270
Guildhall
London EC2P 2EJ
Telephone number : 020 7332 1710
Email
plans@cityoflondon.gov.uk