CEMEX to help cyclists in York, Bristol, Cambridge and Manchester

CEMEX UK, the building materials provider, is advising cyclists on how to stay safe around large vehicles as part of events run throughout the country for National Bike Week 13 - 21st June.

This week a ready mixed concrete lorry or aggregates tipper, with a range of safety features aimed at vulnerable road users such as cyclists, is to be placed in central locations in York, Bristol, Cambridge and Manchester. Visitors to the event will be able to go into the cab of the vehicle to see the area of visibility around the vehicle and learn from the driver about ways to ensure their own safety.

Since 2003, CEMEX has been actively involved in addressing the safety of vulnerable road users. Since this time, additional safety features have been added to over 450 vehicles in the CEMEX fleet and up to 2,500 independent haulier contractors vehicles employed by CEMEX each month. The vehicles in the fleet include tippers, readymix concrete trucks, ‘curtainsiders' and cement tankers.

Warning signs advising cyclists not to pass up the left hand side of the vehicle and ‘frog eye' mirrors to improve visibility in the ‘blind spot' became a legal requirement on all new vehicles since 2007. CEMEX has ensured that these have been retrofitted to all vehicles over 2 years old.

Innovations include proximity sensors with signage on the nearside of the vehicle with voice-activated message to alert the cyclist and alarm in the cab if a cyclist is detected plus side under-run bars on tippers as extra protection to prevent cyclists falling under the vehicle.

CEMEX UK has been working for over seven years with RoSPA (Royal Society for the prevention of accidents) and other leading organisations. RoSPA estimated that in 2007 there were 16,000 cyclists killed or injured in reported road accidents.

"Both drivers and cyclists have a responsibility for their own, and each other's safety. CEMEX has invested in not only in the technology for its vehicles but continuous training for its team of drivers to create awareness of the situations and risks involved" comments Andy Taylor, UK Director Health and Safety.

As well as advice and information, visitors to the vehicle will receive a leaflet outlining ways in which they can stay safe and the opportunity to learn about road safety from the drivers view point.

www.cemex.com