Could wider recognition of cycle-aware drivers help save money AND lives?

I’ve read with much interest several press releases from various sources this last month about ‘Possible cheaper car insurance for cycle-aware drivers’. Transport minister Jesse Norman now suggests that “Drivers who complete the national Bikeability cycle training scheme should be offered a cut to the price of car insurance”

Sounds wonderful and who could argue against the prospect of saving money because car running costs are a BIG chunk out of a home’s income and this could ease some of that pressure = Hooray!

But wait…Although every little helps, is THIS strategy really ALL we can do to protect vulnerable road users or could the insurance industry take things even further and encourage HGV driver cycle-awareness training to help save more lives? 

There are two primary categories of road user. Those who drive for personal transport (Social, Domestic and pleasure) and those who drive for business purposes (Hire or commercial reward). Almost all HGVs fall into the latter category and the disproportionate amount of people injured or killed by HGVs are driving for work. In 2016, 23% of pedestrian and 50% of cyclist deaths involved a HGV, despite HGVs making up only 4% of road miles in London alone. 

We all know there are bad apples in every group of people, that includes car drivers and cyclists as well, but with all levity aside the vast majority of HGV drivers are professional, careful and patient people. Its the external factors that affect these core qualities of HGV drivers and increase risks associated with their work, for example the occasional operational requirements to be quicker/faster can lead to shortcuts, frustrations and oversights.

Personally I’ve never met an HGV driver that would NOT mind killing a person with their lorry. Quite the opposite-many drivers who were involved in fatalities that I met during my police service were shattered beyond comprehension, many never driving an HGV again. Nevertheless cycle and pedestrian fatalities are still happening all too frequently and over the last week there have been a shocking 5 deaths by HGV!

So what about the business case for increasing road safety through optimised driver cycle safety training?

With the advent of FORS and CLOCS many companies are already putting their HGV drivers through regular VRU training at their own expense which is a fabulous step forward. These are the companies that see the best return on investment by lowering their WRRR (Work Related Road Risk) and raising their CSR. However this costs money even before we consider staff abstractions and vehicle off the road time etc. So with ever-rising fleet running costs in an uncertain 'pre-Brexit economy' squeezing the logistics and construction sectors, would it not make good sense to extend this formal preferential insurance rate offer to HGV fleets?

Following my recent research into the topic I approached several insurance brokers and underwriters asking them about the possibility of a blueprint to a model where HGV drivers and transport companies (who can demonstrate Mr Norman’s level of cycle awareness and beyond) could also enjoy a position of formal recognition of reduced risk.

Reduced or even just frozen insurance premiums would translate into a tangible ￡ return on investment for driver safety training and mitigate the immediate hit on a fleet's profit and loss account. It would also help alleviate other operational factors such as pressure on drivers in order to make ends meet. Alas-the answer from my small selection of insurance companies and underwriters was that there are no know current plans to even consider it. To me that means ￡￡￡ are still put before lives which is inexcusable because the worst case scenario is still the same.

I honestly believe that the financial incentivisation for more cycle-aware HGV drivers and fleets is paramount and would spread safer working practices outside of the 'above and beyond' category.

Reduced WRRR (Work Related Road Risk) and measurably less risk to life should (in my opinion) always be championed and where possible rewarded through preferential fleet insurance costs that help drive the urgently needed culture change where people's lives come first.

#VisionZero #CultureChange

Sources: thecarexpert.co.uk, insurancebusinessmag.com, carinsurance4cyclists.com, BBC/news, cyclingUK.org.