…working together in partnership – to make the roads of London safer
Jimmy Beam Down Lights
The illuminated area helps with TWO areas of concern: Firstly, it helps the driver to see along the sides of the vehicle when driving in poorer lighting conditions and so reducing the possibility of causing injury to anyone or damage to property; secondly, all road users benefit but in particular the Vulnerable Road User (VRU). The VRU can now see the associated ‘area of high risk’ along the sides of the vehicle (daylight intensities permitting).
The ‘area of high risk’ should be kept unobstructed by both the vulnerable road user when nearing the vehicle and by the driver when overtaking cyclists. This is in line with Operation Close Pass which is currently being ran by 39 of the 43 Police Forces in the UK.
Vehicle Avoidance Lights (VAL’s) as seen in
MONTREAL, CANADA and LONDON
Buses, vans and vehicle types with panels fitted close to the ground require a lamp that fits to the outside vertical surfaces. So a new Vehicle Avoidance Light (VAL) was designed to include the ‘patent granted’ side marker with adjustable angular downlight all-in-one unit. Further angular increments have been added so that the ‘area of high risk’ can be projected out further, when being fitted closer to the ground.
The ‘area of high risk’ should be kept unobstructed by both the vulnerable road user when nearing the vehicle and by the driver when overtaking cyclists. We all have a responsibility and obligation to ensure each other’s safety by staying safely distanced from each other.
Even if VRU’s are distracted, perhaps when using the mobile phone, listening to personal headphones or they could be hearing impaired, they are not sole reliant on audio warnings. They can see the ‘area of high risk’ from the projected footprint (daylight intensities permitting) and react accordingly.
Transport for London Bus Trials
To assist with the Transport for London (TfL) Bus Safety Standard and London’s Vision Zero Campaign, TfL and Metroline have trialled the VAL’s on 24 London Buses. The trial finished at the end of February 2021.
During the trials and to help VRU’s and vehicle drivers alike in realizing the ‘area of high risk’, the chosen London Buses were seen using the VAL’s (daylight intensities permitting). The ‘area of high risk’ is to be avoided by VRU’s, and not projected into others, by the principal vehicle-driver alike. The ‘area of high risk’ footprint along the sides of the bus would ‘flash’ in conjunction with the bus indicator. View the ‘flashing’ feature in the Videos section in the menu bar at the top of this page.
The independent information and findings are to be published soon.
…working together in partnership – to make the roads of the UK safer
