Hundreds of police have been stationed at road junctions around central London at the start of a major road safety operation launched in the wake of six cyclist deaths in less than two weeks.
Operation Safeway will deploy about 650 police officers at 60 junctions during the morning and evening rush-hours, beginning from Monday morning. The scheme will target all road users in “robustly enforcing the law and educating them about dangers”, the Metropolitan police said.
Safeway will involve 2,500 officers throughout its period of operation, with 166 junctions targeted overall.
Run by the Met’s traffic unit, the operation will involve officers issuing fixed-penalty notices for breaches of traffic rules, or further action in the event of more serious infractions.
Officers from other parts of the force will “be keeping an eye out for anyone who commits an offence on the road during their day-to-day duties”, a police statement added.
The crackdown follows a spate of cyclist deaths in the capital that has focused attention on road safety issues. All but one of the recent cycle deaths involved either a lorry, bus or coach, bringing particular focus on the way cyclists interact with heavy traffic and whether road infrastructure properly protects riders.
Police began a smaller-scale operation last week, which principally targeted lorries and cyclists. There was criticism from some cyclists after they were pulled over to be advised by police that they should be wearing high-visibility jackets or helmets, neither of which is compulsory. Police note that both are recommended in the Highway Code.
Operation Safeway will also involve officers “handing advisory leaflets to those whose behaviour they see is putting them or others at risk of harm on the roads”, police said.
Superintendent Rob Revill, leading the operation, said: “This operation will be intensive and far-reaching. Our aim is to reduce the appalling number of people who die or are injured on London’s roads each year.
“Every road death is a needless tragedy that wreaks devastation for the victim’s friends and family. Every serious injury is life-changing and distressing.
“We are doing this by enforcing traffic legislation robustly and at every opportunity. Traffic and safer transport officers will be out in force, and even officers who don’t specialise in traffic policing will be watching and dealing accordingly with anyone they see breaking the law.
“We will also be educating the public at interactive events and talking to anyone we see acting dangerously on or about the roads. We welcome the recent debate around road safety but it is irrefutable that the Met and the public have a duty to ensure that we all take the very best care on the roads.”
Some cycling groups criticised the earlier operation for targeting the wrong priorities in advising over helmets and high vis, arguing that not only are their benefits partly unproven, but it sends an implicit message that riders are somehow to blame irrespective of the circumstances of an incident.
London’s mayor, Boris Johnson, who with Transport for London is mainly responsible for transport policies in the capital, has also faced criticism for calling for a ban on cyclists wearing headphones.
Critics argue that this is a marginal issue, and he is seeking to distract attention from worries about the bike infrastructure he has introduced, notably the so-called cycle superhighways.
A series of cycle deaths have taken place in and around the superhighways, which despite their name are for the most part marked only by blue paint.
Some cycle groups have instead called for a ban on lorries in central London in the rush-hour, noting that left-turning lorries are responsible for more than half of all cyclist deaths.
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