The London Cycling Campaign has branded a Transport for London cycle safety poster as ‘misleading’.

The poster (left), launched as part of TfL’s autumn campaign last month, highlights the danger of cyclists passing lorries on the left.

But LCC believe the poster is painting cyclists as if they are in the wrong and is misleading because:

1) An older (pre-2000) lorry was used without the updated mirror systems required by over 90% of the large lorries in London.

2) A driver turning does not see a single image in their mirror; in reality the view is being constantly refreshed.

3) The lorry in the poster would be unable to complete its turn without driving the trailer over the pavement. If it straightened, it would bring the cyclists into view (if it had the correct mirrors adjusted properly).

4) The wide angle mirror is badly positioned: the law requires drivers to have mirrors correctly adjusted at all times.

LCC campaigner and former lorry driver Charlie Lloyd said: “The poster and the accompanying video give the false impression that a driver could not see any of the cyclists.

“We’ve succeeded in changing the type of mirrors fitted to all lorries in Europe so there is little or no blind spot close on the left side of lorries.

“The true risk areas that remain are immediately in front of the front-left corner and about 2m away to the left of the cab.

“The most important step towards reducing lorry danger is to help drivers use their mirrors so that as they drive down the road they get a good view of every section where a cyclist or pedestrian may be.”