London Cycling Campaign has launched an appeal to raise £20,000 for its No More Lethal Lorries initiative.

Heavy goods vehicles are responsible for half the cyclist deaths in London and numbers aren’t falling, despite overall road safety improving, according to LCC.

Last year 13 people cyclists died on London’s roads. Victims this year include:

• A 46-year-old professor of Hispanic studies, run over by a left-turning lorry near Tower Bridge.

• A 21-year-old medical student killed on his way to Guy’s Hospital.

• A 28-year-old charity worker, also a talented musician, crushed to death on a roundabout in Hackney.

• A middle-aged father of three young children, killed by a cement mixer in Pimlico.

LCC’s campaign is led by HGV safety expert Charlie Lloyd, who is pressing decision-makers to adopt its five-point danger-reduction plan.

1 Cyclist-awareness training for drivers

All city lorry drivers should be have ongoing cycle-awareness training, including on-bike experience.

2 More responsibility on drivers

Authorities must recognise driver responsibility for doing everything practical to reduce risks. Blaming a ‘blind spot’ should be an admission of guilt.

3 Safer lorry design

Lorries designed for off-road use should be taken off city streets. The best mirrors, cameras and sensors should be fitted as standard.

4 Higher-quality operators

Quality-assurance schemes such as London’s Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) should be mandatory, and the police encouraged to crack down on rogue operators.

5 More responsible procurement

Companies must only buy haulage services from reputable firms, with government taking a lead in encouraging best practice.

To donate visit the LCC website.