Contractors working for Cambridge university have been asked to make safety improvements to their HGVs corresponding with the Construction Logistics and Cycle Safety (Clocs) scheme.

Based on the London developed Clocs initiative, which has been led by Transport for London, the Cambridge version binds contractors to installing extra mirrors and side panels, fitting reversing sensors and cyclist warning sign, as well as putting drivers through awareness training.

The university said Morgan Sindall, Barnes Construction, Kier Group and SDC Construction Group are some of its contractors signed up to Cambridge Clocs, though to be one of the fist applications of the initative of its type outside the capital.

The scheme will be voluntary for 12 months but will become compulsory afterwards, with penalties for non-compliance.

“The measures allow us to greatly reduce the dangers presented by lorries and we believe that we should be doing everything possible to protect vulnerable road users,” said SDC Construction managing director Francis Skinner.

Ravinder Dhillon, head of estate development at Cambridge university, said: “The city will become one of the biggest construction hubs in the UK outside of London. We want our construction contractors to know what we want and what we expect.”