Fleet safety will be one of the main themes in this year’s Freight in the City Exhibitor Zone.

As urban populations expand, ensuring the limited road space in UK cities is shared safely between all users is a priority for local authorities and freight operators alike.

This year’s show will feature a range of products aimed at making sure commercial vehicles fleets and their drivers are as safe as possible when driving alongside vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians.

Returning to Alexandra Palace after its worldwide debut last year will be the DawesGuard system with DropDown technology – a fully retractable inflatable barrier, which creates a physical shield across the ‘danger zone’ between the front and rear axles of construction vehicles to prevent a person being dragged under the rear wheels.

It has recently been trialled by London tipper operator Keltbray Group, which plans to install it on a number of vehicles.

Also on show will be an emergency braking system, which has been created to prevent runaway HGVs.

BrakeSafe, developed by Vision Techniques, automatically applies a vehicle’s handbrake if the driver has forgotten to use it, as well as providing an audible alarm.

Technical manager Nigel Armstrong said the company recognised the need for a fail-safe system to prevent rollaway accidents, and began working on the design last year.

The system won this year’s Motor Transport Innovation Award, as well as scooping the Tip-Ex Show Innovation Award.

Blind spot elimination is another focus for fleet managers, and one product offering a way to provide better direct vision of vulnerable road users hidden alongside an HGV’s nearside is Astra Vehicle Technologies’ Clear-View windows.

The low-level passenger door windows, originally developed for the Daf CF and LF trucks, are now also available for Iveco, MAN and Scanias.

Made from toughened glass, the vision panels also allow the main passenger door window to be fully open.

Register now for the free-to-attend Freight in the City Expo, which takes place on 2 November at London’s Alexandra Palace.

Delegates can attend a selection of seminars featuring leading freight and public sector officials, as well browsing the exhibition halls and networking with industry peers.

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