Cemex USA recently teamed with BikeHouston, the League of American Bicyclists and Harris County Pct. 5 Constable’s Office to increase safety awareness on the streets by providing cyclists and pedestrians the opportunity to see what is visible from a heavy-duty truck driver’s vantage. Staff parked a mixer truck and cement tanker at the George Bush Park Bike Trail, west of Houston, opening cabs for participants to observe vehicle perimeters and visual limitations.
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| Event participants received information urging them to wear reflective clothing and obey traffic laws. Cyclists also were given safety kits that included headlights with bike mounts, LED reflector flashlights and water bottles. |
National Highway Transportation Safety Administration figures show 800-plus cyclists and more than 5,000 pedestrians died in crashes with motor vehicles in 2015, with most accidents occurring at intersections. “Safety is not only the responsibility of the drivers, but of all road users,” says Cemex USA Executive Vice President – Logistics Matthew Wild. “By working together and continuing an open dialogue, we hope to help cyclists and pedestrians stay safer on the roads.”
Cemex USA is investing in safety by adding technology like warning signs on vehicle corners that alert road users to potential dangers, sensors that give road users audio alerts when turn signals are illuminated, and additional mirrors that allow truck drivers to see more areas around their vehicles. In addition, mixer truck drivers participate in continuous training to increase their awareness of cyclists and pedestrians. Following the Houston ramp up, the producer is expected to roll out the program nationally in the coming months so cyclists in other communities can receive the same experience.