How the Met promotes dangerous lorry driving

The Bike Show provides a valuable public service by passing on the cycling-relevant bits of the Mayor’s regular Q and A sessions with members of the Greater London Assembly. And two of the sharpest GLA members in the field of transport seem to be the Green Party’s Jenny Jones and the Liberal Democrat’s Caroline Pidgeon. The latest session yields this interesting information:

Jenny Jones

Can you confirm that the Metropolitan Police Service does not promote Freight Operator Recognition Scheme membership as part of its procurement code?

Answer from the Mayor:

I am able to confirm that the MPS does not promote Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) membership as part of its procurement code.

What, you ask, is FORS? Well basically it’s something that any reputable road haulage firm would sign up to, and the majority do. It would be interesting to know how many of the lorry drivers who have killed London cyclists over the past two years were working for firms which were not signed up to FORS.

FORS membership will show you're a high-quality operator who has been recognised for following best practice.

Other valuable benefits of FORS membership include driver training, in-vehicle driver profiling, and advice on fuel consumption and Penalty Charge Notices.

We also run a licence check service and regular workshops.

But the Met, in its classically arrogant way, is outsourcing work to road haulage firms which spurn this scheme. I think that stinks. All London cyclists help to finance the Metropolitan Police through council tax. In return the Met refuses to enforce ASLs and uses road haulage firms which resist schemes designed to make London’s roads safer.

Woops! For a moment I’d forgotten that the Met is cycling-friendly.