Coroner calls for blind-spot tech

Trucks should be banned from congested inner-city streets unless fitted with forward blind-spot monitoring technology, stated Queensland Coroner Christine Clements as she handed down her findings on Wednesday (December 9), following the death of 22-year-old Danish cyclist, Rebekka Meyer.

Ms Meyer was killed when she was struck from behind by a truck on South Brisbane's Annerley Road in September 2014.

Among the eight recommendations made by Coroner Clements in her investigation of the death was that heavy vehicles be banned unless fitted with blind-spot monitoring technologies.

"Conventional-shaped heavy vehicles should be prohibited unless they are fitted with appropriate technologies to warn the driver of any obstacles or other road users within the forward blind spot of the truck," Ms Clements found.

The coroner also called for an education campaign to inform road users of the blind spot that exists immediately in front of a bonneted truck, for Brisbane City Council to construct more dedicated bike lanes, and for an electronically actuated 'bike box' at intersections to give cyclists a head start from traffic lights.

At the three-day inquest held in August, the visibly distressed driver of the truck, Jody Jeffrey, said he wasn't able to see Ms Meyer and was unaware of her presence when his truck clipped the cyclist's rear wheel, with tragic consequences.