A brand new safety device aimed at saving the lives of cyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users is now being trialed on London’s roads after being fitted to one of Keltbray Group’s tipper trucks.

The DawesGuard™ is a revolutionary patented safety system that creates a shield across the danger zone between the axles of large vehicles. In the event of a collision it prevents a person going into the danger zone and significantly reduces the risk of serious or fatal injury.

In order to make the design feasible for fleet operators that require an off-road capability (ie the construction and waste services sector), the system can be retracted or deployed with the flick of a switch from inside the cab thus enabling the vehicle to be used in uneven, off-road environments.

Keltbray has also equipped the vehicle with the Dawes PeoplePanel™. These panels are specifically made of a specialist grade of tough shatterproof plastic that are fitted over existing under-run bars to reduce the risk of entanglement of clothing or bicycle parts.

The DawesGuard™ has been invented by James Dawes, a former motorcycle officer with the Metropolitan Police. who is now dedicated to finding a way to prevent the tragic and life-changing consequences of road collisions between lorries and bikes.

He has spent the last three years listening to industry, accident investigators, highways safety executives, victims and the cycle community to come up with a design that he believes will set new standards in road safety in urban areas.

Head of Haulage Operations for Keltbray, Terry Good, said: “When it comes to the safety of our drivers and other road users we are constantly seeking ways to improve standards through training and investment in the latest safety technology. CCTV equipment is fitted to the front, offside and nearside of all our tipper trucks along with cycle and pedestrian sensor systems. Other safety features include side under-run guards, reversing cameras and white noise reversing sirens, cab operated air tailgate systems, front and rear strobe lighting and hydraulic load sensors.

“However, road safety is a continuous process, and so we keep investing in equipment to ensure that our vehicles are fitted with ever more modern equipment, and we are now very excited to trial The DawesGuard™ which we hope holds the key to optimising safety and preventing vulnerable road users from entering the danger zones underneath the truck. Flexibility and ease has been built into the system, which our drivers can deploy and retract with the flick of a switch.”

Speaking on the day of the first fit James said: “It’s a real landmark day for Dawes Highway Safety to see the DawesGuard™ being trialed by Keltbray. They have been fantastic supporters of our design and are seeking to improve the road safety of their tipper fleet with innovative new technology as part of their commitment to road safety.”

You can see a demonstration of how the DawesGuard works here: DawesGuard demonstration by New Civil Engineer

ENDS

For further information please contact Marit Meyer-Bell, Head of Communications at Keltbray Group via email to [email protected] or tel. 07867653392

Note to editors:

About Dawes Highway Safety Ltd

Dawes Highway Safety Ltd was set up to develop ways of improving road safety for the heavy goods vehicle industry when sharing the road with pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists. It has developed a new patented product – the DawesGuard™ DropDown® Technology ­- with the aim of preventing people being seriously injured or even killed when involved in the worst kind of collisions, those involving HGVs. The Dawes PeoplePanel™ is made of a specialist grade of tough plastic that is shatterproof and bends rather than risking cutting into anyone who happens to be the way. Both products have been designed and are manufactured in the UK.

About Keltbray Group

Keltbray Group is the UK’s leading specialist business, which offers engineering, construction, demolition, decommissioning, remediation, rail and environmental services. The company dates back to 1976, employs more than 1,000 people, and is a key player in developing and maintaining Britain’s built environment. Keltbray provides services to meet the needs of diverse and complex projects, and its well qualified people take pride in delivering projects safely and efficiently, on time and to budget, and with care for the environment and our communities. Keltbray has contributed to a range of high profile construction projects including The Shard, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Stadium, St Pancras International, Crossrail, Earls Court and Battersea Power Station. For more information, see www.keltbray.com