Council chefs have welcomed extra safety measures taken by its road maintenance contractors to protect cyclists on busy roads in Brent,

Highway maintenance firm Conway AECOM has installed the latest safety devices on its entire London fleet of more than 150 high grade vehicles (HGVs) to prevent accidents and collisions, following the deaths of cyclists in the capital.

Andrew Hansen, board director for Conway AECOM, said: “Our approach to cycle safety is two-fold: upgrading our fleet with advanced protection for cyclists while ensuring all of our drivers have the best possible training to build awareness of vulnerable road users.”

Side guards which push cyclist away when they get too close; a seven-side sensors to detect nearby objects and near-side blind-spot cameras to allow drivers to see cyclists to their left are some of the innovative safety measures installed.

Other notable features include reversing cameras to eliminate blind-spots at the rear of a HGV, audible ‘turn left’ warnings and high-visibility signs and strobe beacons.

Cllr Jim Moher, Brent Council’s lead member for transport and highways, said: “Brent’s cyclists are now going to be safer when they are out on the borough’s roads thanks to these measures taken by Conway.

“I’m committed to radically increasing cycling in the borough and I’m sure that by creating a safer environment on Brent’s roads for cyclists we can encourage more people to cycle.”

14 cyclists have been killed on London roads so far this year.

HGVs were involved in nine of the fatal crashes.