The family of a 19-year-old killed when his bicycle collided with a refuse lorry are calling for stricter training standards for drivers of large council vehicles.
Jack Bruce, from Wilmington, Kent, died on 15 September 2021 after a bin lorry unexpectedly turned into a side street in Swanley. An inquest ruled his death an accident and a police investigation found no wrongdoing, the BBC reports.
However, investigations by law firm Slater and Gordon — which secured a civil settlement from Sevenoaks District Council — found that one of the lorry’s mirrors was poorly adjusted, leaving a blind spot on the side that struck Jack.
His mother Yvonne said Jack ‘did everything right, and yet that wasn’t enough.’ She is now campaigning for local authorities to follow stricter guidelines on training for drivers of large vehicles.
Sevenoaks District Council said it continues to ‘prioritise public safety’ and trains drivers to current best practice standards.
Photo: © Seadog81 / Shutterstock.com
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