Police Report for today's fatality

GGW has it up.

A preliminary investigation into this accident reveals that on
Tuesday, July 8, 2008, at approximately 7:37 a.m., an adult female
was traveling on a bicycle westbound in the 1900 block of R Street,
NW. At that same time, a waste disposal truck that was also
traveling in the same direction, reportedly attempted to make a
right turn onto 20th Street, NW, when it struck the cyclist.

Comments

[Lee Watkins]

I recall reading that dump trucks have by far the highest pedestrian & cyclist fatality rates of any vehicle on the road.

By the way I had my front wheel mangled by a car in a similar kind of accident a year or so back. That's why I bike right out in the middle of the street on those types of roads now - I'd rather have the truck breath down my neck - at least then you know they see you.

My brother used to drive a dump truck last summer getting paid by the load (hence the fast driving), and he drives every car like it's a sports car anyway, so I imagine that's a common story. They really need to raise their standards for drivers.

I seem to remember that insurance companies were able to require training courses on bike/ped awareness in some countries now. In Copenhagen they put giant red bull's eye graphic on the road where these right-hook accidents happen as a mental reminder.