Tackling the live lane

When collecting bins from both sides of the road, operatives have to cross the live lane constantly and must contend with moving vehicles while manoeuvring bins and keeping pace with their colleagues on the team. Better safety measures and innovative monitoring technology are essential to protect both crew members and other road users.

The dangers of the live lane

Near misses, collisions, and fatalities are far too common in live lanes, particularly for Refuse Collection Operatives whose work requires close proximity to moving traffic and bin collection from both sides of the road.

Limited visibility adds to these dangers, especially during poor weather conditions or in the early morning when blind spots and moving items are harder to detect, increasing the likelihood of collisions and making it even more challenging for drivers to navigate safely.

Adding to these hazards is the frustration of other drivers forced to slow down or stop for bin collections, who will sometimes resort to risky manoeuvres such as mounting pavements or overtaking unsafely. These actions place the refuse crew in even greater danger.

Beyond the immediate physical hazards, loaders working in live lanes often experience stress and fatigue due to the relentless need to monitor their surroundings. Over time, this mental fatigue can impair judgment and reduce reaction times, further compromising safety.

Who is affected by live lane risks?

• Waste operatives - Crossing live lanes of traffic to collect and return bins exposes loaders to daily dangers in high-traffic areas. The need to navigate these environments while staying vigilant for unexpected hazards, such as speeding traffic or risky manoeuvres when crossing the road can take a significant mental and physical toll.
• Fleet managers - Ensuring the safety of their teams, vehicles and the public in high-risk settings is a complex task that often demands the use of advanced monitoring technology. Accidents not only disrupt operations but also lead to costly repairs, downtime, and liability claims.
• Other road users - Passengers and drivers in other vehicles are also at risk, especially in built-up areas. When attempting to pass RCVs during refuse collection, vehicles can inadvertently cause collisions or strike loaders, putting themselves, waste operatives and other members of the public at risk.

Making the live lane a safe lane

To make live lanes safer for everyone, fleets need to adopt smarter, more innovative safety solutions. While small procedural adjustments can mitigate some risks, the key lies in implementing advanced technologies that proactively identify hazards. These tools can help prevent accidents before they occur, creating a safer environment for all road users.

By prioritising safety through innovation, we can reduce the dangers associated with live lanes and ensure a safer working environment for RCV operators.

In terms of the easy adjustments, these include:

• Improved training for crew members - Specific training sessions on handling live lane scenarios can better prepare RCV operators for the daily challenges they face.
• Better road infrastructure - In some cases, making lane markings and signage to guide drivers clearer, can make a huge difference.

Beyond these simple measures, technology has a much greater potential to make live lanes safer. Here’s how Fleetclear can help:

• Fleetclear’s AI-powered solutions - Fleetclear’s advanced technology provides innovative safety features that directly address live lane risks. With blind spot monitoring, hazard detection, and real-time data analysis, Fleetclear’s solutions improve situational awareness for drivers.
• Live Lane Information System - Our Live Lane Information System is designed to detect moving items in the live lane, providing real-time alerts to operators working at the rear of vehicles about oncoming traffic in adjacent lanes. This technology integrates seamlessly with our existing platform, delivering instant feedback and insights, and keeping drivers safe.

By combining industry expertise with innovative technology, Fleetclear can transform the live lane into a safer environment for RVC operators, fleet managers, and all road users.

Protect your crew today. Learn how Fleetclear’s innovative safety solutions can help you mitigate live lane risks. Contact us or call +44 (0)1386 630 155 to learn more.