A high-vision, safer tipper vehicle which improves road safety for cyclists and other vulnerable road users has gone into action with City of London, the first local authority to use the vehicle in London.

The Mercedes Econic tipper will be used by the City's highways contractor JB Riney in the heart of the Square Mile for street and highway maintenance.

The vehicle provides an exceptional field of vision to the driver with a panoramic windscreen which is at least 50% larger than a standard windscreen, a fully glazed floor-to-ceiling kerbside door and a low-entry cab. JB Riney is the first City contractor to place order for this type of vehicle.

Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee at the City of London Corporation, Michael Welbank, said: 'Anything which improves the field of vision for a lorry driver, so they can better see vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists, is a welcome step.

'It also demonstrates what can be achieved by organisations from both the public and private sectors when working in partnership.'

Mike Brown MVO, London's Transport Commissioner, said: 'These lorries, with minimised blindspots, are also increasingly being used on work performed for TfL as part of a wide range of action to deliver safer roads in London.'

The City of London Corporation has gained Gold Accreditation in the Fleet Operators Recognition Scheme that focuses on fleet operators having the correct fleet management processes in place that are compliant with the highway code and Road Traffic Act.

The City also supports the Construction and Logistics Cyclist Safety (CLOCS) initiative which focuses on managing work-related road risk by improving vehicle safety, making sure the appropriate safety equipment is fitted to the vehicles and encourages best practice and health and safety to the wider community.