A town hall scheme which requires HGV drivers in the borough to experience life as a cyclist has reached Scotland

Edinburgh City Council is set to borrow the scheme, which sees drivers of HGVs over 3.5 tonnes take the Safe Urban Driving training course – a seven hour course taught over one day.

It involves spending several hours cycling in an urban environment to understand the dangers cyclists face.

Islington put forward the scheme after six cyclists died on London’s roads during a fortnight in November.

In both 2011 and 2012 a cyclist was killed in Edinburgh due to a HGV accident.

The measures will be used across the Scottish capital’s fleet of HGV and larger vehicles, including all refuse and recycling lorries.

Cllr Andy Hull, executive member for finance and transport, said: “What we’re doing with our HGV drivers is just one part of our work to keep the roads safe in the borough.

“The fact that we will be applying the rules to developers in the borough and not just those working for the council is groundbreaking.”