A petition to ban lorries driving through London during peak hours has gained rapid support after the death of eight cyclists in road accidents in the capital during 2015.

The petition, organised by the London Cycling Campaign (LCC), is calling for a ban on all lorries over 7.5 tonnes on London roads from 8am to 9:30am. This comes as a reaction to the death of cyclist Ying Tao in June, who was killed by a tipper truck.

The Greater London Assembly recently voted unanimously in favour of the proposal and the petition has received more 13,000 signatures in a matter of weeks. The petition has been handed to Mayor Boris Johnson, who said that he will consider the proposal but has publicly said that he is not enthusiastic about them.

The London Cycling Campaign also intends to raise awareness about unlicensed lorries, which are often driven by untrained drivers, and would like to see the introduction of ‘direct vision’ cabs in which driver blind spots are largely eliminated.

Tom Jones, head of policy at Thompsons Solicitors, said: “The frequency of cyclist deaths on London’s roads is as tragic as it is unnecessary.

“Any changes that could help to improve safety during the hectic morning commute in the capital must be looked at properly. The call for a ban during the peak hours comes on the back of deaths from which lessons must be learned. Worryingly the Mayor appears to be already setting his head against the proposals without giving it proper consideration.

“The deaths of eight cyclists cannot be answered with a few more cycle lanes, there needs to be significant and tangible safety improvements implemented with urgency in London. Innovative and deliverable solutions cannot just be dismissed.”