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A London cabbie has invented a bright indicator system for cyclists he hopes will help reduce accidents.

Gary Thatcher developed Signum after several near misses with riders on the capital’s roads.

The lights are worn around each wrist and work when a trigger is squeezed in the left or right hand.

Mr Thatcher, 40, a father-of-four from Kent who is also an electrical engineer, said Signum helps solves a “gap in communication” between bikes and cars.

The wrist straps are reflective and the LED lights emit double power in day light, flashing at 3Hz, the same as a car indicator. They will eventually retail for about £35 a pair.

The protoypes are being manufactured by Mr Thatcher’s Brighter Indication firm ahead of a Kickstarter campaign launching at the end of this month.

Mr Thatcher, also a cyclist, said he notices while working around the West End that up to half of cyclists indicate with their arms, but it can be hard to see. He said: “I’ve had a couple of near misses, and in winter 2014 I was travelling down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace, in the late evening.

“Because it was dark the cyclist in front of me had lights on the bike and did everything he should have done when he wanted to manoeuvre around a parked vehicle.

“He put his arm up but because it was dark and he was wearing dark clothes I didn’t see his arm go up.

“I had to brake quite hard and then had a bit of a lightbulb moment, thinking there needs to be something to address the gap in communication between cyclists and drivers.

“I’m hoping Signum will give people an incentive to indicate because you don’t always get enough time. I see there’s a gap in communication and the way I’ve designed it is to be as effective during the day as in the dark.”

Six cyclists are believed to have died in accidents on London’s roads this year.