More than 1/3 of road deaths & injuries are bikers

Charity says drivers need to look

New figures have been released for Road Safety week which show  more than a third (36%) of all deaths and serious injuries on roads in the South West last year were cyclists and motorcyclists. 

Road Safety Charity Brake says on average, a cyclist or motorcyclist is killed or seriously injured every hour, on British roads.

Brake is calling for drivers to be ‘Bike Smart’ by slowing down, taking care to look properly at junctions and doing the ‘Dutch reach’ to avoid car dooring. That means opening the car door with the arm furthest away from the door; making you turn around and look over your shoulder. 

Joshua Harris, director of campaigns at Brake, said:

“Every hour, a cyclist or motorcyclist is killed or seriously injured on a British road – each a tragedy that will devastate innumerable lives. Raising awareness across the South West about the safety of those on two wheels, who face much higher risk of death and serious injury than those in cars, is absolutely vital. We support the Government’s announcement of a review of the Highway Code to help keep cyclists safe and its stated focus on motorcyclists in the forthcoming road safety action plan.

“Rural roads, with their high speeds, blind bends and few cycle routes, pose particular danger to those on two wheels, with the risk of a fatal rural road bike crash now at its highest since 2010. The Government’s announced focus on rural road user safety is welcome and we encourage the consideration of rural road speed and bike-safe infrastructure, such as segregated cycle lanes, in its plans.

“Road Safety Week is a vital loudspeaker for individuals, communities and organisations to shout about road safety and raise awareness of the risks on our roads. We hope that with our launch event in Bristol we can demonstrate the benefits that cycling can have for our whole society. With one bike rider being killed or seriously injured every hour in Britain, there is no better time for us all to be more ‘Bike Smart’.”