Over the past 2 years nearly 300 pedal cyclists have been injured in collisions on the Warwickshire road network. Over a third of the riders were children.
These figures are even more alarming when you consider that collisions involving pedal cycles are believed to be significantly under-reported. It is little wonder then that many cyclists and the parents of would-be cyclists are fearful about road safety.
Pedal cyclists have the right to freely use the roads, however they are vulnerable – particularly so where they interact with other motor vehicles at junctions and on roundabouts. Poor weather or road conditions greatly increase the difficulties faced by cyclists. Many pedal cyclists are young and therefore relatively inexperienced.
It is important that cyclists and all other road users are educated and encouraged to think about each other and to look after each others road safety.
By wearing high visibility clothing and using lights after dark or during poor weather cyclists can greatly improve their conspicuity and by wearing a helmet cyclists can greatly reduce the risk of serious head injuries if they become involved in a collision.
Cyclists who choose to ignore the law – by jumping red lights, riding along non-shared footways, riding without lights at night or contravening one-way Orders – put themselves and others at risk and create fear and frustration in the community.
Drivers and riders of motor vehicles who fail to think about pedal cyclists – when turning, overtaking, opening their vehicle’s doors or failing to dip their lights at night – increase the risk to cyclists, who are very exposed to injury in the event of a collision.
Please support our communities and help to protect them by obeying and enforcing traffic law and by educating and encouraging all road users to Think! Cycle Safety.