Cycling
is good for you and good for the planet but is it as dangerous as it seems?
The more people who cycle, the
safer it becomes for each cyclist. According to the Jacobsen Growth Rule, if
the amount of cycling doubles, the risk per cyclist falls by 34 percent. If
cycling halves, the risk per cyclist increases by 52 percent.
In
between the years 2000 and 2010, the number of regular UK cyclists rose by 200%
from approx. 2 million to 6 million, during the same period UK cycling
accidents fell by 17% from 20,612 to 17,105
Regular cyclists have a similar
annual risk of road death to regular motorists. In the UK, there is roughly one
death per 20 000 years regular driving or cycling. In the rest of Europe, the
annual death risk is lower for cyclists.
How can you make your cycle journey even safer?
Almost two thirds of cyclists killed or seriously injured were
involved in collisions at, or near, a road junction, with T junctions being the
most commonly involved. Roundabouts are particularly dangerous junctions for
cyclists.
Do all you can to make sure you are
highly visible to other road users but never assume that they can see you. Set
your right pedal to a 2 o’clock position and pedal away from junctions as
quickly as possible, do not “scoot” to start.
About 16% of fatal or serious cyclist accidents reported to the
police do not involve a collision with another vehicle, but are caused by the
rider losing control of their bicycle.
Build
up your cycling stamina and practise bike control on quiet stretches of road
before you tackle the traffic. Get your bike safety checked regularly and never
carry awkward or poorly secured loads.
In collisions involving a bicycle and another vehicle, the most
common key contributory factor recorded by the police is 'failed to look
properly' by either the driver or rider, especially at junctions. 'Failed to
look properly' was attributed to the car driver in 57% of serious collisions
and to the cyclist in 43% of serious collisions at junctions.
Always try to make eye contact with
other road users when you pass or stop at a junction. Knowing you’ve seen them
and they’ve seen you is the closest you’ll get to a guarantee of safety.
The second most common contributory factor attributed to cyclists
was 'cyclist entering the road from the pavement' (including when a cyclist
crosses the road at a pedestrian crossing), which was recorded in about 20%
serious collisions (and over one third of serious collisions involving child
cyclists).
Do not ride on the pavement and always
mount your bike in line with traffic flow. Do not take chances, push your bike
across pedestrian crossings.
Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) present a particular danger for
cyclists, especially in London where around 20% of cyclist fatalities occur
involve an HGV. These often occur when an HGV is turning left at a junction'.
About one quarter of accidents resulting in serious injury to a cyclist
involved an HGV, bus or coach 'passing too close' to the rider.
Avoid cycling on the blind side of
large vehicles, even if there is a cycle lane. If the vehicle stops wait about
3m behind and in line with the right hand side of the vehicle, making yourself
just visible to the drivers rear view mirror. Once the vehicle has moved off
hold your road position just in case it stops again, then move in gradually to
the left to let traffic behind you pass.
