Think bike
This national Road Safety Week (19-25 November) we are raising awareness of the safety of those on two wheels and encouraging everyone to be ‘bike smart’.
Cyclists and motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users in the UK, with more than 100 riders injured every day in needless, preventable collisions.
Road Safety Week is a nationwide initiative created and co-ordinated annually by the road safety charity, Brake, supporting and encouraging organisations, employers, and fleet operators to raise road safety awareness.
All our drivers have a responsibility to drive safely and minimise risks to both themselves and other road users. We can all play our part in making roads safer for people on bicycles and motorbikes by:
- Taking time to look properly before pulling out at junctions – 45% of all cyclist deaths occur at or near junctions. Always stop behind the lines at a junction, and remember to turn your head and look for cyclists before you pull out
- Leaving plenty of room when overtaking or passing bikes. When passing a bike, you need to give as much space as you’d give another car when overtaking. This means at least 150cm between you and the rider
- Slowing down on rural roads - most crashes involving bikes happen on rural roads, and many of these are because drivers are travelling too fast
- Driving slowly in residential areas - 20mph is the right speed in places where people live, work and play
- Avoiding ‘dooring’ or hitting bikes with your vehicle door when getting out by using the ‘Dutch reach’. Instead of using the hand nearest the door to open it, reach across with your opposite hand. This forces you to turn your head so you can check for bikes before you open the door
- Be vigilant during hours of darkness. Not all cyclists display lights or wear high visibility clothing.
Whatever vehicle you drive, taking a few simple steps will make you a much smarter driver, and will help make roads much safer for those on two wheels.
Brake have released this short animation to highlight good and bad practice when dealing with motorcyclists and cyclists.
