Call for cycle safety to be part of driving test

Date: 7/9/2012

A number of driving instructors are calling for cyclist awareness to be introduced to the practical driving test for motorists.

It comes as the number of people involved in collisions while riding bikes on the road has started to increase, reports The Times.

In the first three months of the year deaths and serious injuries involving cyclists went up by 13 per cent, as occupants of cars were affected by accidents four per cent less than the quarter before.

Ten out of the last 13 quarters have seen an increase in the number of cyclist casualties on Britain's roads.

Cycling is becoming more popular, as the cost of driving goes up and Olympic stars such as Bradley Wiggins and Victoria Pendleton have highlighted its appeal by doing so well at the Games.

With this in mind safety campaigners are calling for more measures to be put in place to protect this growing demographic on the roads.

A survey conducted by RED Driving School found that 75 per cent of instructors believe a cycling awareness module would be a positive step forward.

Ian McIntosh, Chief Executive of RED Driving School, said: "Now, more than ever, we need to crack down on careless, dangerous driving, focusing on education and training to improve road safety."

Further to this, 88 per cent of instructors also believe that cyclists should undergo some formal training to aid in their own road safety.

The Driving Standards Agency has already put a hazard perception element into the driving theory test which includes cyclists and other road users, such as pedestrians.

It stated that if more emphasis was put onto cyclists then it could be at the detriment of other vulnerable people who also use the roads legitimately.

Another approach which is supported by the Automobile Association among others, is making cycle safety part of the National Curriculum in schools.

Fewer than 200,000 children took part in cycling proficiency courses on a voluntary basis funded by local authorities last year, so adding it into school agendas could help educate more pupils on cycle safety.

Posted by Sarah Bailey

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