Cyclist safety in focus after figures for road casualties in 2011 announced

Date: 28/9/2012

The Department for Transport has announced the official figures on road casualties in the UK last year.

Overall, the number of casualties was down two per cent on 2010, meaning the total figure stood at 203,950 people hurt or killed on the roads.

The number of people who were killed was up three per cent to 1,901 and serious injuries were also up, rising two per cent to 23,122.

Fatalities involving bus and coach users were down by 22 per cent, with motorcyclists and pedal cyclists also seeing a reduction of ten and four per cent respectively.

A representative from the cycling charity Sustrans said: "The figures also show that cycling levels are increasing.

"Getting around on a bike can no longer be dismissed as a niche mode of transport enjoyed by a few."

He called for a number of practical and affordable measures to be introduced onto British roads in order to help protect cyclists and pedestrians.

These included lowering the speed limit from 30 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour in towns and cities.

Despite the reduction in deaths of cyclists, the number of serious injuries caused has gone up nine per cent in proportion to distance pedalled.

Robert Gifford, Executive Director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, said: "Both central and local government need to do far more to make our infrastructure more suited to cycling with dedicated cycle lanes where appropriate, better-signed advance stop lines and campaigns aimed at getting car drivers to look out for cyclists."

It appears that commuters who travel to work by bike are at the most risk as cyclist casualties increase by ten per cent during peak hours of the day.

Stephen Hammond, the Road Safety Minister, said: "Cycling safety is a top priority and any death or injury on our roads is one too many. "

Pedestrian deaths rose by 12 per cent and those for people travelling by car also increased, going up six per cent.

Posted by Sarah Bailey

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