Cyclists and motorcyclists are 63 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than car drivers

New research from the road safety charity Brake, has found that on average, cyclists and motorcyclists are 63 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on British roads than car drivers.  And a cyclist or motorcyclist is killed or seriously injured every hour on our roads.

That’s the shocking figures which came to light last week as part of National Road Safety Week 2018 (19-25 November) an annual event aimed at inspiring schools, organisations and communities to take action on road safety and help save lives.

This year, the theme of the awareness week was ensuring the safety of those on two wheels and preventing the number of cyclists and motorcyclists seriously or fatally injured on our roads.

The key message to car drivers is to be more aware of those on two wheels and to get Bike Smart.

In order to be as Bike Smart as possible, Brake is calling for drivers to:

• Slow down and give more time to spot danger and react
• Look around properly for bikes before pulling out of junctions
• Leave at least 150cm (1.5 metres) between cars and a bike when overtaking
• Practice the ‘Dutch reach’ –  a technique in which the opposite hand is used to open a car door, forcing you to turn your head and check for bikes before opening the door

Kim Chamberlain, director of Novum Law, said: “These statistics from Brake demonstrates the vulnerability of those on two wheels on our roads who face a far higher risk of death and serious injury than other road users.

“Sadly, cyclists and motorcyclists account for nearly four in 10 of all deaths and serious injuries on British roads and it’s vital that steps are taken to prevent these needless crashes that devastate people’s lives.

“Rural roads in particular with their blind bends and unexpected hazards can be lethal for cyclists and motorcyclists and unfortunately, the risk of a fatal rural road bike crash is now at its highest since 2010. The Government has announced a renewed focus on rural road safety and we hope that this makes a difference in saving lives”.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a crash you may be able to make a claim for compensation on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis with no financial risk to you.

You can email us on: info@novumlaw.com , phone us: 0800 884 0777 or get in touch via our website.