ROAD users are being asked to #ShareTheSpace as part of a national campaign to improve the safety of the increasing numbers of cyclists, pedestrians, horse riders and motorcyclists using local roads.
During the campaign organisations like Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership will be distributing hi vis tabards and other hi vis items carrying the ‘Let’s Share the Space’ branding and community speed watch groups will also be active to monitor speeds as lower speeds help to reduce death and injury on our roads.
Since lockdown there has been a huge increase in the number of walkers and cyclists and people using roads for leisure and this looks set to continue.
The government has said that in 2020 the number of miles cycled on British roads increased by 45.7 per cent to five billion.
Although at a national level the number of pedestrians, cyclists, bikers and horse riders that are fatally injured is low, when seen as per mile travelled more motorcyclists die on our roads each year than any other road user, followed by pedestrians and then cyclists.
Vehicle drivers looking out for vulnerable road users is only part of the picture however.
During the campaign there will be advice offered to cyclists, walkers, horse riders and bikers on what they can do to help keep themselves safe on the roads.
This includes reporting and submitting digital footage showing potential moving traffic offences including dangerous driving around other road users, such as horse riders and cyclists to Warwickshire Police via Operation Snap https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/operationsnap
PS Shaun Bridle said: “Pedestrians, cyclists, bikers and horse riders do not have a metal shell around them like a driver does sitting in a vehicle and even relatively minor contact can seriously injure them.
“That’s why they need vehicles to ‘ShareTheSpace’ on the roads and pass pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders wide and slow.
“September is a peak month for motorcycle collisions and that’s why the campaign is happening now. The campaign also coincides with children returning to school after the summer break.”
