DRIVERS are being urged to look out for vulnerable road users as people go outdoors for exercise in the second lockdown.
“Everyone has the right to travel on the road safely, whether by car, motorcycle, pedal cycle, horse or on foot,” said
Sergeant Shaun Bridle of Warwickshire Police.
“However the challenges for walkers, runners, cyclists and horse riders are greater this autumn than they were during the first lockdown in March with less daylight now and poorer weather.”
His plea comes at the start of a national NPCC campaign up to November 22 highlighting the needs of vulnerable road users.
“Vulnerable road users do not have the same protection as a driver sitting in a vehicle and even relatively minor contact can seriously injure them,” said Sgt Bridle.
“For this reason we are asking drivers to please take extra care around pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders using the roads.”
The statistics for the county are shocking – more third – 35 per cent – of fatalities were motorcyclists with 12 motorcyclists losing their lives in 2019. This is nearly twice the national average of 19 per cent.
Four cyclists were killed cycling in Warwickshire in 2019 – 12 per cent of casualties. In percentage terms, this is twice the national average of six per cent.
In the same period a further 24 cyclists were seriously injured and 74 suffered slight injuries.
“We are asking drivers to please take extra care when overtaking cyclists and to leave plenty of space,” said Sgt Bridle.
The charity Cycling UK has produced a Too Close for Comfort video to show drivers what it’s like to be close passed so non cyclists can understand it from a cyclist’s perspective.
