Cyclists need more training says Steersafe Road safety campaign

Road safety campaign Steersafe is calling for cyclists to have more training before being allowed on the roads.

Long-standing road safety campaigner, Chris Hanson-Abbott wants cyclists to take more responsibility for their own safety, without advocating a “driving test for cyclists” after the number of deaths and serious injuries to cyclists has risen.

In London, incidents involving cyclists and HGV’s was particularly high, with Boris Johnson introducing stricter rules for lorries entering the capital.

Mr Hanson-Abbott said: “It is a hard thing to say in the light of all the tragic cycling deaths, but the truth is that not every accident is the fault of a car, van or lorry driver. Sometimes cyclists are at fault too.

“I have seen some appalling cycling behaviour on our roads – going through red lights, sneaking up unseen on the nearside, swerving onto the road from pavements and changing lanes without warning”.

Cyclists are encouraged to take well-respected cycling training courses such as “Bikeability”.

Cycle training would focus on knowledge of a lorry drivers blind spots, which should always be avoided. Cyclists should never enter the near side of a long vehicle, especially when approaching a junction, as cyclists are invisible to the driver at this point.

“Invisible to the driver, a left turn by the truck inevitably wipes out the cyclist” explained Mr Hanson-Abbott.

“Undertaking a truck is not illegal but it is perilous, and a lot of cyclists just don’t know how difficult – often impossible – it is for drivers to see them on the near side.”

After decades of campaigning for road safety, Mr Hanson-Abbott was awarded the OBE for his services.

 

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