Dramatic rise in the number of serious cycling road accidents
July 3rd, 2013
The number of cyclists killed or seriously injured on Essex’s roads has risen by 60% in a year. Data from Essex Highways has revealed there was an increase from 41 cyclists killed or seriously injured in the county in 2011 to 67 casualties in 2012. Of the incidents in 2012, three resulted in fatalities.
Cycling safety groups say the rise is due to a combination of more cyclists on the roads and a lack of respect from car and van drivers.
The number of cyclists killed or seriously injured on Essex’s roads has risen by 60% in a year. Data from Essex Highways has revealed there was an increase from 41 cyclists killed or seriously injured in the county in 2011 to 67 casualties in 2012. Of the incidents in 2012, three resulted in fatalities.
Cycling safety groups say the rise is due to a combination of more cyclists on the roads and a lack of respect from car and van drivers.
Essex county councillor said: “It is unclear at this stage whether these figures are a statistical quirk or a developing trend.
“But what is clear we have a rise in the number of cyclists but also a rise in the number of road vehicles using roads in Essex – and the two don’t mix well.
“What we need is for drivers to be more mindful of cyclists but for cyclists to also ensure they wear high-visibility vests and hard hats, and use cycles lane where they are available rather than going on busy roads.”
The number of pedal cyclists killed nationally rose by 10% from 107 in 2011 to 118 in 2012, while the number of pedal cyclists reported to the police as seriously injured in a road accident increased by 4% to 3,222. The report says across the country there is “a well-established upward trend in pedal cyclist casualties” and that this is the eighth year that the number of seriously injured cyclists has risen.
The Essex Highways figures showed at that serious cycling accidents made up 11% of all serious road incidents in Essex last year where overall the number of serious casualties in Essex fell 4.4% to 602 in 2012.
If you have been involved in a Cycling accident that wasn’t your fault you could be entitled to compensation. Contact our team today on 01625 506655.