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Cyclists remain at risk on UK roads, according to new data

Published: 02/02/2012

Road accidents may have fallen on average across the board, but the number of cyclist related accidents has risen, according to new statisitcs.

New figures released by the Department for Transport revealed a decline in the number of fatalities and injuries caused as a result of accidents on UK roads.

According to the statistics, a total of 1,900 people were killed and a further 24,430 killed or seriously injured in the year ending September.

This figure represented a decline of 0.5 per cent for fatalities and a fall of four per cent in serious injuries over the past twelve months.

However, while these numbers highlight a notable decline, the Institute of Advanced Motoring (IAM) has moved to point to the alarming number of cyclist casualties.

According to the figures published, cyclists were the only road users not to see a reduction in casualties over the past year.

The statistics showed that there were a total of 5,470 casualties in 2011, which was up on the figure of 5,466 seem over the previous year.

IAM argued that the long-term trend for cyclists is deeply concerning. According to research by the firm, there were 12,373 cyclist casualties between January and September 2007 compared with 14,540 over the same period in 2011.

Commenting on the findings, IAM director of policy and research Neil Greig said: "It is extremely concerning that cyclists’ casualties are not reducing and this is something the government and local councils must act on."

"This will mean changes to road layouts, more cycle training and promoting better awareness among drivers," he said.

The statistics are particularly concerning to lorry and haulage firms, who are responsible for a number of accidents in the UK.

According to the findings of the national cyclists' organisation, the Cyclists Touring Club, left turn crashes involving lorries accounted for 38 per cent of cyclists' deaths from 2005 to 2009.