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Cyclists

Encouraging all road users to help keep cyclists safe on our roads.

cyclist-1.5m

Cyclists

We need to remind motorists to keep a safe distance when overtaking cyclists on urban and rural roads. They should give at least a 1 metre clearance when overtaking a cyclist in speed zones that are 50 km/h or under, and at least 1.5 metres in speed zones over 50 km/h.

Our TV campaign is an adaptation of an advert from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) in the state of Victoria, Australia.

 


Drivers must not try to squeeze past a cyclist if there is oncoming traffic or if they can’t see the road ahead to be clear.

Drivers, should always give cyclists enough space to pedal safe.

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Facts

Number of cyclists killed or seriously injured, 2017-2020

Cyclist casualties2017201820192020Total

Fatalities

14981041
Serious injuries188259275247959

Note: figures for 2018 – 2020 are provisional and subject to change.

The in-depth review of figures for 2016 in the Cyclist Injury Trends 2006- 2018 report shows;

  • 73.7% injured in 2016 were male and 57.1% were between the ages of 25-49.
  • The morning and evening commuting periods were dangerous periods for cyclists (8-8:59am and 17:00-18:59pm).
  • There was an increase in cyclist injuries from May to September 
  • 85.4% of cyclists’ injuries happened on two-way single carriageways, 86.7% were on urban roads.
  • 51.1% of cyclists’ injuries in 2016 happened at junctions. Almost one in four of all cyclists injured in 2016 were injured in collisions that took place at a T junction.
  • 47% were wearing a helmet at the time of the collision, while 41% were not; in 12% helmet-wearing was not known.
  • 91.3% were injured in a multi-vehicle collision in which at least one other vehicle was involved and 84% of these involved a car.
  • Less than 1 in 10 cyclists injured in 2016 were injured in a single vehicle collision in which no other person or vehicle was involved. 
  • In 41.4% of cyclist injuries in collisions with cars, the car driver failed to observe before the collision.
  • In 40% of cyclists’ injuries in collisions with goods vehicles, the goods vehicle driver failed to observe before the collision.
  • In 19.8% cyclists’ injuries in a collision with a car, the cyclist failed to observe before the collision.

Cyclists

Our campaign encourages all drivers to keep a safe distance when overtaking cyclists on urban and rural roads.


RSA Psychic

Vulnerable cyclists

Before opening your vehicle door check your mirror and look for cyclists.

See how vulnerable cyclists really are in our 360º video.


Sharing the road with cyclists

Our campaign aims to educate drivers on sharing the roads safely with cyclists, and motorists’ responsibility to cyclists as vulnerable road users.