How can cyclists stay safe?

With the number of cyclists killed in 2012 hitting a five-year high of 122 ( http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313260.ece ) & the summer of 2012 showing an eight percent increase in cyclist KSIs (Killed and Seriously Injured) ( http://m.bikeradar.com/news/article/number-of-cyclists-killed-and-seriously-injured-rises-again-36387 ) you could be forgiven for thinking cycling is becoming more dangerous. Figures from 2011 support this. Whilst cycling increased by 2% and the level of fatalities fell by 4%, serious injuries increased by 16%, leading to a 9% increase in KSI rates for distance cycled ( http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3551562.ece ).

Is cycling getting more dangerous though? In itself, at the top end, most speed records have been set relatively recently ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycling_records ), so perhaps this translates to cyclists on the road. Better technology leads to quicker speeds, leads to more severe injuries in accidents. There is, after all, very little that can be done to improve safety on a bike without losing a lot of speed. This seems unlikely to be the case however, as the vast majority of cyclists on the roads will be at a pace around 15mph, which is hardly likely to cause severe injuries should they come off.

Perhaps the increase in cyclist numbers disproportionately increases the number of accidents. After all, 1 in 5 new drivers has a crash within 6 months of passing their test. ( http://www.brake.org.uk/facts/young-drivers-the-hard-facts.htm ) Perhaps novice cyclists, having less skill & experience, find it harder to anticipate & avoid accidents.

Whatever the reason. It's hard to argue against the view that there are too many deaths and serious injuries of cyclists on our roads. The vast majority of accidents involving cyclists also involve a motor vehicle. In collisions involving a cyclist and a motor vehicle, the cyclist always comes off worst. It's a familiar line in news stories 'the driver of the car was uninjured'.

The key in reducing cyclist accidents is therefore to minimise interactions with motor vehicles. Dedicated cycle paths, which are fit for purpose, are one way of doing this. As are reduced speed limits. If there are more 20mph limits in urban areas, the desire by motorists to overtake will be reduced, leading to less overtakes & less chance of risky or dangerous overtakes. Giving cyclists the ability to bypass traffic lights, junctions or entering roundabouts to turn left would also help.

All of these require action from other people. Whilst cyclists can campaign, as individuals, we still want to cycle, so what can we do to help keep ourselves safe?

This doesn't carry any amount of victim blaming - if someone doesn't do any of the below, they should still have a right to use the roads without being hit.

Be Seen

The familiar excuse of SMIDSY (Sorry Mate I Didn't See You) is the bane of cyclist's lives. Whilst it's often caused by drivers not looking for cyclists, they do tend to look for other cars, so it's best to increase your chances of being seen. You can do this through garish hi-vis, bright & multiple lights, even during the day, and keeping a road position away from the kerb where you'll stand out more, especially at junctions.

Be Predictable

Drivers complain about cyclists 'swerving all over the road'. This may well be to avoid drain covers, potholes & debris, but it's important to try to maintain a straight course to allow drivers maximum opportunity to know what you're doing. This may mean cycling further out from the kerb than you're used to. Keep far enough out to avoid drain covers, usually 2ft or more from the kerb. This will also enable you to swerve left to avoid an obstacle, rather than left into the path of a car overtaking you too close.( http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/community/how-to/road-positioning ) When passing parked cars, keep out of the door zone, and keep your line, even when there is a short absence of cars - better to annoy a driver than get knocked off when you pull out again.

Control the Lane

This is usually necessary where the lane is narrow & there isn't enough room for a car to overtake, or you are going round a sharp corner or approaching a junction. Be aware that some drivers will try to pass you too close & assume the one behind you is one of those. Move out into the centre of your lane to prevent this from happening. You can also do this near traffic lights and junctions to avoid being overtaken, or a car pulling up alongside blocking your view.

Be Alert

Consider everything a potential hazard. Ride with your hands over your brakes, ready to stop. That car up ahead, waiting to pull out of a side road? Maybe they haven't seen you. Maybe they think they have enough time to pull out. Don't assume drivers will respect your right of way on a roundabout. Don't think pedestrians won't make a dash for it in front of you. When passing parked cars, stay clear of the door zone & be ready to avoid one if it swings open if you can't do this. If you're riding on the road, make sure you can hear the traffic - that means either no headphones or turn them down really low!

Stay Calm

Don't get wound up by bad drivers & attempt retribution, or to catch up to 'have a word' - cars always win in a collision. If you've had a close call, it's often best to stop & wait to regain your composure before continuing, so you can focus on cycling & not worrying what might have happened.

Be Bold

Make sure your arm signals are confident, you make eye contact to ensure you know drivers intentions & you don't get bullied to the side of the road. Also - I can't stress this enough - don't worry about the law if you feel you're in danger - if you think the driver behind you is so dangerous they may hit you, get up on the pavement. Your life is worth more than a £30 fixed penalty notice!

Look after your bike

Keep your bike in good condition - prevent it from rusting, maintain the parts, replace anything that wears out & it will look after you. A badly maintained bike could fail & cause you to crash and you can't rely on the driver behind to avoid hitting you.

Remember, just because you're in the right, it doesn't mean your safety is ensured, we all make mistakes & until the government recognises the need to make roads safe enough to negate the impact of mistakes by drivers of motor vehicles, you need to take all the precautions you can.