Road Safety Week 2018

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service are backing Road Safety Week 2018 which focuses on how to be Bike Smart.

The national campaign, led by road safety charity Brake, raises awareness around the safety of vulnerable road users.

New analysis by Brake shows that those on two wheels are at 63 times higher risk of being killed or seriously injured per mile travelled than car drivers. On average, a cyclist or motorcyclist is killed or seriously injured every hour on British roads.

Road Safety Week 2018 is calling for drivers to be ‘Bike Smart’ and to be more aware of bikes by adopting the following:

• slowing down, giving more time to spot danger and react;
• looking properly for bikes before pulling out at junctions;
• leaving at least 150cm between cars and a bike when overtaking;
• and by doing the ‘Dutch reach’, using the opposite hand to open a car door to help avoid ‘car dooring’ incidents.

Road Safety Manager, Stuart Townsend said:

“This is a crucial event in the year for us, as it is a chance for us as a Service to raise awareness of vulnerable road users and help to reduce the numbers killed or seriously injured on our roads in South Wales.”

Last year 4549 incidents involving all vehicles were reported in Wales; 615 incidents involving Motorbikes, with 23 killed and 234 seriously injured, and 463 incidents involving Pedal-bikes, with 3 killed and 108 seriously injured (Welsh Gov, Stats 2017).

Cyclists and motorcyclists account for nearly 4 in 10 of all deaths and serious injuries on British roads, a total of 9,740 in 2017 or an average of one bike death or serious injury every hour.

Bike deaths also make up more than a quarter of all British road deaths, with a total of 101 cyclist deaths and 349 motorcyclist deaths in 2017 (UK Gov, Stats Road Casualties in Great Britain, 2017).

This week SWFRS held a special Biker Down event at Roath Station looking at accident scene management, biker first aid and the science of being seen. Events like this help to support those on two wheels to take the best preventative measures they can to ensure they look after themselves on the roads as well as raising awareness to motorists of other road users.

Road Safety Week runs from 19 – 25 November across the UK. You can find out more by visiting http://www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk.