Stay Ride Safely This Summer

At the first hint of summer, people from all over Britain can be seen dusting off their bikes for a cycle with families, friends, or even just by themselves. This is the perfect time to increase the amount of exercise you do whilst going out to enjoy the great outdoors. However, with 19,091 cycling accidents reported in the UK in 2013 alone, it is worth remembering that as a cyclist you need to take certain precautions.

Interesting Figures

Statistics show that the highest number of casualties are children, aged between 10 and fifteen. The next group most likely to suffer a cycling accident are the over 60s. Only 20% of recorded accidents involved female cyclists and although most accidents happened in the daytime, the highest number of fatalities occurred at night.

Safety First

The above figures may not be that surprising, as, after all, children are the most likely group to be riding bikes. However, it has been found by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents that many accidents are due to lack of attention, failure to wear a helmet and the lack of reflective clothing worn by cyclists.

The RoSPA urges all cyclists to wear a helmet when cycling, no matter how short their journey and also advises those that intend to cycle at night to wear protective clothing.

Cycling Safety

Helmets are an important piece of kit for the cyclist and buying the right one is essential for your safety. The BBC has produced a helpful video, full of handy hints that is ideal for classroom discussions about cycling safety. It can even be used as a reference for inexperienced cyclists as it provides advice about the type of bicycle you should buy and what kind of clothing you should wear while cycling.

You should always make sure your bicycle is suitable for the conditions you will be cycling in and the terrains over which you will travel. If you are not sure about what kind of bicycle you need, speak to a sales assistant in a specialist bicycle shop.

How to Stay Safe While Cycling

• Check your bicycle is not damaged before you set off for a ride
• Invest in lights and a bell for your bike - if people can hear and see you coming, you are more likely to avoid accidents
• ALWAYS wear a helmet
• Wear reflective clothing at night

What to do if you have been involved in a cycling accident

• Get out of the road - move to a safe place away from any traffic
• Seek medical attention for yourself and anyone else involved as soon as possible
• Take photos of the accident site and record names and contact details of any witnesses
• Don't land yourself in hot water by admitting liability - seek legal advice as soon as possible
• Get copies of any police reports and medical records - these could prove vital when attempting to claim compensation