A new survey has found that more than a quarter of people in Scotland (27%) are unaware that driving carelessly or dangerously around cyclists can lead to a driving ban or prison sentence.
The survey, which sampled the views of more than 1,000 people, has been published by Cycling Scotland to coincide with the launch of its national road safety campaign, which reminds drivers of the risks they take if they don’t drive safely around people on bikes.
Supported by Police Scotland, the Give Cycle Space campaign aims to raise awareness of the legal passing distance (1.5 metres), the responsibility of drivers to safely overtake, and the risks they take when they don’t follow rules of the road.
The TV ad shows someone cycling on the road from a driver’s viewpoint, together with images of their life and loved ones in the space next to them.
Simon Bradshaw, Cycling Scotland road safety manager said: “More people are travelling by bike in Scotland which is really positive. To improve our health and environment, we need to enable even more people to choose cycling.
“What we can’t do is accept a corresponding rise in serious injuries and deaths.”
Additional research commissioned by Cycling Scotland, involving more than 500 drivers in Scotland, also found that:
- 58% of drivers say that knowing a camera could capture their driving behaviour, would change their behaviour around people cycling.
- 62% of drivers say they always double check their mirrors and blind spot for people cycling before making a turn and other manoeuvres with 38% saying they either often, sometimes or rarely do it.
- 62% of drivers say the risk of killing or seriously injuring someone would be most likely to ensure they drive safely around someone on a bike.
Cycling Scotland says in collisions between bikes and vehicles, the person driving the vehicle is most often at fault.
Previous analysis of road collision injury data shows that 73% of the top five factors which contribute to a collision with a person cycling are assigned to the driver of the vehicle.
Simon Bradshaw added: “It’s clear that a campaign on its own isn’t enough – we need urgent change including networks of dedicated cycle lanes and enforcement to reduce dangerous driving, especially given the number of repeat offenders involved in fatal crashes.
“Education can also play a key role in changing public opinion and behaviour and we will work with other organisations to ensure that such road safety awareness campaigns can continue.”
The campaign will run on television, radio, online and on buses from 29 April for four weeks.
Chief superintendent Hilary Sloan, head of road policing, said: “Every driver has a responsibility to safely overtake cyclists.
“Cyclists are vulnerable on the road and drivers should be aware of how they can help reduce serious and fatal collisions.
“Police officers are out every day educating road users and carrying out enforcement, and we are part of a crucial partnership response to road safety.”
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