Hackney’s road safety team has launched a campaign to encourage all road users to share the streets safely, and consider vulnerable road users.
‘Watch Out for Me!’ has been launched to coincide with the clocks going forward and nights getting lighter, when there is an increase in collisions and casualties.
Throughout March, April and May ‘Watch Out for Me!’ banners will be displayed on 160 lampposts throughout the borough. The banners are located on strategic routes and encourage cyclists and drivers to watch out for each other when turning.
Working with the Metropolitan Police, the road safety team launched the campaign with an ‘Exchanging Places’ event at a local fire station.
Cyclists were invited to sit in the cab of an HGV to give them a view of the road from an HGV driver’s perspective. The aim is to encourage cyclists to make informed decisions about positioning when riding close to large vehicles.
On the day 41 cyclists were stopped for jumping red lights and asked to take part in the session instead of receiving a £30 fine. The road safety team and officers from Hackney police cycling team were on hand to provide advice and encourage cyclists to take up the free, two-hour cycle training session offered to all those who live, work or study in Hackney. Cyclists were also given a free rucksack and a copy of the Highway Code.
Councillor Feryal Demirci, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: “I was delighted to see so many people taking time out of their journeys to participate in the event. We all have a responsibility to share road space and consider other users’ safety.
“Our other initiative of getting drivers onto bikes so they can see the cyclist point of view has been very successful. Having completed the training with our own fleet drivers, as well as those from Hackney Homes and The Learning Trust, we now have courses booked with outside companies that work and travel through Hackney.”
For more information contact Karyn Gibson on 020 8356 3539.
Well, well, well 41 cyclists go through lights on red? I wonder how many were on the pavement?
T. Heywood Stockport
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