Latest news with #roadsharing
BBC News
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Hildenborough cyclist says she does not feel safe riding in Kent
A cyclist from Kent says she does not feel safe riding on the county's roads as a charity says a record number of people are reporting to police being overtaken too safety charity IAM RoadSmart says the numbers of cyclists who submitted video footage of poor driving to police also doubled from 7,249 in 2021 to 15,779 in 2024More than half of motorists admit they do not know how much space to leave when overtaking, the charity Alice Thomas, from Hildenborough, said: "I don't feel safe cycling in Kent, I lived in London for 10 years and I felt safer cycling there than I do here - drivers get so annoyed and overtake very closely." IAM RoadSmart says data shows the number of reports leading to the serving of a notice of intended prosecution rose from 38% in 2021 to 54% in a third of people say they do not cycle because they think it is too dangerous, the charity to the Department for Transport, 87 pedal cyclists were killed in Great Britain in 2023, while 3,942 were reported to be seriously injured and 10,970 slightly injured. Ms Thomas told BBC Radio Kent: "I always see arguments between cyclists and drivers online, comment sections, radio phone-ins, but other countries aren't like that, they all work together, it feels like a real conflict here." 'Cyclists are human beings' The Highway Code, which was updated in 2022, recommends that drivers gave cyclists at least 1.5m (5ft) of space - about the width of a compact car - when overtaking at speeds of up to 30mph (48kmh).Ms Thomas says: "There's a big narrative between cyclists and drivers hating each other, which is crazy because the majority of cyclists are drivers as well."So it's not one or the other, cyclists are human beings. "I'm a mother of two young boys and I always just think, I want to be able to go home safely to my sons."
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Motorcycle safety Month: Experts offer advice on staying protected while riding
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Spring and summer are peak seasons for motorcycle riders, and safety experts are urging all drivers to stay alert and share the road responsibly. Experts say a key rule to ensure safety is for drivers to slow down, pay attention, and look twice for motorcyclists when changing lanes or entering a roadway. In addition, motorcyclists are also responsible and are encouraged to wear proper safety gear, ride at an appropriate speed and never ride impaired. 'Being a motorcycle rider, it's exhilarating and fun, but we need to make sure that we are safe, that we're adhering to the laws and watching our speed,' said Frank Till with the St. Joseph Safety Council. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, although total roadway fatalities declined, motorcyclist deaths reached a record high in Missouri. Early data shows, 175 motorcyclists lost their lives on Missouri roads in 2023—a 14% rise from the 153 fatalities reported in 2022. MoDOT suggests that the rise in motorcyclist fatalities may be linked to the repeal of the universal helmet law, as well as a significant number of riders operating without proper licenses. I can't emphasize enough how critical it is to wear DOT-approved helmets while riding,' said Till. 'As motorcyclists, we always have to take extra precautions because our lives are on the line and we don't have the same protection. Cars are designed to absorb impact in a crash, but on a motorcycle, you're completely exposed.' Key safety tips for motorists include checking mirrors for motorcycles before changing lanes or navigating intersections. Till emphasized that the responsibility for improving safety lies with both drivers and motorcyclists, urging all motorists to remember the phrase: 'Look Twice, Save a Life.'
