Report finds higher numbers of cyclists reduces accident risk
If more people took up cycling on the roads, the number of road accidents involving cyclists would fall, according to a study of the safest cycling locations in Britain. The study revealed that in areas where there are more cyclists on the road, there is generally a lower accident rate and vice versa in areas where few people cycle, the chances of being involved in an accident are much higher.
The research was conducted by the Cyclists Touring Club, one of the UK’s main cycling organisations, which rated urban areas in England on a 5 point scale according to how safe they are for cyclists. CTC found that areas that were traditionally thought of as bike-friendly had significantly lower accident rates than areas where cyclists were a small minority.
York one of the safest places to cycle in England
The City of York came top of the list of safest places to cycle in England, which comes as no surprise as around 1 in 8 people there commute to work on their bikes. However, in other parts of Yorkshire, such as Halifax, less than 1% of commuters use bikes, and the accident rate there is 15 times higher than in York. Other areas identified as having both high numbers of cyclists and low accident rates are the cities of Cambridge, Lincoln and Hull. Perhaps unsurprisingly the main reason for more people not cycling seems to be the fear of accidents, with cyclists far less protected from injury than when they are inside a car.
However, it seems to be the case, as shown in this study, that where cycling is seen as an everyday activity and undertaken by a large number of people (such as in the Netherlands where 27% regularly use their bikes for day-to-day travel) then people are less likely to be involved in accidents. Another example of this “safety in numbers” idea is Denmark, where the average citizen rides 10 times further than his or her British counterpart ever year, but is 5 times less likely to be injured in an accident.
Injured whilst cycling? Call Camps for free legal advice
If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident whilst out cycling, and you don’t think you were to blame, then Camps Solicitors can help. Our cycling accident lawyers will look at the circumstances of your accident, and if you have the grounds to make a personal injury compensation claim, they will take your case on a No-Win No-Fee basis. As well as recovering compensation for your injuries, Camps can also include the cost of your bike or any clothing or equipment damaged in your claim, so you won’t have anything to pay out after you have recovered from your injuries. For more information or to make a cycling accident compensation claim, call Camps Solicitors today.
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