Member Article

Law firm tests the nation's road safety knowledge

Results from a National law firm’s Great British Cycling Quiz highlight gaps in national road safety knowledge

Every year, road safety charity Brake co-ordinates Road Safety Week (November 17th–23rd), highlighting the need for measures to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on British roads. The theme of this year’s awareness drive is “Look out for each other”, encouraging people to think about how they can protect not just themselves but other road users, too.

To support this important message - and after the world’s biggest cycling event came to England in the summer - Irwin Mitchell is drawing attention to the safety fears affecting cyclists through its Great BritishCycling Quiz. The results show that British cyclists have a good grasp of road rules.

Gauging the results of more than 7,000 participants following on from the Tour de France’s Grand Départ in Yorkshire this year, test-takers scored an average of 5.5 questions correct out of 8.

While it was encouraging that 95% of respondents knew that all traffic signs and signals apply to cyclists the same way as to all other vehicles, and 86% were aware that cyclists are not legally required to wear any form of protective clothing on the roads, rules regarding passengers, drugs and alcohol caused a little more trouble. Only 43% correctly answered the question about when it is appropriate to carry a passenger on your bicycle, and only 46% are aware of the state of the law surrounding cyclists under the influence of drink or drugs.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, cyclists scored much better on the test than non-cyclists (70% of answers correct versus 58%); however, this highlights the need to engage with the Road Safety Week theme of looking out for other road users, and understanding the risks posed to them.

Irwin Mitchell has a deep understanding of the impact that road injuries can have on cyclists and their families, and the Great British Cycling Quiz helps to highlight knowledge gaps to educate and inform - and hopefully make the roads a safer place.

Neil Whiteley, Partner specializing in serious injuries at Irwin Mitchell, said:

“The results so far from our Great British Cycling Quiz show there is a need for motorists in particular to be more aware about the rules governing cyclists on UK roads. In light of Road Safety Week’s theme - and the darker evenings presenting a greater risk to road users - now is the perfect time to raise awareness of that need. Often there are issues between road users which may arise from a lack of understanding about the correct approach or rules that apply to each other.

“Cyclists and motorists alike have a lot to consider when they’re on their travels, and we hope our findings will help to bring safety to the top of their agenda.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Alison Eddy .