Run a public awareness campaign to address driver aggression toward cyclists

The Department of Transport should run a national public awareness campaign to educate motorists about dangerous, inappropriate and aggressive behaviours that can lead to the injury and even death of cyclists. The attitude that cyclists should not be on roads needs to end.

In 2019, 16,884 cyclists were injured in reported road accidents, including 4,433 who were killed or seriously injured. These figures only include cyclists killed or injured in road accidents that were reported to the police. Many cyclist casualties are not reported to the police. Driver aggression towards cyclists feels to be increasing & we are calling on the Department of Transport to run a national public awareness campaign to educate motorists about dangerous behaviours.

The Government is focused on making cycling and walking safer and easier. To that end the Department for Transport undertook a major cycling and walking safety review in 2018. Following an extensive public consultation, the Department published its full response and a detailed two-year action plan on 22 November 2018 (https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/governments-response-to-the-cycling-walking-investment-strategy-safety-review).

One of the actions identified was to review The Highway Code to create a new and improved Highway Code, to keep vulnerable road users - including cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders - safe on the roads and make sure they are at the forefront of motorists’ minds when they are traveling. For example, the proposed changes highlight how to avoid the dangers of close passing, and encourage people to adopt the ‘Dutch reach’, a method of opening a car door with the hand furthest from the handle, to force drivers to look over their shoulder for passing traffic.

On the 28 July 2020, the Prime Minister launched ambitious plans to boost cycling and walking (Gear Change: a bold vision for cycling and walking: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cycling-and-walking-plan-for-england) and the consultation on changes to The Highway Code was published at the same time as part of a much broader plan into Cycling and Walking. The proposed changes should lead to a new and improved Highway Code, to keep vulnerable road users safe on the roads.

A summary of responses, including the next steps, will be published shortly.