Motorists are being asked to take more care near motorbikes and bicycles on roads this summer after an increase in collisions involving these vulnerable road users.

Light nights and improved weather, coupled with economic strains, means more pedal cyclists and motorbikes on the roads over the summer months and this, in turn, has led to an increase in road traffic collisions.

Chief Inspector Andy Charlton, Head of Roads Policing, said: “Many road crashes involving riders are down to other drivers failing to look for and see them. It’s the SMIDSY factor (sorry mate I did not see you).

“Unfortunately the rider, whether on a pedal or motor bike, always comes off worse and serious injuries such as broken femurs, fractured pelvis’ and head injuries are common at this time of year.”

In 2010 there were 128 motorcyclists and 66 pedal cyclists killed or seriously injured on the roads in Nottinghamshire. There were 221 motorcyclists and 267 pedal cyclists who received minor injuries.

Sixteen motorcyclists and 24 pedal cyclists have already been killed or seriously injured on Nottinghamshire roads between January and March of this year (2011), with 57 motorcyclists and 53 pedal cyclists receiving minor injuries.

A recent Cycle Safe survey has revealed many bikers and cyclists are concerned about drivers who fail to see them, drive too close and too fast when passing, pull out of junctions and on roundabouts in front of them, and have a basic disregard for their safety. 

In a previous road safety campaign, a sticker warning motorists to watch out for motorcyclists was distributed to more than half a million people and can now be seen in the windows of many vehicles, including police and ambulance vehicles.

Now Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Road Safety Partnership have once again joined forces to fund a new car sticker asking drivers of all vehicles to ‘THINK BIKE. GIVE CYCLISTS SPACE’.

The new stickers and other road safety resources are available free of charge at front counters of a number of police stations across the county.

Ch Insp Charlton said: '”Giving cyclists space, looking out for riders before turning and pulling out from junctions, and slowing down for pedal cyclists are all ways of making sure you do not conflict with them on the roads.

“Please, work with us to reduce road casualties this summer by concentrating on the road 100% and watching out for cyclists and motorcyclists.”

Stickers are available at these Police Stations:

• City division: Oxclose Lane, Radford Road and Central.
• County division: Newark, Worksop, Mansfield, Sutton, Hucknall, West Bridgford, Beeston and Carlton.

*One per person while stocks last.

• See also the item about this campaign in the Nottm Post of 28 September 2011 at
  http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Campaign-launched-help-cyclists/story-13418406-detail/story.html