2Wheels road safety campaign rolled out across Lincolnshire

Figures for Lincolnshire show that almost a quarter of all reported road traffic collisions in the past five years have involved a cyclist or motorcyclist.

This week, Lincolnshire Police are supporting the NPCC’s (National Police Chief’s Council) ‘2Wheels Campaign’ in line with the force’s Op Falcon to raise awareness of the dangers faced by cyclists and motorcyclists.

Op Falcon is Lincolnshire Police’s continuing Road Safety Fatal Four Operation.

Twenty per cent of fatal collisions on our roads in Lincolnshire are motorcyclists and cyclists.

Figures show that 62 motorcyclist died as a result of a collision in the past five years and 13 cyclists died in the same period.

Motorcyclists

Year       Fatal   Serious    Slight     Total
2018       6           70       143         219
2017       12         84       140         236
2016       17         63       175         255
2015       16         57       185         258
2014       11         82       217         310
Total       62         356     860       1278

Cyclists

Year    Fatal   Serious    Slight   Total
2018       1         35           133       169
2017       3         41           110       154
2016       3         35           155       193
2015       5         35           192       232
2014       1         38           198       237
Total       13       184          788       985

But the campaign is not only aimed at two wheeled users, it is also aimed at motorists, all of whom we are encouraging to share the road responsibly to help reduce the number of collisions.

Cyclists and motorcyclists unfortunately feature heavily within road collisions and continue to be two of the most vulnerable road users. The aim of the national campaign is to raise awareness amongst all road users to improve driver behaviour but also to educate both groups of the dangers of not having the correct skills, knowledge and personal protective equipment.

Inspector Michael Burke for Lincolnshire Police said: “Our aim locally in supporting this national campaign is to improve awareness and raise road safety issues amongst cyclists, motorcyclists and other road users. Cyclists and motorcyclists are more vulnerable and we aim to do all we can, through both education and enforcement, to keep these two groups safe, and all motorists can play and part in this.”

Inspector Jason Baxter, Lincolnshire Specialist Operations, said: “Op Falcon is our annual operation aimed at reducing the number of people injured and killed in collisions on our roads. It’s objectives are the same as the NPCC’s campaign to reduce injuries and deaths, and educating all drivers and cyclists so we can work together to make the roads of Lincolnshire safer for everyone.”

Police officers will be working alongside Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership to educate and deliver enforcement across the roads of Lincolnshire.

Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership will be educating motorists and cyclists by going out into communities and speaking to road user groups, businesses, companies and private enterprises.

This campaign falls in line with our Operation Safe Pass which was launched at the end of last year.
Operation Safepass was launched to educate road users on the safe distance that should be given when passing cyclists. This is identified as a minimum of 1.5 metres, or in other words “keep them alive at 1.5”. More details on this scheme can be found here https://www.lincs.police.uk/news-campaigns/news/2018/keep-them-alive-at-15-operation-safe-pass-results/

For more information on what the road safety partnership has to offer visit – https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lincolnshire-road-safety-partnership