Concern over rise in North Lincolnshire cycling accidents as 14 riders killed or seriously hurt

AN INCREASE in the number of bike accidents on the roads has triggered warnings over road safety.

One area of concern highlighted is the accidents involving children and cyclists.

This year the total number of children killed or seriously injured is 10, which has increased from five in 2011.

And when it comes to child pedestrians, the number of killed or seriously injured children this year is five, compared to one in 2011.

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The number of cyclists killed or seriously injured this year is 14, an increase of four on the 2011 figure.

Roy Hindmarsh, road safety audit and partnership officer for North Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, said this was one of the main concerns.

He said: "Bike accidents is our main problem, but it is not just in North Lincolnshire – it is across the Humber and the UK.

"There are a lot of people going on a bike that would not have done before.

"It is not just the number of children, it's the adults as well.

"We had our Lincolnshire forum meeting recently and all the figures, regionally and nationally, are up.

"Since the Olympics, people seem to have taken to cycling much more and the collisions have increased later in the year."

Casualty reduction officer PC Barry Gardener said he was concerned about the figures. He said: "I have a real concern and it was raised nationally, as well as in Lincolnshire."

Chairman Richard Hall, road safety team manager at North Lincolnshire Council, said the council were providing cycling initiatives.

He said: "The cycle group for North Lincolnshire has been involved with the Skyride initiative."

Figures also show that five people were killed on the region's roads last month.

The number of fatalities on the region's roads doubled to 10, following the sharp rise in November.

The 10 fatalities so far in 2012 represents the most in five years, but the total number of casualties on the region's roads is set to be the lowest since figures began back in 1996. The figures for November show that one driver, one passenger, two motorcyclists and one cyclist died in North Lincolnshire.

Three drivers and one pedestrian also sustained serious injuries following a collision.

Mr Hindmarsh said reducing casualties remained a priority for the team.

In 2012, four drivers, one passenger, two motorcyclists and three cyclists have been killed. There have also been 83 serious injuries and 522 slight injuries.

The total number of accidents this year, 615, is set to be lower than the 2010 figure of 747, the lowest since records began in 1994.

The target for the number of people killed or seriously injured for 2012 is 132, a figure that looks set to be bettered.