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County cyclists urged to kit up and 'be seen' on the roads

Updated on 2nd October 2012

Cyclists in the county are being invited to join the hundreds of riders in the city who are benefitting from high-visibility safety gear thanks to a road safety campaign.

A number of cycle safety ‘hubs’ will roll into the county next week to offer free high-visibility ‘Think Bike’ backpacks to cyclists.

More than 1,000 packs and road safety advice will be available, including a high-visibility rucksack and jacket, a multi-tool, bike lock and lights.

They are courtesy of Nottinghamshire Police and the Road Safety Partnership.

Chief Inspector Andy Charlton, Force-lead for road casualty reduction, said: “We have already given away hundreds of safety packs at hubs across the city and now it’s the turn of cyclists in the county.

“What with the amount of windy, high speed rural roads on this patch it’s even more important that those who cycle on our county’s roads are protected. Let’s not add to the six pedal cyclists who have already died as a result of collisions since the beginning of January.

“Cyclists can help themselves by collecting a free backpack and motorists can also help every time they get behind the wheel by remembering to ‘think bike’.”

The free cycle packs will be available at the following dates and locations, between 7.30am and 9am:

• Friday 5 October 2012 at Retford Market Place
• Monday 8 October 2012 at Hucknall Market Place 
• Tuesday 9 October 2012 at Newark Market Place 
• Wednesday 10 October 2012 at the Colwick Loop Road junction with Private Road No. 1
• Friday 12 October 2012 at Mansfield Fire Station 
• Monday 15 October 2012 at the Queen’s Road junction with Vincent Avenue, Beeston 
• Tuesday 16 October 2012 in Central Avenue, West Bridgford.

PC Diederik Coetzee’s family is also backing the initiative. Last November, the Mansfield South Beat officer was cycling towards Blidworth when he was struck by a defective car being driven by 26-year-old Mitchel Graham.

He was seriously injured and, nearly eleven months on, continues to receive intensive rehabilitation treatment and is making slow by steady progress.

Last Friday (28 September 2012) Graham was sentenced to 15 months in jail and received a five-year driving ban for dangerous driving, failing to stop after a collision and failing to report a collision.

PC Coetzee’s daughters Lauren and Rachel said: “Cyclists need to be aware of safety precautions, such as wearing high-visibility clothing and a helmet, and using lights, especially as the dark British evenings approach.

“But it’s not only up to cyclists to make sure they are visible. It’s down to all road users to be aware of each other. Sometimes people need to be reminded of just how vital that split second is when they take their eyes off the road, whether to read a text message, change the radio station or chat to a passenger in the back seat.

“While it was the actions of another road user that caused Dad’s collision, the fact that he was wearing a helmet very well saved his life that night. We will always be grateful for the diligence he showed towards road safety.

“I hope our father’s story will make people think seriously about their behaviour on the roads, encourage them to implement better road safety measures, and, in turn prevent further deaths or injuries in the future.” 

Posted Friday 21 September 2012

Cyclists are being invited to attend cycle safety ‘hubs’ in Nottingham city next week to claim free high-visibility ‘Think Bike’ back packs.

More than 1,000 packs and road safety advice will be offered to cyclists at stations on commuter routes in the city starting next week.

The family of police officer PC Diederik Coetzee, who, last November, was cycling towards Blidworth when he was struck by a car and left with serious injuries, have shown their support for the initiative.

Nearly ten months since the crash, PC Coetzee continues to receive intensive rehabilitation treatment, and is making slow but steady progress.

In a statement on behalf of his family, his daughters Lauren and Rachel said: “Road safety has always been drilled into us by our father. Some of our earliest memories are of dad going out on his bike, training for many different sporting events. Mum was always concerned for his safety on the road, but dad would remind us all, time and time again, how important it was to be as visible as possible to other road users. This is something we have never forgotten.

“Cyclists need to be aware of safety precautions, such as wearing high-visibility clothing and a helmet and using lights, especially as the dark British evenings approach.

“But it’s not only up to cyclists to make sure they are visible. It’s down to all road users to be aware of each other. Sometimes people need to be reminded of just how vital that split second is when they take their eyes off the road, whether to read a text message, change the radio station or chat to a passenger in the back seat.

“While it was the actions of another road user that caused Dad’s collision, the fact that he was wearing a helmet very well saved his life that night. We will always be grateful for the diligence he showed toward road safety.

“Before this happened, we were oblivious to just how devastating head injuries can be. But we can certainly say it has turned the dynamics of our family upside down.

“Seeing the changes in our father, from being a man who used to take part in Iron Man events, and who achieved a record amount of arrests in England, to a man who needs 24-hour supervision and specialist rehabilitation has been extremely difficult.

“There isn’t a day that passes when we don’t wonder what life would be like if he had never been hit by that car and suffered a severe brain injury.

“This type of thing doesn’t just affect the victim, it affects their whole family. It has certainly changed our lives completely.

“The most difficult thing to accept is that if people use their common sense, as well as observe basic road safety rules, it can be prevented.

“I hope our father’s story will make people think seriously about their behaviour on the roads, encourage them to implement better road safety measures, and, in turn prevent further deaths or injuries in the future.”

The free cycle packs, which include a high-visibility rucksack and jacket, a multi-tool, bike lock and lights, will be available to cyclists at the following locations:

• Tuesday 25 September 2012 – 7.30am to 9am at the junction of Derby Road and Lenton Boulevard.
• Wednesday 26 September 2012 – 7.30am to 9am at Dunkirk Island.
• Wednesday 3 October 2012 – 7.30am to 9am at the Riverside Way Toll Bridge.
• Thursday 4 October 2012 – 7.30am to 9am in Queen’s Bridge Road, opposite Nottingham Train Station.

Chief Inspector Andy Charlton, Force-lead for road casualty reduction, said: “Since the beginning of January, six pedal cyclists have died as a result of collisions on our roads, with 41 people seriously injured.

“Of all serious road collisions recorded in Nottinghamshire since 1 January 2012 to 30 June, 17% have resulted in the death or serious injury of a pedal cyclist.

“We tend to see more serious injuries in these types of crashes simply because cyclists are more exposed and vulnerable. That’s why we, with our colleagues from the Road Safety Partnership, try to run this initiative as often as we can in a bid to help cyclists stay safe.

“Since the Tour de France and the Olympics, we have seen an increase in the number of cyclists on our roads and we want to make sure this is not reflected by an increase in the collision stats.

“They can help themselves by collecting a free back pack and motorists can also help every time they get behind the wheel by remembering to ‘think bike’.”

Cyclists in the city will not be the only ones to benefit from the free safety kits, as the same initiative will run elsewhere in the county from Friday 5 October 2012.

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