Cyclists 'at bigger risk on roads than jaywalkers'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Cyclists and motorbike riders are at an even higher risk of being involved in a crash with a car than pedestrians who surprise drivers by stepping out into the road, a study has suggested.
Around one in five cyclists proved "invisible" to car drivers who took part in tests, as well as 15 per cent of motorcyclists. But the drivers spotted 96 per cent of "jaywalkers" who stepped into the road.
The study also found that drivers who use satellite navigation are less likely to spot a cyclist than those who do not. Nearly a quarter of cyclists were not seen by drivers with satnavs, compared to 19 per cent of cyclists seen by drivers without satnavs.
The research, carried out for insurance firm Direct Line, asked motorists to wear special glasses that pinpoint the exact focus of the eye.
Female drivers who took part spotted even fewer cyclists than male drivers – a quarter of cyclists were unseen by women and 17 per cent were missed by men.
MPs warned yesterday that Britain was "in danger of squandering the Olympic legacy and failing to create a healthier, more active UK" by not improving road safety for cyclists.
Direct Line spokesman Vicky Bristow said: "Tackling an issue of this scale really requires top-down change."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments