Number of Cyclist Deaths Jumps on Rural Roads

The number of cyclists killed on rural roads rose by almost 50% last year, compared with 2019.

A study by NFU Mutual highlighted 89 fatalities on countryside roads in 2020, up from 60 deaths in 2019. This was despite there being fewer vehicles due to national lockdown restrictions.

Between 2018 and 2020, a total of 3,115 deaths were recorded on English rural roads, compared to 1,880 in urban areas, with almost 30,000 people seriously injured on countryside roads during the same two-year time period.

Country lanes can be difficult to navigate, especially when sharing road space with cyclists. They don’t have specific cycle lanes to use, which makes for a tighter fit when overtaking.

It is important to give them spaces, with the AA suggesting drivers should “watch out for big hills which cyclists may struggle to complete. If you do overtake here, slow down and make sure it’s safe before you do.”

Motorists must also be wary of blind corners. With cyclists a possibility just around the bend, drivers, who may be unable to see round the corner due to heavy greenery on either side of the road, should assume this and approach corners with caution and limit their speed while doing so.

There is a useful AA guide to driving on country roads for beginners which provides a list of things to be wary of when out and about.

There’s plenty to consider while driving, including some aspects you may not have thought of.

If you are a cyclist who has been involved in a non-fault accident, you can make an accident claim with Winns. Find out more here.

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