It takes two to tango on the road
Remember it takes two to tango and, whether you are a cyclist or a motorist, we all share the responsibility to keep our roads safe.
Queenslanders love to cycle with around 18 per cent of us riding a bike each week for transport or just for fun.
However, each year many bicycle riders are killed. Last year there were nine cycling related fatalities in Queensland, the highest in five years.
Hundreds more are injured, including children. Nearly 75 per cent of injured bicycle riders who visit emergency departments are children under the age of 15.
Most of these incidents are preventable with many injuries occurring because of a disregard for safety when sharing the road.
Whether you are a cyclist or a motorist, we all share the responsibility to keep our roads safe.
There are a number of simple steps that drivers and cyclists can take to keep the roads safer for everyone and reduce the number of injuries sustained each year.
Drivers should:
- be patient and give cyclists plenty of room when passing them
- watch out and give way for cyclists at intersections and roundabouts
- look out for kids on bikes
- check for cyclists before opening car doors.
Cyclists should:
- obey the road rules
- ride predictably and defensively
- keep aware of what other traffic is doing
- wear visible clothing and use reflectors and lights at night
- be careful at intersections and be aware of car doors
- always wear a helmet
- keep bicycles in good order.
For further information visit the Share the Road web page.
