Road Safety Week 2022: Staying safe on our roads

Kay Ditcham, Partner and head of Personal Injury at Tilly Bailey and Irvine says: “It cannot be denied that these road users are the most vulnerable, and the code aims to recognise that and to afford them more protection, whilst putting a greater responsibility on road users who can do the greatest harm, namely drivers of cars, vans and larger vehicles”.

People using bicycles and walking as a means of transport increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the government aims to sustain this increase in the hope of keeping the environment cleaner and encouraging people to be healthier. The number of miles cycled on British roads in 2020 increased by almost 46%, a larger increase than all of the previous 20 years put together.

Unfortunately, vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians are far more likely to sustain significant injuries if they are involved in a road traffic accident. Whilst the changes to the Highway Code seek to afford them more protection, inevitably accidents will occur.