Cycling fatalities in Scotland

The number of cyclists killed on Aberdeenshire roads is higher than anywhere else in the country.

The CTC is calling for Aberdeenshire Council’s draft road safety strategy to include more provision for cyclists. CTC spokesman Mark Hagger said: “If you analyse the cases it seems there is an issue of driver carelessness. It seems drivers need to take more care and be prepared to expect the unexpected. The strategy has no specific concern for vulnerable groups such as cyclists and pedestrians.”

A “road safety” strategy that ignores pedestrians and cyclists – bloody marvellous!

As usual we have blaming-the-victim syndrome:

Stonehaven councillor Graeme Clark agreed more should be done to raise awareness of cyclists on north-east roads. “There is obviously a mentality in the north-east that people are driving too fast. They are not taking into consideration other road users. We have to share the roads. People are not aware enough of cyclists.”

But he said the onus was also on cyclists to use the roads responsibly. “You hear these stories about them ignoring red lights,” he said. “We have got to educate both sides here.”

How many of those fatalities in Aberdeenshire were the result of cyclists pedalling past a red light and getting run down? I don’t know but I’m pretty sure the answer is none.