Aviva data reveals that more than 12 cyclists a day are involved in road accidents in Greater London

Posted: 09/03/2015

According to recently published data analysis conducted by Aviva, there were 22,988 motor accidents involving cyclists inside the M25 between 2009 and 2013. This is more than 12 every day and 80 of them resulted in a fatality.

Philippa Luscombe, partner in the personal injury team at Penningtons Manches LLP who specialises in serious injuries arising from road accidents, comments: “It is good to see a big insurer like Aviva using its data on accidents to try to assess how, why and where accidents are happening with a view to prevention. Aviva’s research not only identified the top ten most dangerous roundabouts and junctions in London for cyclists but also found that a high number of those injured were male commuters and that over two thirds of accidents involving cyclists involved a van or a HGV. More worryingly, the study highlighted that cyclists are also not taking adequate care. One third of cyclists involved in accidents after dark had been cycling without lights.

“Hopefully, this analysis will have some benefit. While cyclists must take responsibility for their safety by using lights, hi-vis clothing and helmets, one would hope that Transport for London and local authorities will use the  data about the cycling accident blackspots to improve safety and reduce accidents.

“Cycling has many benefits and the higher numbers of cyclists since the London Olympics is a great legacy. But accidents involving cyclists have life-changing consequences – not just for the cyclists. More work is needed to reduce the worryingly high number of HGVs involved in accidents. Although the London police have devoted significant resources to monitor vehicle safety and traffic offences on popular cyclist routes, the reality is that investment is needed to segregate cyclists as much as possible from motorised traffic through initiatives such as the Cycle Super Highways.”

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