Cash promised for repairs but cyclists’ death toll rises BRITAIN’S KILLER POTHOLES
NEARLY 100 cyclists have been killed or badly hurt in accidents involving potholes in the past two years.
In 2015, the most recent year for which figures are available, 46 people came off their bikes on dodgy roads.
In the previous year 53 cyclists were killed or seriously hurt.
The true scale of the problem could be even higher as one in four accidents does not have its crash cause recorded by police.
Transport Minister Andrew Jones revealed the figures in response to a question by Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, who has previously called for greater protection for rural cyclists.
The statistics suggest the situation for the country’s road users is deteriorating, with 2014 seeing a spike in cyclists’ injuries and deaths.
In the four years prior to that, from 2010 to 2013, 158 cyclists were injured or killed – an average of 40 per year.
Sam Jones, campaigns coordinator at Cycling UK, said: “While the number of KSIs (killed and seriously injured) due to defective road surfacing for 2015 was thankfully down from 2014, the overall trend is on the up, and very worrying.
“With a pothole problem that is ISOBEL DICKINSON estimated will cost £14billion to fix, the Government’s commitment of £6billion is a bit like using a sticking plaster to fix a broken leg.
“Defective road surfaces are particularly worrying for our most vulnerable road users, as it is trips to the hospital they potentially face.”
In one high-profile accident, a cyclist was killed when he hit a pothole during a charity ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
Martyn Uzzell, 51, died instantly after being thrown into path of a car when he struck a four-inch deep hole.
Council workers inspected it a month before his death but decided it was not dangerous.
His widow was awarded a sixfigure payout in 2015.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: “Britain has some of the safest roads in the world but we are committed to reducing the number of cyclists killed and seriously injured.
“On top of a THINK! campaign to improve cycle safety we are spending £300million on cycling funding in this Parliament and are also providing over £7billion to improve the condition of our road surfaces to make them safer for all road users.”