Road Safety has decided to launch an awareness campaign for motorists and fans of the "little queen" called "Watch out for bikes, watch out for bikes".

Since the end of confinement, there are 30% more cyclists on the roads, a figure which has mechanically increased that of mortality. 

"Watch out for bikes, watch out for bikes."

Road Safety is launching this Friday a first major awareness campaign aimed at motorists and cyclists to deal with the increasing use of cycling, which is accompanied by an increase in the number of accidents.

Cycle use has in fact increased by 30% between May 11, the start of deconfinement, and September 13 compared to the same period last year, and by 20% between 2013 and 2018, according to the association Vélo et Territoires. , which brings together communities.

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123 cyclists killed since the start of the year

An increase that has been mechanically accompanied by an increase in mortality: 123 cyclists have been killed since the start of the year, only 29 less than in the whole of 2019, while France was confined for two months, according to data from Road Safety.

And since 2010, the mortality of cyclists has increased by 27%, while that of all road users combined has fallen by 19%.

New signage

So to slow down the phenomenon, Road Safety educates cyclists, "who do not necessarily have the DNA of danger", on their weak points, explains at the microphone of Europe 1 Marie Gautier-Melleray, delegate for Road Safety.

In the viewfinder in particular: blind spots.

"Cyclists are not always aware of blind spots. This is one of the elements that will be the subject of a text in the coming months, allowing new signage with stickers that will be placed directly on heavy goods vehicles and on buses. "

In a week from now, it will therefore be possible to read on the back of the buses: "Cyclists beware of blind spots. They bear their name very well", written in yellow on black.

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Towards a generalization of the bicycle lock

Another measure to better share the road with motorists and avoid accidents: the bicycle lock at red lights, this area which allows cyclists to be in front of cars, will be generalized by decree.

Finally, Road Safety relies heavily on learning to ride a bicycle at school, while on the occasion of the Tour de France workshops for primary school pupils were launched to "Know how to ride a bicycle".

The aim of the operation is to educate 800,000 children on safety and cohabitation on the road by 2022.