Safe Speed Forums

Link to thisisgrimsby.co.uk

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12:30 - 22 November 2005
Light up - or face the consequences.

As North East Lincolnshire prepares for gale force winds and snow, Grimsby Police are getting tough on cyclists riding without lights. And a Telegraph survey proved they were continuing to risk their lives.

In just one hour, we spotted 78 people cycling without switching on.

Casualty reduction officer Pc Doug Wright said: "If we catch people, we will prosecute.

"We are not being heavy handed - we are about saving lives."

To coincide with the launch of this winter's Cycle Safe campaign, the Telegraph carried out a watch on Laceby Road, near Nuns Corner, Grimsby.

We also saw two cyclists with back lights only, but spotted eight using them correctly and one rider wearing a helmet.

The campaign, now in its third year, forms part of the police's ongoing drive to improve road safety.

Patrolling officers will be watching for cyclists breaking the law - and have promised to take action.

Anyone aged 16 and over who is stopped by police will face a fixed penalty ticket of £30 or a court appearance with a possible fine of up to £1,000.

Youngsters, at the discretion of the officer, will be offered the option of going to court or attending a Cycle Safe seminar. Last year, 69 people attended them.

Pc Wright said: "One of the public's main gripes is children riding cycles in the dark without any lights.

"We want all parents to make sure their children have a set of lights. If not, don't let them ride in the dark."




Your Views
I am all for using lights on bikes when it is dark but come on. In three of the four pictures on the front page of the newspaper, it's not even dark. Sure it may be a bit grey, but it is like that all the time in winter. You can't be expected to have bike lights on at two in the afternoon.
Chris, Cleethorpes


Another seasonal joke from our local constabulary!! They must think the public are really thick if they think we will believe this 'crackdown'. Will it include prosecuting cyclists who ride on the pavement, lights or no lights? Will it include prosecuting the anti-social so and sos who cycle through the Victoria Street pedestrian way and the wrong way past Argos? Pull the other leg PC Wright.
About Time Too, Grimsby


Of course cyclist's safety is important, but where are the police resources being found for this exercise? According to reports of late in the telegraph there are normally "few or none" available when people, and property are set upon by gangs of thugs and local vandals. "Resources are limited", is usually the cry from our local police managers. We need to "prioritize and deploy resources accordingly", they say.Speaking only for myself, I know where I, as a past victim of crime and the "local policing policy", would rather these limited resources were targeted - and it isn't on cyclists.If the police do stop someone for not having lights on a cycle, is it really necessary to fine them ?30 or threaten court action at great expense of time resources and money to the police and the public? Maybe a "word of advise" would suffice? And police resources could be put back where I suspect most people in this town would like them - fighting crime and anti social behaviour.
ken, grimsby


I'll believe it when i see a policeman charge someone,and they get fined.All Bikes found whithout lights should be confiscated until the owner can provide them.
John,, Grimsby


I nearly ran a biker over in Humberston Road last night. He was delivering papers and shot out of a drive infront of me -no lights -cars coming in opposite direction. He seemed to have a death wish.
Pat, Grimsby


I travel along the Laceby bypass about 5am and regularly see a post office worker on a bike without lights, surely these bikes should be checked everyday to make sure they are fit for the job. Cathy, Laceby
Cathy , Laceby


I wish both adults and children would wear cycle helmets. The road is hard and unforgiving. You can be a very careful cylist and still be thrown off by hitting a pothole ... and we all know there are on or two of these about ... or be knocked off your bike by someone who can't see you opening their car door in front of you. HELMETS SAVE LIVES!!!
Annette, Grimsby


I do hope that this initiative is actually followed through and isn't the Police just saying they are going to do something.Maybe we should also point out that aswell as cyclists with lights they should look at motorists with lights that don't work, not switched on or have got fog lamps on when theres no fog in sight.
Kev, Grimsby


"If we catch any" That says it all too me!
Amanda, Cleethorpes


And fine car's speeding over 30, and parking in cycle lane's, and waiting in the cycle area at traffic light's.
Len, Grimsby


Every day I see cyclists out after dark without lights and the majority are children. Parents still send their children to school without lights every day knowing that they will be riding home at dusk. It should be illegal to ride a bike without working lights being FITTED at all times!!
John, Grimsby


Shouldn't it be PARENTS who educate the youngsters. In fact, shouldn't it be parents who should have their childrens safety as the main concern?As for the over 16's, yes, lets fine and prosecute. Lets not have 'free and easy' liberals suggesting it is an easy target to pick on for the Police. IT IS THE LAW FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL. In fact if you have no lights and get knocked over, it should be a 'given' that there should be no court action to the driver unless it can be proved he was drunk,drugged or proved to be wreckless. The cyclist without lights is the wreckless one, and surely it is the only occasion a driver can claim 'i didn't see them'?
Ian, Grimsby

_________________
Semper in excreta, nur quantitat variat.

simple solution, just pass a law that invalidates any claim a cyclist tries to make against a motorists insurance if they had no lights or were not wearing something hi-viz.

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Fear is a weapon of mass distraction

Another simple solution - PCSOs were suposed to have powers to dish out tickets for cycle offences - why do we need proper police doing this in detriment to proper policing, when PCSOs can do it.Might make a change from them being used as traffic wardens and parking offence spotters.

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

I reckon it's time cycles used on the road were registered- with number plates, MOT, road tax, insurance, licence- the whole lot.
I'm fed up to the back teeth with maniac cyclists who completely ignore every rule of the road, cause accidents left right and centre and peddle anonymously off. They then moan when the law of averages catches up with them.
I'm also fed up with them constantly harping on about how eco-friendly and wonderful cycling is, whilst using roads paid for and maintained by road fund licence payers i.e. everyone else.

Further to the lead post on this thread:

link to thisisgrimsby.co.uk

12:30 - 03 December 2005
Around 100 cyclists have been caught riding without lights as part of a police crackdown on the problem.

Fifty youngsters among them must either attend court or participate in a hard-hitting road safety seminar with their parents. The adults caught committing the offence will be sent fixed penalty notices in the coming weeks.

As reported, in a completely separate operation, the Telegraph spotted 78 cyclists riding without lights around Grimsby in less than an hour, highlighting the issue.

Casualty reduction officer Pc Doug Wright said: "I find it disappointing that parents are not ensuring their children have lights when out on bikes during the hours of darkness.

"More than 700 children nationally are either seriously injured or killed on pedal cycles every year and a survey has shown that 70 per cent of collisions involving bicycles are not even reported."

Now in its third year, the annual Cycle Safe campaign includes patrolling officers watching for cyclists breaking the law.

Anyone aged 16 and over riding without lights faces a fixed penalty ticket of £30 or a court appearance with a possible fine of up to £1,000.

At the discretion of the officer, youngsters can either go to court or attend a Cycle Safe seminar, which 69 people participated in last year.

The two-hour session includes road safety presentations and a demonstration organised by Humberside Fire and Rescue Service in which a dummy on a bicycle is thrown through the air after being hit by a car.

Pc Wright said: "Don't leave it as a Christmas present, buy the lights now.

"It is far better that your child comes home safe than have us knock on your door and tell you he or she has been seriously injured or killed as a result of a driver not seeing them because there were no lights on the bike."

_________________
Semper in excreta, nur quantitat variat.

Taking the initial story at face value, it looks like a sample of around 80-90 cyclists of which there was "one rider wearing a helmet."

Kinda sums it up really.

The lights issue is a bit more contentious. When I was a kid, a set of lights would generally last me up to a month before being nicked. It gets expensive but at least I never had to buy batteries for them.