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Road fatalities in one of Britain’s largest police force areas have risen 42% this year despite a substantial drop in traffic during the shutdown, with a senior officer blaming racers who drove cars leased high-speed cars, often high or high on alcohol.
Cycling organizations and attorneys representing injured cyclists report a similar situation nationally, with one law firm saying bicycle cases were up 45% year-on-year.
Six cyclists and 16 pedestrians have died on Greater Manchester roads this year, compared to three and 13 in the same period last year, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP). Driver fatalities have risen from six to 13 and passenger fatalities from one to four. In all, 44 people have died in traffic accidents in the region this year, up from 31 last year.
Ch Insp Matt Bailey-Smith of GMP Specialist Operations said many accidents involved young men who had rented high-end cars, often Audis and BMWs worth £ 50,000 or more, to compete against each other.
“We see with sadness that the younger male population are those who are generally involved in competitive high-speed driving, particularly in relation to drugs. We see many young people with high powered leased vehicles, ”he said.
“We see that as a small problem and are working hard with these leasing companies to cancel policies and recall vehicles when they are used irresponsibly or effectively sublet to friends. Much of the focus seems to be on Audis, in particular the S models, the S3, S4, RS models, which if you like cars you will know that they are very high power vehicles, ”he said.
Buying a new Audi S4 costs from £ 50,200, but can be rented for around £ 540 a month, making it affordable for moderately paid young men who can still live with their parents without paying rent.
Children who walk and bike are among those who died in road accidents in Greater Manchester this year. On July 23, a black BMW killed eight-year-old Safiullah Asif while crossing the street in Ashton-under-Lyne. Two weeks later, six-year-old Kidus Wondwosen died after being hit by a car while riding his bicycle near Hulme, on the outskirts of Manchester city center.
In Greater Manchester, around 115,000 bike trips are made each day, up from about 100,300 before closing, according to Transport for Greater Manchester. On March 29, during the peak of the lockdown, there were 1.034 million car trips on the region’s highways, up from 5.082 million on March 9. After the lockdown, traffic levels are now at 86% of normal levels.
Bailey-Smith said he had gotten back on his bike for the first time in 20 years and found it to be a very different experience than what he was used to. “I think we are seeing more people who are new to cycling who maybe haven’t done it for several years and are less competent. We want to make sure they are competent and confident on modern roads. “
Nadia Kerr, Head of Cyclist Claims at JMW Solicitors, said: “We have seen a 45% increase in inquiries from potential clients between March and August compared to the same period in 2019. We are seeing a higher volume of inquiries from people who are new to cycling, people who try it and may not really know how to do it safely, [or] where to position yourself on the road.
“It worries me. It would be a great shame if these people stop riding bikes, because we know how good it is from a welfare and environmental perspective. That is why it is essential that the government invest in cycling training for everyone.
Duncan Dollimore, Cycling UK Campaign Manager, said: “Since the quietest period of lockdown, Cycling UK has heard alarming cases of vehicles colliding with people on bicycles. We do not yet have the traffic injury statistics for 2020, so it is impossible to say whether the number of collisions has increased or decreased, but what we can for sure is that the evidence consistently shows that the health benefits cycling vastly outweigh any risk of injury.
“However, the biggest barrier for most newcomers to short commutes is the perception that it is dangerous. While every report of death and serious injury builds this barrier, there is a sure way to tear it down: linked networks of protected bike lanes.
“The only positive side of the pandemic is that we have the opportunity to change for the better the way we move in our cities and towns. It is up to national and local governments to make sure we don’t miss out on this opportunity. “
A spokeswoman for the Department of Transportation (DfT) said: “We want to keep all road users safe, especially the vulnerable. The cycling and walking gearshift plan launched by the Prime Minister in July sets out a vision of safer streets where no one is afraid to ride a bike, all children are confident and safe by walking or cycling to school, and everyone road users treat each other with mutual respect.
“To achieve this, we will support thousands of miles of new safe, continuous and direct cycling routes in towns and cities, as part of a £ 2 billion investment program in cycling and walking.”
According to the most recent statistics released by the DfT, 99 cyclists and 456 pedestrians were killed on Britain’s roads in 2018. National figures for this year will not be available until 2021.
