It is an experience that all cyclists have already known. Being grazed by a car traveling at 80 km/h on a secondary road is anything but a pleasant experience. No matter how much you clench your buttocks and your teeth, the fear of ending up on the hood or in the ditch is very real. Some may have been traumatized to the point of no longer daring to ride. Others even died there. In 2022, 244 cyclists lost their lives on the roads of France. According to statistics, 38% of cyclists killed were over 55 and lost their lives on a country road, often during a “leisure” outing.
Most of the time, these accidents are caused by the behavior of motorists, who are at fault for speeding or dangerous overtaking. In an attempt to remedy this, Road Safety has developed a major communication campaign entitled “the road is shared”, relayed in particular during the passage of cycle races. In Ille-et-Vilaine, around fifty panels have been or will be installed along the roads.
At the initiative of this operation, the county council wishes to “raise awareness among drivers and cyclists of better sharing of the road”. And remember a fundamental rule. In rural territory, a motorist must deviate by at least one meter fifty when he overtakes a cyclist. In urban areas, where the speed is generally lower, the recommended distance is at least one meter. An attitude that better protects cyclists, who are particularly vulnerable to cars and heavy goods vehicles.
In 2022, 122 personal injury accidents involving cyclists were recorded in the department. “This road awareness action represents a considerable vector in the fight against global warming while responding to public health issues. Developing cycling practice is one of the major ambitions for the years to come”, specifies the department. A major plan for the development of cycling facilities has been put in place by the county council in order to secure the practice.