Council vows action to improve safety for cyclists

Surrey has topped a government list for fatal and serious cycling accidents

Officials in Surrey have vowed to improve safety for cyclists after the county topped a list for fatal or serious injuries.

According to Department for Transport data, 139 cyclists were killed or seriously injured in the county in 2022 - making it the most dangerous local authority for cyclists.

Surrey County Council is now working with Surrey Police, Surrey Fire and Rescue and National Highways on a project named Vision Zero.

It aims to halve all road deaths by 2030 and eliminate them by 2050.

Duncan Knox, a road safety expert for the council, said a number of ideas were being considered.

He said: "Over two thirds of our cycling casualties take place on 30mph speed-limit roads, so we're looking at putting more segregated cycling infrastructure in, either a kerb or a section of wands.

"There's lots of roads that could easily become 20mph, especially where there isn't room for segregated infrastructure."

Plans have been put forward to cut the number of cycling accidents in the county

Keir Gallagher from Cycling UK welcomed the plan.

"We need to stop seeing people dying on our roads as acceptable, it isn't" he said.

"Surrey does have a very high density of motor traffic and a lot of cycling, so I think the important thing is to be looking at how we can get those deaths and serious injuries down while being proactive."