Cycling UK secures backing to drive road safety forward in Northern Ireland

Cycling UK has successfully bid for its share of a £100,000 pot of funding from the Department for Infrastructure’s Road Safety Grant Scheme. The Driving Forward Road Safety videos will take the message directly to businesses and will be shown to drivers across Northern Ireland from next year.

The charity is one of 14 projects to be granted funds and while many of the other projects are supporting work with young people in colleges and schools, the Cycling UK project will engage directly with motorists to make them aware of actions to avoid when driving around cyclists

The interactive, online video courses for drivers will teach safe driving practices around people cycling. There are three short educational videos targeting close passing, car dooring and driver understanding of cyclists’ road positioning. The course takes around 15 minutes to complete and participants will be asked a few short questions about what they have learnt after each of the three sections.

By engaging with firms throughout Northern Ireland to promote the course, Cycling UK aims to reach those who drive for or as part of their work to reinforce the message of responsible driving and awareness of, and patience around vulnerable road users.

Josh Murray, Cycling UK’s engagement officer in Northern Ireland, said: “Cycling UK is delighted to have been successful in applying for the full sum of £10,000 to produce the interactive video course which will focus on key messages for drivers to help make Northern Ireland’s roads safer for everyone.

“We know businesses want to help to play their part in getting the economy back on track following the pandemic and an engaging video course like this is a great way for drivers and everybody to stay safe on Northern Ireland’s roads.”

Sarah Mitchell, Cycling UK’s chief executive, said: “Cycling UK is working throughout the UK to champion cyclists’ rights and make the roads safer for everyone. I am delighted that within the first year of appointing our first member of staff based in Northern Ireland we have been able to secure this funding to create interactive videos to highlight important road safety messages tailored to businesses and drivers.”

We know businesses want to help to play their part in getting the economy back on track following the pandemic and an engaging video course like this is a great way for everybody to stay safe on Northern Ireland’s roads

Josh Murray, Cycling UK engagement officer

Confirming the awards of funding to the various initiatives, infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon said: “A key priority for me as Minister for Infrastructure is delivering on initiatives that help to improve wellbeing for everyone and encourage safe road user behaviour. In September I launched the Road Safety Grant Scheme which aims to help to engage and empower individuals, communities and organisations to promote and practise good road safety behaviours and encourage participation in safe active travel.

“These grants will support a range of innovative initiatives which address local road safety issues and enable active travel in a safe way.”

She said more than 50 people had been killed on Northern Ireland’s roads this year, and paid tribute to the “valuable role the voluntary and community sector plays” in helping to reduce death and serious injuries on the road.

Any business in Northern Ireland interested in finding out more about the Driving Forward Road Safety initiative can contact Josh Murray at joshua.murray@cyclinguk.org

Cycling UK runs a cycle-friendly employer scheme throughout the UK which accredits businesses that take simple positive steps to support employees to cycle to work. Find out more about how to become a Cycle Friendly Employer.