Be seen and not hurt (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Be seen and not hurt

PC Phil Young Ref: 100576-15PARENTS who let their children ride bikes without any lights face a day in court, the police have warned. A change in the law regarding riding bikes at night came in to force in October and since then officers have been trying to educate the youngsters they stop.

But now PC Nigel Davies, community beat officer for Covingham and Nythe, says they will clamp down on those who refuse to use lights.

And he has warned there could be a serious accident if people continue to ignore the law.

PC Davies said: "If I, as a parent, buy my kid a bike and send them to the shop on my behalf then it is the parent who is liable for the cyclist.

"This should make parents think, 'hang on a minute, I have a responsibility'.

"If you have got a child riding a bike without lights at night time, whose fault is that?

"The parents have a controlling influence over their children.

"They have bought the bikes.

"It's not a threat, it's a wake-up call.

"It's for the parents to realise that they have a responsibility."

Under the new law all bikes used during the hours of darkness should have a rear reflector and front and rear lights.

In a change to the past, flashing lights are now accepted on bicycles.

As well as having the power to take parents to court if their children do not have lights on their bikes, the cyclists themselves can also be issued a £30 on-the-spot fine.

And PC Davies is confident the message will get across.

He said: "For the last month we have been speaking to the kids and telling them this is the law.

"To be fair to the youngsters, many of them have taken notice and got lights.

"And we are going to start clamping down.

"You see it all the time and at some stage somebody is going to get seriously hurt through having no lights."

Coun Chris Van Roon (Con, Stratton St Margaret) has expressed his concern about the number of people riding bikes at night without lights to PC Davies.

He said: "I have been noticing a lot recently just how many kids have been riding bikes without lights.

"It's a serious issue. It can be very dangerous.

"I have the same fears as PC Davies that someone could be seriously hurt.

"Hopefully people will take notice and this won't become a reality."

How to stay safe on the roads...

Each year more than 20,000 cyclists are killed or injured in reported road accidents in this country.

But police say between 60 and 90 per cent of cyclist casualties are not reported.

About one quarter of the cyclists killed, and about one third of those injured, are children.

To help keep your youngsters safe the police have issued the following cycling tips.

Make sure your child's bike is the right size the wrong size will affect their balance.

Get your child booked onto a cycle training course if possible.

Make sure your child wears a correctly fitted cycle helmet.

It's important your child's bike is well maintained. Make sure front and back lights work well, the back reflector is clean, brakes work and tyres are in good condition.

Make sure other road-users can see your child. They must wear fluorescent materials in daylight and at dusk, and reflective clothing at night.

Remind your child that if they have a dynamo on their bike, the lights will go out when they stop.

Make sure your child knows and uses special cycle routes, paths and lanes in your area.

Encourage your child not to wear a personal stereo or use a mobile phone while cycling.

Gareth Bethell