Child cyclists urged to light up and wear bright clothing

Child cyclists are being urged to wear more visible clothing and have proper lights fitted as the clocks go back this weekend for the onset of winter.

Carol Wilkinson, Manager of the Road Safety Education Officer Service, emphasised that children need to be highly visible to ensure that they can be seen by drivers on dark winter evenings.

"As the nights draw in many children will be cycling home from school or taking to their bikes to visit friends in the dark. Darker evenings bring an increased risk to children cycling on our roads," she said.

"We are reminding children and their parents of the need to 'Be Safe, Be Seen'. Make sure that proper lights are fitted to cycles - it is a legal requirement - and that your child wears reflective or bright clothing. The following items provide excellent visibility:

Reflective belts and stickers on jackets and bags; a full white beam on the front and full red beam on the back of cycles; a clean rear reflector; reflectors on spokes and pedals; and reflective tyres. It could save your child's life."

The 'Be Safe, Be Seen' message is being promoted by the DOE and independent retail group, Centra as part of their Cycling Proficiency Scheme campaign.

Centra is including the road-safety message in a brochure being delivered to 450,000 Northern Ireland households this week.

(MB/SP)