Drivers don't know cycling road rules, quiz results show

A law firm has found that many drivers don't know all the road rules governing cyclists. Only 58 percent of drivers' answers to Irwin Mitchell's online quiz were right, while cyclists overall scored 70 percent.

Set up for the Tour de France, Irwin Mitchell's eight-question quiz has had over 7,000 responses to questions covering topics such as whether cyclists must wear protective equipment; the amount of space needed to pass a cyclist; and which signs and signals apply to cyclists.

Happily, 95 per cent of respondents knew all traffic signs and signals apply to cyclists as well as motorists, but only 43 percent got right a question about when you're allowed to carry a passenger (when the bike has been fitted with additional seating space, it turns out).

Fourteen percent of respondents thought cyclists were obliged to wear some sort of protective equipment.

On average, cyclists got right 5.5 questions out of 8.

The results were released to coincide with the end of last week's Road Safety Week initiative.

Neil Whiteley, a partner at Irwin Mitchell who specialises in serious injuries, said: "The results so far from our Great British Cycling Quiz show there is a need for motorists in particular to be more aware about the rules governing cyclists on UK roads.

"In light of Road Safety Week's theme – and the darker evenings presenting a greater risk to road users – now is the perfect time to raise awareness of that need."

"Often there are issues between road users which may arise from a lack of understanding about the correct approach or rules that apply to each other.

"Cyclists and motorists alike have a lot to consider when they are on their travels, and we hope our findings will help to bring safety to the top of their agenda."

Want to test yourself? Get over to the Great British Cycling Quiz.