Hampshire named as the most dangerous county in the UK for cyclists

New figures from police forces across the country show that cycling enthusiasts are more likely to be injured in an accident in Hampshire than anywhere else.

The data has been compiled by cycling injury specialists Claims.co.uk using Freedom of Information requests submitted to police.

In the past year, almost ten per cent of all injury accidents involving cyclists occurred in Hampshire, with police officers attending a total of 567 collisions.

It comes after Ipley Crossroads in the New Forest was named as one of the worst junctions in the UK for collisions involving cyclists.

In 2017 Kieran Dix, 36, of Eastleigh, died in hospital two months after his bike was in collision with a Vauxhall Zafira at the isolated spot.

Another fatality occurred there in 2012 when fellow cyclist Mark Brummell, 53, of Southampton, was killed in a collision with a Renault Megan.

Last night members of the Southampton Cycling Campaign blamed aggressive driving for many of the accidents occurring in the county.

Jim Probert said: "Drivers in Hampshire seem to hate cyclists.

"I've often been sworn at and have also experienced many close passes. Windscreen washers have been deliberately sprayed at me, mostly in Southampton and the New Forest."

Fellow member Johnnie Dellow described Hampshire as an affluent and busy county which suffered from poor transport links, resulting in over-reliance on the car.

He added: "Congestion and frustration often spills over into aggressive driving.

"Add to this the sheer number of people using their phones while driving. Both this and the aggression need targeting in the way drink-driving was in the 1980s and 1990s."

Last year police across the country attended more than 6,600 incidents in which cyclists were injured in accidents with cars.

Now national organisations such as Cycling UK are urging the government to address the issue.

Cycling UK’s chief executive, Paul Tuohy, said: "Investment in cycling could make a huge and remarkably cost-effective contribution to tackling several of the economic, health and environmental challenges now facing our country.

"The aim must surely be to deliver a strategy that genuinely transforms our communities into clean, safe and attractive places to move around on foot or by cycle."