Hull City Council, Humberside Police and Safer Roads Humber will be undertaking a pilot education and enforcement session for cyclists at an East Hull junction next week to help reduce accidents and improve safety.
Last summer, four red light enforcement cameras were installed on the approaches to the Holderness Road and Mount Pleasant junction, using £240,000 of funding from Safer Roads Humber, to help reduce crashes at the junction, which is consistently in the top five worst-performing within Hull for recorded personal injury collisions.
Over the past five years there have been 23 recorded collisions, eight of which were because of “disobeying automatic traffic signal”.
The technology also incorporates ‘speed on green’ enforcement to tackle drivers who travel through the junction in excess of the speed limit.
Enforcement action against motorists breaking traffic regulations started in September 2024 and now the three organisations have used the unique opportunity presented at this location to pilot a new approach to roadside engagement with cyclists, with the aim of educating them about the need to adhere to traffic signals and to ride in accordance with the law, including cycling with lights between sunset and sunrise and how wearing hi-vis can help them stay safe and stay seen.
Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, roads and highways at Hull City Council, said: “The new cameras at the junction have started to have an impact and we are seeing a reduction in the number of incidents involving motor vehicles. However, we are aware that many cyclists are riding through the junction when the lights are red. This is extremely dangerous, not just to those committing the offence but to other road users as well.
“To ensure everyone’s safety and help us build safe and welcoming neighbourhoods, we are committed to eliminating collisions and deaths on Hull’s roads. No matter what mode of transport we use, we must all follow the Highway Code when out on the city’s network.
“This issue isn’t just being faced in our city, it is a national problem, but it is one that we and our partners take seriously and that is why we are taking a proactive approach.
“This pilot session will allow us to provide cyclists that are stopped with the opportunity to be given advice at the roadside, sign up to our adult cycle training programme or, where needed, face enforcement action.
“If the session proves successful, it could be rolled out to other locations identified as a problem within the city to help change people’s behaviour.”
Ian Robertson, partnership manager at Safer Roads Humber, said: “It concerns me the number of cyclists putting themselves and others in danger by not following the rules of the road.
“We all have a part to play in reducing casualties across the region and cyclists can help by being bright and visible during the winter weather, using bike lights and stopping at the red light.
“Motorists need to ensure that they give cyclists plenty of room, especially when passing them, and be patient at junctions in order for the cyclist to safely pull away.
“We all need to share the road.”
Local neighbourhood inspector, Jo Harvey, from Humberside Police, said: “We remain committed to working closely with partners at Hull City Council and Safer Roads Humber to ensure that our highways are safe for all that use them.
“We will be out and about in the area with partners, offering safety advice to cyclists and other road users to help reduce the risk of a serious or even fatal collision at this very busy junction.
“I urge everyone to please always follow the Highway Code and be considerate of other road users when you are travelling through the city.”
