Police issue 43 tickets in cycle safety campaign

More than a third of cyclists stopped as part of a recent police campaign were given infringement notices.

Police patrolled the city on bicycles to promote the message of high visibility and cycle safety as part of the Dunedin City Council's Be Bright campaign.

Dunedin road policing Acting Sergeant Jaimee McDonald said that during the campaign, police stopped 122 cyclists and issued 43 infringement notices.

Those notices were for a range of offences, including failing to stop at a stop sign, failing to wear a cycle helmet, and failing to display a tail light.

''The campaign highlighted that cyclists sometimes did not stop at stop signs and the majority of infringements were issued for this reason,'' she said.

Police could issue a $150 infringement notice if a cyclist failed to stop at a red traffic light.

Other offences resulted in cyclists receiving notices of compliance, meaning they had 14 days to rectify the offence by supplying proof they had bought, for example, a headlight or cycle helmet.

Acting Sgt McDonald said a cycle was legally classified as a vehicle.

''Therefore, cyclists are like any other road users and must obey all the road rules for their own safety and the safety of others.''

The Be Bright campaign was ''extremely well received'', she said.

hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement