How many cyclists are hurt and killed on poor roads?

15 February 2016

What was claimed

53 cyclists were killed in 2014 due to bad road conditions, up 77% since 2010.

Our verdict

This is wrong. The figures refer to the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured (KSI) in this kind of road accident.

Cyclist deaths are soaring due to badly maintained roads, the Metro reports this morning:

“There were 53 deaths in 2014 attributed to “poor or defective surfaces” – up 77 per cent since 2010”

Metro print edition, 15 February 2016

This is wrong. The figures, released in response to a parliamentary question, refer to the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured (KSI) in reported road accidents on local roads, where an attending police officer judged that the road surface contributed towards the incident.

But of those 53 cyclists, we don't know how many were killed, and how many were seriously injured.

We’ve asked the Metro for a correction.

We can’t sugar coat how difficult this year has been for good information.

News this year has fractured communities, and caused confusion and panic for many of us. No one can control what will happen next. But you can support a debate based on fair, accurate and transparent information.

As independent, impartial fact checkers, we rely on individuals like you to ensure the most dangerously false inaccuracies can be called out and challenged.

Could you chip in to support an accurate and fair debate today?

How many cyclists are hurt and killed on poor roads?

What was claimed

Our verdict

We can’t sugar coat how difficult this year has been for good information.

Related fact checks

Full Fact fights bad information