Drivers warned to take extra care around young cyclists learning the rules of the road

With primary school bairns out and abouton some of Orkney's roads as part of the Bikeabilitycycling proficiencyscheme, drivers are being reminded to take extra care and to slow down.

The Council's Active Schools Co-ordinators are Bikeabilitytutors and have experienced some motorists driving inappropriately around the young cyclists on the roads.

They have raised concerns with Police Scotland around driver behaviour - particularly when passing the young cyclists - with drivers going too fast, not giving enough room, or failing to waitfor a safe passage.

Active Schools Co-ordinator, Catherine Johnson, said the Bikeabilityteam will be out with pupils from Papdale Primary School this week and she has urged drivers to take extra care now and in the coming weeks.

"At the heart of the Bikeabilityprogramme is teaching children to ride their bikes safely and competently on our roads. We need them to be aware of all vehicles around them, but we also need drivers to be very aware of our young cyclists, especially as they are just starting out and learning how to navigate safely on our roads and at junctions.

"We have already found some drivers to be going too fast when passing our cyclists and to be driving too closely to them. Another worrying example is of drivers passing through the middle of cyclists on either side of the road - please just wait afew extra seconds to make sure you can pass safely and without causing unnecessary fear to the newly learning cyclist, or worse still cause an accident."

Police Scotland Inspector David Hall, based at Kirkwall Police Station, said: "This is a fantastic scheme designed to give young folk the skills and confidence to ride their bikes on our roads.

"We would like to remind drivers to take extra care when manoeuvring pastthe young learners, as any inconsiderate and erratic driving can be very unnerving for the cyclist.

"If we are expecting our young cyclists to learn and behave appropriately on our roads, then at the very least we would expect drivers to do the same."

Any concerns should be reported to the police on 101.