Background

Perception of danger remains the most significant barrier to more people cycling and a major barrier to walking. To ensure safe road use, it is essential that road users comply with road rules to take responsibility for the safety of themselves and others.

Data emerging from polling highlights significant gaps in public awareness of safe behaviours to protect vulnerable road users. Through this evaluation the aim was to gain a more comprehensive understanding of existing knowledge and understanding of relevant guidance and regulation – including knowledge of highway code, interpretation of infrastructure design, road markings and signs.

Working with Living Streets, the aim was to understand how the hierarchy was understood to support all users, from people cycling taking responsibility for those walking and wheeling and ensuring that people using vehicles with greater regulation and licencing requirements understand their responsibilities to all vulnerable road users.

In 2023-24, Cycling Scotland supported 70,000 people across Scotland with direct access to National Standard training, and related training outcomes for other road users. These courses have been positively evaluated against their intended outcomes. In undertaking this review, it is possible to identify gaps in the course content or clarification of priority messages to ensure that more people receive relevant and appropriate education to support safe road use.