During this campaign, the police will pay special attention to the provisions of the highway safety code that involve cyclists and drivers, to help reduce the number of collisions involving cyclists.

In 2010, four cyclists died on the island of Montréal, one more than in 2009. On the other hand, despite an increase in the overall number of cyclists, there was a 35% reduction in the number of cyclists who were seriously injured in collisions with motor vehicles.

Both cyclists and drivers engage in dangerous behaviour – it’s a two-way street!

In fact, 50% of collisions that result in death or serious injury to a cyclist are the fault of the driver, and the other 50% are the fault of the cyclist.

Road safety – a priority

Last year in Montréal, 741 cyclists were reported to have been involved in collisions with a motor vehicle, a slight overall increase from the year before. In 2010, four cyclists lost their lives on the streets of Montréal, one more than the year before. The number of serious injuries, however, dropped by 35%, from 40 in 2009 to 26 in 2010, despite the growing number of cyclists on the roads. There were 18 more minor injuries than in 2009, for a total of 711. For the SPVM, these data confirm the importance of continuing our work raising awareness and enforcing control to improve the safety of Montréal’s cyclists.

Causes of the worst collisions between cyclists and drivers leading to serious injury or death:

• Cyclist not stopping at a red light
• Cyclist riding against traffic or ignoring traffic signs
• Driver not yielding right of way when turning at an intersection

Tickets

The 33% increase in the number of tickets issued to cyclists can be explained by the increased number of cyclists in the territory and by the fact that the SPVM has stepped up measures to protect the safety of cyclists by enforcing the highway safety code.

Safe behaviour on the roads

As a cyclist

• Come to a complete stop at a red light or stop sign.
• Ride in the same direction as the traffic, at the far right side of the road.
• Never ride on the sidewalk.
• Make sure your bicycle is equipped at all times with mandatory reflectors, a white headlight and a red tail light, for visibility in the dark.

As a driver

• Come to a complete stop at a red light or stop sign.
• Leave enough room when passing a cyclist.
• Yield the right of way to pedestrians and cyclists when turning at an intersection.
• Before opening the door of a stopped vehicle, make sure you can do so safely.
• When driving off private property to enter the public road, yield the right of way to cyclists riding on the road. 

Fines and demerit points for main infractions — Cyclists

* including fees

Fines and demerit points for main infractions – Drivers

* including fees 

The SPVM encourages cyclists to wear a helmet

Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of head injury by 63 to 88%. Head injuries are responsible for 50% of cyclist deaths and 25% of hospitalizations.

Important links:

Sécurité routière

SAAQ - Guide de sécurité à Vélo - 6^e édition

SAAQ - Pour un meilleur partage de la route

Alternate information

Postes de quartier map

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