The World Briefs’ snippet Cyclists Jump Red Lights (May 17) is misleading.

Firstly, while 57 per cent of the 1,600 UK cyclists polled had admitted to jumping red lights at least once, compared to 21 per cent of car drivers, it was only 14 per cent of cyclists and 31.8 per cent of drivers who did so more regularly. While occasionally running red lights was higher for cyclists, who stated that they did this because it felt safer to do so to get ahead of other traffic at junctions, regularly running red lights was higher for car drivers and it should be noted that 94 per cent of cyclists had experienced a driver crossing an advanced stop line (designed to protect cyclists). This is similar to jumping a red light.

The UK has a greater problem with cyclists getting “left hooked” or crushed by HGV traffic at junctions and 48 per cent of UK cyclists felt that poor road layout and junctions were a serious safety concern. Even the UK’s Institute of Advanced Motorists’ chief executive Simon Best stated that cyclists are right to feel that roads are not cycle friendly enough and that this tended to dictate the way that they ride, noting that poor junction design, inconsistent cycle paths and inconsiderate drivers put cyclists at risk.

However, this did not give them the right to jump red lights. Forty-three per cent of cyclists said they would be less likely to jump red lights if advanced stop lines were better enforced, something Mr Best also agreed with.

The Bicycle Advocacy Group would like to point out that this study was in the UK and that all road users should avoid jumping red lights. To avoid being “left hooked” or disappearing in the blind spot at junctions, as advanced stop lines are a rarity in Malta, cyclists are advised to stop well out from the kerb at junctions so that large vehicles can see them and not be tempted to undertake long vehicles at junctions, which may cut corners and often have as much as a two-metre blind spot all around them.

Conversely, large and long vehicles should avoid overtaking cyclists at or just before junctions if making a left turn and should always make full use of their mirrors to look out for cyclists and motor cyclists.