What simple solution can you come up with to make roads safer for cyclists?

With so many recent tragedies in the pro peleton we asked Cycling Weekly readers what simple solution they can come up with to make the roads safer for cyclists? We got some great answers, a selection of them are below, presented in association with Decathlon.

What simple solution can you come up with to make roads safer for cyclists? Tell us in the comments section below.

Just enforcing the laws that are already in place will go a long way.

Griffin Schwartz 

No traffic, no potholes, no rain, no wind, no animals, no bends in the road.

Stephen V Cormie 

Rubberise the road so that you bounce off it if you fall. Then I wouldn’t be broken.

Alicia Di Rado Dingsdale 

Simple. Ensure there is a cycling element in the national driving test — not riding necessarily, just awareness etc. Expensive to implement but things change.

My test saw me having to identify three road signs from a flip book — now they have a theory test, so change can happen. Lives would be saved.

Jonathan Patterson 

Make the driving test much harder, so only those with a brain can drive. Make all current drivers take the new test!

Royston Vasey

Safety in numbers. More cyclists on the road will make it safer.

Rodney Pedro 

Create a ‘Drive to Work Day’ where everyone has to leave their bike behind and take the car to work, then maybe some anti-cycling drivers may actually appreciate how cycling can alleviate congestion on the roads.

Brenton Barnard 

The race numbers that we pin to our jerseys should have a backside that says something like ‘pass with care’ or ‘three feet please’ and an arrow in bold colours. Then, when we are done racing, we could flip them over, reminding all motorists of the need for safety.

Todd Richards 

Switch to driverless cars. Drivers kill 1.25 million people per year (WHO statistics, 2010) and are clearly not competent. Program the automated cars with Asimov’s first law of robotics (slightly altered):

“A robot car may not injure a human pedestrian or cyclist or, through inaction, allow a human pedestrian or cyclist to come to harm.”

Ollie Craig 

This will be controversial but here goes: cyclists should be encouraged NOT to wear helmets! I’m sure I heard of a study that had shown that drivers gave cyclists not wearing helmets more space when overtaking, as they perceived them to be more vulnerable.

Mac McDade 

Compulsory ‘giant laser blasters’ fitted to all road-going bikes... to be used by the rider as and when necessary.

Michael McEwan

Use more stop signs at junctions. Too many people try to carry their speed (especially when turning left) onto the next road, meaning they only leave a split second to look for anything/anyone coming their way.

Ian Kitchen

I’ve worked out that if a car is at a junction and is unsure of pulling out, shake your head say no. It works sometimes.

Robert Tracey 

Having to retake a driving test every five years — we all forget what the rules are, and remember what we imagine they should be — even me.

Jackie Fraser 

Watch now: How to ride at night

Put double yellow lines in all cycle lanes. What’s the point of having a cycle lane if you have to ride amongst traffic because of all the parked cars.

Dave Pargeter 

10,000 more police, huge fines, instant impoundment of vehicles, and even long-term incarceration for the most minor of driving infractions. Sound implausible? They do it in the Netherlands.

Erik Van Bommel 

Mandatory GPS tracking in motor vehicles.

Bruce King 

Cute baby mug shots on back of jerseys.

Andy Shaw

Basic respect for (human) life taught at a young age.

Ryan Tocking 

This is very simple. Flying bikes. Thank me later.

Jonny Brownlee