FOI 1923 - Tweet re: Runcorn Fire Station

I would like to request information regarding the tweet put out on September 16th, 12:02 by Runcorn Fire Station  '@RuncornFS'.

What review process was in place to ensure the accuracy of the advice presented? - The data contained in the post’s text is accurate and was supplied by our organisational intelligence team using STAT19 and Department of Transport data supplied by Cheshire Police.  The image to accompany the text originates from the USA and was found and used in good faith by one of our frontline teams, to illustrate the message.  Teams that have local social media accounts have been reminded about the important of checking the accuracy and provenance of information they post online.

 What was the intended purpose of the tweet? - The tweet was posted in support of our vulnerable road users month campaign, a national campaign linked to the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) road safety calendar.

 What road safety groups or organisations were consulted in its creation? - No organisations were consulted in the creation of the post.  It used STAT19 data and Department of Transport data verified and supplied by Cheshire Police.  More generally, our road safety team works closely with many road safety groups and organisations and cascades information to staff.

 Of the 27 fatalities listed, how many were directly related to failing to wear a helmet, wearing headphones, wearing reflective gear, failing to stay visible, the cyclist not obeying the highway code or the cyclist not wearing a high Viz? - There were 27 fatalities on Cheshire roads, not all were cyclists and this is clearly written in the post. There were 2 cyclist fatalities in 2021.  It was reported that “Cyclist wearing dark clothing at night” and “Cyclist – loss of control” were very likely to have been contributory factors to one of the incidents.

 Of the 289 serious injuries to cyclists, how many were directly related to failing to wear a helmet, wearing headphones, wearing reflective gear, failing to stay visible, the cyclist not obeying the highway code or the cyclist not wearing a high Viz? - There were 44 serious cyclist casualties in 2021.  

Below shows a list of causation factors that were considered very likely (by the reporting officer), to have contributed to the collision that resulted in pedal cyclist serious injuries.   The post itself presented the information: “in 2021, 27 people were killed and 289 seriously injured on Cheshire’s roads” and didn’t state there were 289 serious injuries to cyclists.