CYCLISTS in Preston could face fixed penalty notices of £20 in a month-long police crackdown of rule-breakers.

Local police will be clamping down on irresponsible cyclists throughout March, checking that they take note of traffic regulations.

The campaign follows the release of figures, which reveal that 70 cyclists were injured on Preston's roads last year.

The police study showed that the causes of accidents are:

Car drivers emerging from junctions, and making other manoeuvres, into the path of approaching bikes account for 31 casualties;

Twenty-two cyclists were hurt as they joined the main road, either from a junction or from the pavement, or after being struck by vehicles reversing from driveways;

Fourteen injuries were as a result of failing to take note of signs and signals, careless cycling and hitting parked vehicles, and losing control or poorly maintaining a bike;

Vehicle drivers and passengers opening car doors on cyclists accounted for four casualties. PC Dave Taylor, of Preston Police's road safety unit, said: "Riding a pedal cycle on the busy roads of Preston is unsafe.

"We would urge cyclists to choose routes carefully and avoid the busy main roads and use the cycle tracks or routes."

Police say cyclists who fail to comply with regulations could face a £20 fixed penalty notice or an appearance before magistrates. A booklet, called A Highway Code for Young Road Users, is available free from the police road safety unit. Send a large sae to Lancashire Constabulary, Road Safety Unit, Lawson Street, Preston.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.