AMBULANCE chiefs are urging cyclists to take simple steps to avoid trouble on the roads this summer.

West Midlands Ambulance Service is reminding people heading out for a bike ride to ensure they wear a helmet to reduce the risk of a head injury in the event of an accident.

Nick Crombie, medical lead for Midlands Air Ambulance, said: “I can’t see any reason why someone wouldn’t want to wear a cycle helmet, it just makes perfect sense to me doing this job, but whether people do or not is entirely an individual decision.”

Parents, however, should be more diligent about ensuring their children wear a helmet – he said, adding: “Children are not as aware of traffic, they’re not aware of the rules of the road and the highway code as well as adults are, and they end up disproportionately having more cycling accidents than any other age group.”

Cyclists are also encouraged to make sure they keep their bike well-maintained, to always adopt a good position on the roads, wear high visibility closing, have working lights fitted if heading out at night, and respect the rules of the road.