More Than’s figures show that insurance claims for injured cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians jumped from a typical one in 10 (10%) to one in five (20%) in recent months.

The insurer says the increase is likely due to more cyclists on the road, as many look to keep fit and avoid public transport during lockdown.

But with car usage now getting back to normal levels, More Than is urging drivers to be mindful that they will be sharing the road with an increased number of cyclists.

An estimated 1.3 million Brits bought a bike during lockdown to keep fit and avoid public transport, according to GlobalData.

The government is encouraging cycling and launched the ‘Fix Your Bike’ voucher scheme last week as part of its strategy to encourage more people to use bikes as part of a plan to tackle obesity.

However, the website where cyclists can register for the £50 vouchers struggled with demand at launch.

Gareth Davies, head of car insurance at More Than, said: “Bike sales have boomed during lockdown as Brits are looking to stay active and avoid public transport. But unfortunately, our data shows this has prompted an increase in car insurance claims for injured cyclists.

“As drivers, it’s really important to take extra precautions now that there are more cyclists on the road. Indicate clearly and give yourself and cyclists plenty of space to manoeuvre so that, if anything unexpected occurs, there is more margin for error. Junctions and blind corners are also hot spots when it comes to accidents with cyclists, so be extra careful and slow down when navigating these tricky turns.

“For cyclists, please wear a helmet and bright or reflective clothing – it could save your life. It is also important to use cycle lanes where possible and be extra wary of the cars around you, giving them plenty of space for overtaking where it is safe to do so. Cyclists undertaking or passing motorists on the left-hand side can also cause accidents, so try to avoid that as much as possible.”