A MOTORCYLIST has called for motorists to watch how they drive after nearly being knocked off her scooter three times at the same roundabout.

Teri Cox, of Hayburn Road, says she won’t be bullied by drivers who cut her up at the roundabout where Ferndale Road meets the Great Western Way, after three separate incidents in recent months, including one on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old, who works as an administrator for a company based at North Star House, rides to work every morning.

She says cars are using the right-hand lane approaching the roundabout to beat the queues, before swerving across her and turning left.

“Something needs to be done because eventually there’s going to be a serious accident and someone’s going to be killed,” said Teri.

“I am eternally grateful that I have got such fantastic brakes on my bike. I have got a silver scooter and a red helmet so there’s no way they can’t see me. It’s not like I blend in.”

Teri complained to the police about the near-misses, but was told nothing could be done unless there were multiple complaints about a single road-user.

She also spoke to the Highways Agency and is waiting for a response from Swindon Council’s traffic management team.

“I have been passed around and passed around,” she said.

“There need to be more bike awareness campaigns. We are about, we are not a myth, we do exist.”

The Government’s Think Bike campaign features TV and radio adverts plus posters encouraging car drivers to be more aware of motorcyclists, but Teri says they aren’t high profile or regular enough. She is calling for new road markings on the roundabout.

“At the very least they could put markings on the road to point out that if you are in this lane, this is the direction you should be going,” she said.

A council spokesman said they would be contacting Teri to discuss her concerns, although looking at the road it was hard to see what more the council could do.

“It should be quite clear to any driver approaching the roundabout that they need to be in the left-hand lane to turn left, so this is probably down to bad or selfish car driving,” he said.

“Anyone who uses two-wheeled transport will have tales of car drivers who simply don’t give them enough room or fail to see them altogether.

“It’s why safety campaigns to educate drivers about cycles and motorcycles run on an almost constant basis, but sadly the message doesn’t always get through.”

Teri, a lifelong Swindon resident, was knocked-off her scooter, the same 100cc Yamaha Neos, a few years ago in Gipsy Lane.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “It is the responsibility of all road users to remain vigilant and respect others using the road.

“When approaching a person riding a bicycle, it’s important to adjust your speed accordingly and treat that person the same way as someone driving a car.”

According to government figures, motorcyclists are 50 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in serious or fatal crashes than car drivers.

Bikers are just one per cent of total road traffic, but account for 22 per cent of all road user deaths.