A mother says a cycling helmet saved her son’s life when he suffered multiple injuries in a road crash.

It happened at the junction of George V Avenue and Trent Road in Worthing shortly after 7am on Wednesday, May 9.

Pictures from the crash show the cyclist went through the windscreen of a dark coloured Ford Focus, and show the damage to his cycling helmet.

The cyclist, a 19-year-old man, suffered injuries to his arms and legs, while the driver, a 27-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of driving without due care and attention.

It follows a spate of incidents across Sussex in which cyclists have been injured, sparking new safety advice to road users to be aware of their surroundings.

The Argus: The shattered windscreen of the car in the Worthing crash and, right Bricycles campaigns officer Becky Reynolds

The police say that so far in May, two cyclists were killed on the same day – one in Chichester and one in Eastbourne – while six were seriously injured and 11 suffered minor injuries.

Now the mother of the teen rider has spoken out. She said: “Many people think a cycle helmet is not cool, well in my opinion it is the coolest thing on the planet. It saved my son’s life.

“It literally could be the difference between a few broken bones and not surviving. Please, please always wear your helmet.”

Her words have been echoed by PC Steve Creal who attended the incident. He said: “The impact of this collision is clearly evident from the pictures of the car windscreen and the cyclist’s helmet.

“The 19-year-old was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton with serious arm and leg injuries, but had he not been wearing a helmet, it could have been a whole lot worse.”

Police have issued a six-point public safety message to motorists as part of the THINK! Bike campaign.

Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit Chief Inspector Warren Franklin is worried that with the arrival of summer, more cyclists will get in the saddle.

He said: “It is tragic to think that already this month, two cyclists have been killed in collisions on our roads in Sussex.

“Neither of these individuals would have anticipated leaving the house on their journeys and not returning home, and the lasting effects on their friends and family can be devastating.

“Everyone has to take responsibility to ensure the safety of themselves and other road users.

“Motorists should be aware of their surroundings by regularly using their mirrors, and paying particular attention at junctions and traffic lights.

“It’s also vital to check your blind spots, a quick glance could save a life.”

Bricycle campaigns officer Becky Reynolds has welcomed the public safety warnings but she is concerned that the number of injuries in Sussex is rising.

The Argus: Bricycles cycling campaigns officer Becky Reynolds

She said: “Road users need to give their road their total attention. There are so many crashes where drivers don’t see cyclists.”

Bricycles is calling for improving road design, and spending money to make cyclists and pedestrians safer, plus more police enforcement.

For more information visit www.bricycles.org.uk.