“Poll after poll has shown that the biggest reason for people not wanting to cycle is perceived danger. And anyone who has dared to ride a bike on unprotected roads will soon discover that a large part of this danger comes from pure illegality, not least the vast proportion of drivers who speed, especially on residential roads.
This neatly leads us to the other factor highlighted by the report, and its reaction to it: the howls of outrage if people politely suggest that people could perhaps be less of a danger to others when they drive.
Before the report’s launch, the only one of 10 recommendations highlighted in the media was the idea of removing the so-called tolerances in speeding offences, whereby you can currently go about 10% plus 2mph above a limit and not be penalised.”
The link to the parliamentary group report (.pdf file) is here.
This reminds me of two recent posts that I got involved in here.
The first was about Wales’ upcoming 20mph zone, where people were complaining that “they’re just trying to generate revenue”. Well, only if you decide to break the law, surely?
The other was a discussion on the cyclists who were “caught” speeding in Devon. Drivers were outraged and wanted cyclists to adhere to the speed limits (good luck without a speedometer). But they would get apoplectic when you suggested that they should do the same.
As a cyclist it always strikes me that we probably don’t need any new laws to make the roads safe, we just need the current laws to be enforced and obeyed. If every driver gave every cyclist 1.5m of space, priority at junctions, kept out of the cycle lanes, etc. as they’resupposed to then the roads would be a lovely place to cycle.
Motorists Break Law To Save Time, Cyclists Break Law To Save Lives, Finds Study
From your link:
“Beanland’s study concluded that “cycling experience is associated with more efficient attentional processing for road scenes.” She suggested that road safety would be improved for all if more motorists also cycled.”
I suspect they’re right.
Before I took up cycling I also used to review my car dashcam footage and reflect on what could have been done better.
I lived in the Netherlands for a few years. One of the main reasons I believe it is such a safe place to cycle is that basically every motorist is also a cyclist.
A similar trope is tossed around in motorcycling communities.
(Supposedly) Motorcyclists make better drivers, not only in themselves but also in their friends, family and neighbours by virtue of awareness “my neighbour Jim is a motorcyclist, I should look out for him when I’m driving”.
Some groups are advocating that the CBT (basic motorcycle training) should be a requirement for new drivers to capitalise on this.
Some level of mandatory other-road-user immersion requirement could be a good way a good way to boost safety.
Fuck, driver licensing is too relaxed anyway, bring in mandatory retesting and increase the skill requirements gradually. Literally force the shit drivers out of their cars. You do it for commercial/heavy vehicles why not personal.
I think the car driving test now is actually quite good and can be difficult to pass but once you pass (potentially at 17) then that’s it. There’s no requirement to keep those skills up, learn about law changes, no further tests, just nothing. Accountants, doctors, lawyers, social workers etc are all required to keep up professional development annually and usually have to submit an annual declaration with a certain number audited. Driving a literal killing machine centimetres away from children needs nothing extra.
My suggestion would be the government and insurance companies develop an optional extra certificate like the pass plus but something you do regularly, needs you to pass tests under new laws, and to prove safe driving somehow. You pay for but it gives a discount on insurance to make up for it. I would go for this. I am hesitant about having a tracker on the car even though I drive very safely.
I believe the secret sauce is empathy.
That’s a huge part. A lot of people just can’t put themselves in others shoes unfortunately
Or they could at least make cycling awareness part of driver’s training.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=4SgtlwTGAz8
Same guy, same publication a year prior found that not only do cyclists break the law for different reasons, they also do it less frequently than motorists.
About 20 years ago, I was caught by a copper using a radar gun and was ticked off for speeding on my bicycle. I admit, I was just having fun. But yes it was dangerous.
He was mainly tickled ar the idea of being able to charge someone with ‘cycling furiously’. He didn’t just told me off
I’ve found myself dragged into online conversations several times over the years regarding speed limits in Royal Parks, especially Richmond Park which is notorious for its rat running drivers.
Motorists always managed to work themselves up into a frenzy over “speeding” cyclists, no matter how many times it was pointed out to them that in the park the speed limit applies to motorised vehicles only. Cyclists could not possibly be speeding as there was no speed limit applicable to them on those privately managed roads.
They have been given out tickets to speeding cyclists for a while now, at least according to a friend who cycles a lot, so I think it applies equally but is just exceptionally harder to enforce. You need multiple police officers physically stopping and giving tickets.
That sounds silly. Why on earth is that duality in place?
I don’t know. Maybe because as a rider you cannot be expected to know your own speed without a speedometer, maybe.
Still, given that this is the rule and it’s well documented and publicised, it’s a bit boring to having to explain to yet another gammony armchair warrior on those forums. So I stopped going there.
Interesting. I’m pretty sure that those light-up speed-check signs pick up cyclists (they’ve picked up me :) ) but whatevs
Enforcement of existing rules would go a long way; the parliamentary group also advises increasing tariffs for breaking the law and tightening the what counts for “exceptional circumstances” when it comes to defence.