I am a cyclist. Been cycling on the road since I was 5. I have a lot of sympathy for cyclists accordingly and say the below as a cyclist and not as a driver.
That said, and even before I became a driver, I have always said that the quickest and cheapest way to cut lorry related cyclist deaths is to teach cyclists under no circumstances whatsoever do you go anywhere near the nearside of a lorry. Ever, full stop.
If at all you can help it don’t go anywhere near the offside either. Stay behind it and the chances of something bad happening are very much reduced.
Blind spot cameras etc are not the answer. Just another distraction.
Imo roads are so busy now there should be done kind of adult cycling proficiency test that people are encouraged to go on before they start cycling on the roads.
Think that education is the issue.
Teach cyclists that they must be responsible for there actions.
Just like the girl in leith last week that i nearly went over.
Red means stop. Not go through if on a bike then hurl abuse at the innocent car driver who nearly flattens you in the dark.
She had no lights. And deffo not agency as no hi-viz.
If a cyclists takes responsibility for their actions then less would be injured in accidents.
Might not stop all deaths but would cut them.
Teach folk that the nearside of a truck = death. Then who knows they may just get home alive.
And for the cyclists who read this… i ride a bike.
Having been doing quite a bit of work right in the centre of Oxford recently, I think that cyclists are not taking the risks with lorries as much. Even where there are those green cycle lanes, I’ve only had maybe two or three ride up my inside when I’ve been stopped in traffic. All the others have stayed right back where I had a perfect view of them in the mirror (which will upset Boredwivdrin and his tedious Daf mirror rants). Had a few visibly thank me for staying behind them near junctions, letting them change lanes etc and all this was done driving a vehicle with no FORS stuff whatsoever.
Was at a fors seminar today it’s been rolled out nationwide a few have already signed up in Manchester Newcastle and Brum so only a matter of time before its in cycle friendly Oxford
I think I saw that in comercial motor recently.
It’s a complete joke tell the truth full of self important idiots making a living out of doing nothing.
kr79:
Was at a fors seminar today it’s been rolled out nationwide a few have already signed up in Manchester Newcastle and Brum so only a matter of time before its in cycle friendly Oxford
Some Oxford sites are, the Westgate Shopping Centre is one. The University jobs are meant to be, but the one I go on, can only take 6wheelers with a height under 11’3. There’s three of us that do that job and the newest truck is a 55 plate so it’s not worth the expense of modifying these old motors. If they tell us we have to fit FORS kit and have this daft accreditation, they’ll have no trucks on the job at all.
I don’t suppose there is the slightest chance the tipper driver was actually driving carelessly is there? You know on the off chance, given how they normally get whined about on here for their driving standard.
BillyHunt:
I don’t suppose there is the slightest chance the tipper driver was actually driving carelessly is there? You know on the off chance, given how they normally get whined about on here for their driving standard.
Quite likely if some of my ex colleagues are anything to go by.
The thing is Billy, preventing the issue in the first place is the best way. It goes without saying that as drivers, we must check our mirrors before setting off. As we all know, mistakes get made.
But if the cycle is not down the inside of you in the first place, those types of accident cannot happen.
Why bother to teach them the nearside of a lorry = death. If they can’t take the hint that someone is getting killed or seriously injured every other day from passing a lorry then why would educating them help any?
The problem with not cycling down the nearside of trucks is that’s where those stupid painted cycle lane are, stupid idea painting a line a foot or2 from the kerb and squeezing cyclists between truck large vehicles and the pedestrian crash barrier, this why in general it seems to be young women who are following the highway code are getting crushed under trucks not your Lycra clad road warrior, they’re down the offside and through the red light before the truck driver released the brake.
bertiebus:
Think that education is the issue.
Teach cyclists that they must be responsible for there actions.
Just like the girl in leith last week that i nearly went over.
Red means stop. Not go through if on a bike then hurl abuse at the innocent car driver who nearly flattens you in the dark.
She had no lights. And deffo not agency as no hi-viz.
If a cyclists takes responsibility for their actions then less would be injured in accidents.
Might not stop all deaths but would cut them.
Teach folk that the nearside of ANYTHING = death. Then who knows they may just get home alive.
And for the cyclists who read this… i ride a bike.
FTFY the need is to get it into there heads that to go down the inside of anything is not good for their health then they may well get out of the habit as many do it without thinking though habit
Driving a left ■■■■■■, I have to take extra caution with cyclists as my blind side is on the opposite side to what many road users expect on a UK plated truck. Biggest problem I encounter with cyclists is the ones that decide to ignore red lights. Lost count of how many near fatal collisions I have seen with these lunatics thinking they are invincible to getting slammed by crossing vehicles.
I just feel sorry for the poor sods that have to drive in London, as why demonise people that are bringing you essential supplies every day?
eagerbeaver:
The thing is Billy, preventing the issue in the first place is the best way. It goes without saying that as drivers, we must check our mirrors before setting off. As we all know, mistakes get made.
But if the cycle is not down the inside of you in the first place, those types of accident cannot happen.
I would agree, but this is life. You can no more prevent this type of thing happening than you can stop accidents on the motorway, or stop trucks hitting bridges, or tipping over on roundabouts. Now someone will come along and say they should be separated but believe me, it won’t happen in the first place, and these incidents would still happen. It’s seems to be something in human nature that makes them go out of their way to take risks leading to their deaths.
