Roads getting safer or more dangerous ?

dymetrie · 16 Sep 2016 at 22:33

FrenchTart said:
The sad thing is that I know that a huge percentage of drivers are safe on the road but I have to assume the lowest common denominator.

This is how I drive/cycle/walk.

Assume that everyone else on the road/pavement/verge is an idiot.

adolf hamster · 17 Sep 2016 at 00:59

FrenchTart said:
Or...there are plenty of idiots on the road. Some of them happen to wear lycra. It's no better a stereotype than "lolz Audi drivers".

I suppose thats a great way of putting it, although i wont deny that the majority of idiot driving ive seen has had either an audi or a bmw badge on the front of it, i guess we all have to live with our stereotypes.

It does seem very geographically dependant, the area i live in doesnt have a lot of cyclists (too many hills) so maybe those who do make the effort feel they have a sense of acheivement/entitlement.

Shall we start a new rant?

tractors on main single lane roads in rush hour.......

Gixer · 17 Sep 2016 at 07:16

FrenchTart said:
Or...there are plenty of idiots on the road. Some of them happen to wear lycra. It's no better a stereotype than "lolz Audi drivers".

My my I am people's worst nightmare. I drive an Audi and I also wear lycra when commuting daily on bicycle. I do break the mold a little however as I wear lycra whilst riding a mountain bike kitted out with panniers

Which isn't 'cool' apparently but I'm all about practicality and comfort.

For the 'lolz' I shall try driving my Audi whilst wearing Lycra. If the myth is true I can only but cause pure carnage on the roads with this combo

Nevakonaza · 17 Sep 2016 at 08:24

So,Penalty points and fines to double now eh?

Still not enough to deter imo,It should be an instant driving ban..that will defiantly make people think twice if they risk loosing their licence for say 12 months.

Orionaut · 17 Sep 2016 at 08:24

adolf hamster said:
Shall we start a new rant? tractors on main single lane roads in rush hour.......

I am sure that Tractors are advised to pull over when possible to allow faster traffic to pass if they are causing an obstruction.

Oh yes...

169 of the UK Highway Code:

"Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass."

Tractors not specifically mentioned but this rule could also equally apply to cyclists couldn't it!

adolf hamster · 17 Sep 2016 at 09:03

Gixer said:
My my I am people's worst nightmare. I drive an Audi and I also wear lycra when commuting daily on bicycle. I do break the mold a little however as I wear lycra whilst riding a mountain bike kitted out with panniers Which isn't 'cool' apparently but I'm all about practicality and comfort.

For the 'lolz' I shall try driving my Audi whilst wearing Lycra. If the myth is true I can only but cause pure carnage on the roads with this combo

The only way this could get any worse for you is if you confessed to working as a bus driver and making a bit on the side as a "man with a van" type organisation

Orionaut said:
I am sure that Tractors are advised to pull over when possible to allow faster traffic to pass if they are causing an obstruction.

Oh yes...

169 of the UK Highway Code:

"Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass."

Tractors not specifically mentioned but this rule could also equally apply to cyclists couldn't it!

Technically they should, but theres a 25℅ there that dont even with a mile long tailback.

As for applying to cyclists tbf on good roads i wouldnt consider a quick cyclist to be large nor slow moving.

platypus · 17 Sep 2016 at 10:32

h4rm0ny said:
Yeah, it may be a pejorative, but I know what adolf means. There's a set of cyclists who are staggeringly arrogant towards anyone else in the vicinity. They seem to think they're morally superior to others and almost invariably they are wearing the full lycra get up. As a proportion based on my personal experience, I can encounter such outfits amongst these far more often than I do car drivers or motorcyclists.

I wonder why you encounter more lycra on cyclists than you do motorists? Could it be because its a useful material that helps enhance the sporting experience? Surely not. Instead of using the pejorative, why not label things properly?

My point is that the stereotypes do absolutely nothing to help the debate, and just get in the way. Assume most road users are idiots and drive accordingly.

platypus · 17 Sep 2016 at 10:34

Nevakonaza said:
So,Penalty points and fines to double now eh?

Still not enough to deter imo,It should be an instant driving ban..that will defiantly make people think twice if they risk loosing their licence for say 12 months.

It's nowhere near enough.

kinetic747 · 17 Sep 2016 at 12:32

platypus said:
It's nowhere near enough.

I agree, make it as unacceptable as drink driving, that's the only way to get a grip.

On another note, I see drivers of premium cars Audis, BMW's etc. and they also have the phone to their ear, surely they have bluetooth like my lowly Seat. :confused:

SexyGreyFox · 17 Sep 2016 at 12:58

I have my fair share of incidents on the road and there are zero stereotypes where I live - everybody in a car is a potential murderer.
Don't get me talking about white van drivers - OMG - one incident I can think of and he apologised. In my experience the best drivers on the road when it comes to cyclists*

*On my commute in my area