Roads getting safer or more dangerous ?

The dangers seem to be people who just aren't thinking about what they are doing. Mostly in towns.

Theres a crossroads near me which seems to be an idiot hotspot, but not due to the cars. Usually cyclists coming straight off the cycle lane and crossing the road when traffic is live and almost getting clipped. Or pedestrians on their phone stepping out and almost getting run over.

I see a lot of cyclists jumping the lights at pedestrian crossings as well. I guess they don't realise the amount of **** they would be if they actually hit a pedestrian on a crossing...
 
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Bald-Eagle22 said:
Oh I'll just add , the idiot cyclist riding 2 a breast , you just deserve to be knocked off.
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Careful with throwing the 'idiot' around. If you're following the highway code, two abreast shouldn't make any difference to you as a car driver.

Highway Code said:
give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car
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Far too many variables to consider to make a less/more safe arguement I think.

  • More cars on the road that 15 years ago
  • Cars are safer than 15 years ago
  • More safety rules and anti-speed measures
  • Cars have better brakes
  • More LHD cars on the UK road
  • More none British citizens, who are not 100% up on UK road Laws and signs

There will be many more but these are just quick one's off the top of my bonce.
 
Everyone should be forced to ride a motorbike for a year or two before they are allowed to drive, as you soon develop a respect and level of awareness that car-only drivers seldom seem to have.

Of course I'm not entirely serious, but I'd bet it would reduce the number of accidents if it was implemented.

Around here (countryside) cycles are less safe as the state of the sides of some of the roads is shocking now, so they're forced out further into the road.
 
OspreyO said:
Because denting your car is more important than killing people. Ok then. :D
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If they are stupid and get themselves killed, then to bad, it was their own fault. Someone has to pay for the damage.

Bald-Eagle22 said:
Oh I'll just add , the idiot cyclist riding 2 a breast , you just deserve to be knocked off.
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Not illegal, but dangerous. Especially when they decide to ride close to the centre and take corners at speed (so their head might be leaning on to the other side of the road).
 
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MikeTimbers said:
I've been driving for over thirty years and the biggest problem I see today is simply the volume of traffic. There's way more cars on the roads and that creates obvious problems.

I also think standards are maybe not what they were but that could be "grumpy old git" syndrome. I routinely see behaviour that makes me think the driver couldn't possibly have passed their test.
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Likewise but >45 years. I have driven some really not very safe cars compared to today's cars. Poorer tyre's, brakes, steering, lack of safety features etc. but cars were easier to maintain and service, most people I knew did a lot of stuff on their own.

Roads were also less safe in many ways, but the traffic volumes did not need the amount of signage, better alignments, cameras and speed limits we have now.

I believe that there was a higher awareness of speed and fewer distractions for the driver, than there are now, limiting the number of accidents. Those that did happen were certainly more gruesome. Higher survival in an accident has reduced the road deaths per thousand vehicles.

Overall I would say less safe.
 
Roads are safe.. it's a combination of the volume of cars on the road and the stupidity of the people that use them that's the problem. IMO, we need have hazard perception tests every 10 year on licence renewal. We need to start reducing the amount of vehicles on the road.., You can go anywhere nowadays without being held up in 1 hours traffic jam. :(
 
The most terrifying things on the road for me are 4x4 drivers. **** me they are dangerous. Seemingly oblivious to the size of their cars they hog the lanes right into the middle and more whilst passing and driving down small roads. Thier crystal blue lights are virtually fullbeaming you in the eyes in both directions.
Sometimes I cannot see the road due to a 4x4 being close. I'm more scared I will cause some damage to someone else because of the intrusive nature of these waste of space-mobiles.
4x4 drivers I hate you.
 
cheesyboy said:
Can't say I've noticed things getting any worse in the 17 years I've been driving.

If anything, people seem a little more courteous - I get let out of junctions and joining into traffic a bit more than I used to.
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Bizarrely, it's the van drivers and truckers who tend to show better courtesy, at least to me anyway.
 
Tefal said:
I do think its time cycalists start getring rbought into line with regulation.

Standards for lights (front/rear), reflectors and at least one mirror
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Yes because it's cyclists with their 10kg bikes that are causing all the significant injuries and not the motorist in charge of a 1.5 tonne chunk of metal. :rolleyes:

We should be encouraging cycling but unfortunately the general attitude of the UK public is stuck in the 1960s when car was king.
 
Liefrich said:
Yes because it's cyclists with their 10kg bikes that are causing all the significant injuries and not the motorist in charge of a 1.5 tonne chunk of metal. :rolleyes:

We should be encouraging cycling but unfortunately the general attitude of the UK public is stuck in the 1960s when car was king.
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They can still cause a lot of damage to pedestrians. Also damage to cars if they crash in to them. Especially the groups I see flying through villages at 30+mph.

Insurance and some kind of registration plate is needed for cyclists now tbh. Proper training on how to use the road is a must as well. It was ok when there were only a few, but now they are everywhere and a real hazard on the road.
 
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Admiral Huddy said:
We need to start reducing the amount of vehicles on the road.., You can go anywhere nowadays without being held up in 1 hours traffic jam. :(
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quoted for truth.
Cycled into work yesterday, took 58 minutes.
Drove in today, took 1h 10.

Distance is ~20 miles.

I havent noticed a change in driving standards but I have noticed a lot more cars on the road. I'm full agreement that driving tests (either pratical or theory) should be every 10 years. It seems mad that someone can pass their test 30/40/50 years ago and be in chanrge of a 2/3 ton car going 60mph. Experience does not mean quality.
 
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Nasher said:
They can still cause a lot of damage to pedestrians. Also damage to cars if they crash in to them.

Insurance and some kind of registration plate is needed for cyclists now tbh.
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How many pedestrians are significantly injured or killed by cyclists per year?
 
Liefrich said:
How many pedestrians are significantly injured or killed by cyclists per year?
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I think you will find almost as many pedestrians are injured by cyclists as by cars every year

In fact I've been hit by a cyclist myself, but never by a car. People don't tend to drive cars on footpaths.
 
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