Its getting stupid now:

Rolandtheroadie

Indout96 wrote: »

As an ex motorcyclist (albeit 28 years ago) I am still amazed at how long it takes most car driver to see a hazard in front of them, maybe all car drivers need to have bike licences first ?? bit impractical but I'm sure it makes me safer.

I have always been an observant driver, and I'd also say a good driver. I also done my motorbike test a couple of years ago. At the end of the day, motorcyclists are the most vunerable road users out there (that have to pass a driving test that is).
The training is far superior to car training due to this fact.
We HAVE to allow for everyone elses shortcomings, predict and avoid them, assess road conditions more than a car driver, plan exit strategies for when it all goes wrong.
What we need is a total restructuring on the education of people learning to drive with regards to other road users.
A sort of Compulsary Basic Training for drivers (instead of the useless theory test). Provided at school for younger learners but older learners shouldnt get off with it either. Maturity may stop stupidity, but it doesnt stop poor driving.

diddlydum

DCodd wrote: »

As a driver and a cyclist I would like to point out three things.

1) most roads do not have cycle lanes and I have actually been told to get back on the dual carriageway and off the pavement by the police twice now on the A217

2) If the cyclist is in front of you then they are not in your way but you are OVERTAKING THEM!

3) if the cyclist is wearing anything lycra then they will more than likely be a self-centered, brain-dead Moron with absolutely no road sense and a deathwish to match!!!!!!

1. This road does have a cycle lane on the pavement, clearly marked out with lines and signs. The council deliberately built the cycle lane because of the number of cyclists getting hit.

2. Not when they come careering down the outside of a long line of traffic, only to dive to the inside because they think it will be quicker. They're overtaking me.

3. Definitely!

I don't think I'm a fantastic driver, I'm quite young and I've only been driving for about six years. But I know how to lane discipline and I know how to see most dangers before they happen.

On a random tangent, anyone who drives fast behind or past horses deserve to be shot.

DCodd

diddlydum wrote: »

1. This road does have a cycle lane on the pavement, clearly marked out with lines and signs. The council deliberately built the cycle lane because of the number of cyclists getting hit.
QUOTE]

On the main drag from Banstead to Reigate (9 Miles of dual carriageway and the main route to the M25) there is no cycle lane at all and the Police are very active in getting cyclists to go off the, practically unused, pavement and on to the road.

sunnyone

I was driving my son to school this morning and a group of cycleists were coming to a stop at a junction in front of me, I had right of way and the speed limit was 60.

Due to privious experiances with cycleists I slowed down considerably and it was a good job I did because the rear cycleists ran into the front cycelists, pushing then into the path of my car. I avoided them because I was doing under 30 but they seemed to think it was my fault, from there jestures.

My heart took ages to slow back down and I dont know what would have happened if a car was coming in the opposite direction.

sunnyone

Idiophreak

sunnyone wrote: »

My heart took ages to slow back down and I dont know what would have happened if a car was coming in the opposite direction.

Presumably you'd have come to a stop?

If you couldn't have done so, you would have been going too fast...

Idiophreak

diddlydum wrote: »

On a random tangent, anyone who drives fast behind or past horses deserve to be shot.

Most of them are just city types, who read something about horses in the theory test book 20 years ago, went "HA! who rides horses in the 1980s!!?" and promptly forgot anything they ever learnt about how to approach them.

It's just ignorance, they don't understand how dangerous it is.

almillar

If so many people are emulating Top Gear, where are all the big curly haired men with tight jeans?
As has been mentioned, the fast car stuff happens on their track, not the open road. This is about being responsible for your own driving, as has been mentioned. This is what the licence is for - you have to prove that you have the skills (and attitude a bit) to drive a car on the public highway.
I don't think a test every 2 years is feasible, I've always said that every time you want a new licence, you should do a test. This is 10 years for most people, unless they lose theirs, or more often for pensioners I think.
Cyclists on the road - how clean is the cycle path? Full of glass/rubbish/potholes/car parts?

Rolandtheroadie

Idiophreak wrote: »

Presumably you'd have come to a stop?

If you couldn't have done so, you would have been going too fast...

EH? We all now have to travel at such a slow speed that we can stop for traffic coming the other way as well?
Say i'm doing 55 in a 60 zone. Car coming towards me gets a blowout 50 yards from me and swerves onto my side of the road? I should be able to stop before a collision happens?

A 20 year old theory test book, thats a good one too.

sunnyone

Idiophreak wrote: »

Presumably you'd have come to a stop?

If you couldn't have done so, you would have been going too fast...

I slowed to below half the speed limit on a major national speed limited road while some pillocks in lycra where stopping at the junction from a minor road, which has a stop sign and its my fault that the front ones were pushed into the path of my car?

Get real and read the highway code, it does apply to cyclist, though you wouldnt know it most of the time.

sunnyone

pogofish

nomoneytoday wrote: »

Maybe people should take responsibility for their own actions, instead of trying to blame a telly programme...

This, or other road users (within reason), with knobs-on!

Our own saftey on the roads is largely in our own hands IMO. Each & every one of us.