Arriva bus running me off the road!

Dave_C_2

Googlewhacker wrote: »

A common cause of accidents though is when cyclists pull out without looking into the road....surely if all cyclists had to take a test then this would help reduce accidents as well?

Like many others, I am a driver who also cycles. I had to pass a test to drive the car.

Plus make them all have insurance

Others have responded, also how could this be enforced in the real world? Don't forget that cyclists also include children.

... and a registration plate

Simply doesn't work. Have a look here and it is impractical

Getting back on topic, I used to be a typical cyclist-detesting driver. Then I took up cycling after a very long break and boy did my attitude change! As a cyclist it is a whole different and sometimes frightening experience. As a motorist I now drive very much more "cycle aware" and try not to do things that pi55 me off as a cyclist.

Yes let's have more cycle training, but also as part of the driving test, even more so for HGV and bus drivers.

Dave

fluffnutter

I think it's worth keeping the 'threat' that cyclists pose in perspective. In 2010 there were 1850 car-related deaths. In the same period the number of deaths caused by cyclists was 0.

In fact, there have only been three deaths caused by cyclists in the period 1999 to 2009.

Even taking into account that there are only five million cyclists compared to 38 million car drivers, you're still 243 times more likely to kill someone in a car than on a pushbike. *

* My maths might be a little dodgy. Happy to be corrected