Why Do Some Cyclists Run Red Lights?

esuhl

Why do so many motorists fail to indicate? Why do they prefer to overtake on blind bends?! Why do they ignore speed limits? Why do they drive drunk?

The standard of driving on our roads is terrible. Driving tests are trivially easy to pass, and the penalties for risking life and limb are so low than motorists simply don't care whether they get caught.

There's a sense of entitlement to driving recklessly. As if, any attempt to require motorists to drive safely is against their human rights!

Just look at the outcry when the revenue generated by speed cameras is revealed! In no other situation would criminals complain that it's "unfair" that they get caught breaking the law! It would be hilarious if motorists weren't killing so many people.

Norman_Castle

anotheruser wrote: »

I am trying to understand something in life.

Why do some cyclists run red lights, and perhaps do other things that contravene the highway code.

I know there's an excuse of some cyclists feet are attached to the pedals, or that it takes a lot more effort to pull off from a standing start, but then a car is the same, with the latter anyway!

So just wondering why some cyclists think it's okay?

Why ask on a motoring board? Only cyclists can tell you why they do what they do. You'll find them on the cycling board.

facade

esuhl wrote: »

Why do so many motorists fail to indicate? Why do they prefer to overtake on blind bends?! Why do they ignore speed limits? Why do they drive drunk?

The standard of driving on our roads is terrible. Driving tests are trivially easy to pass, and the penalties for risking life and limb are so low than motorists simply don't care whether they get caught.

There's a sense of entitlement to driving recklessly. As if, any attempt to require motorists to drive safely is against their human rights!

Just look at the outcry when the revenue generated by speed cameras is revealed! In no other situation would criminals complain that it's "unfair" that they get caught breaking the law! It would be hilarious if motorists weren't killing so many people.

In 2013: 1,713 people were killed in reported road traffic accidents in Great Britain, 2% (41) fewer than in 2012. This is the lowest number of fatalities since national records began in 1926.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-road-fatalities

Pretty impressive since there are loads more cars on the roads since 1927, and the standard of driving is so low. Maybe there is more to this than generalisation can reveal.....;)

Norman_Castle

^ Pretty impressive? 1713 people killed is appalling, not impressive.

Johno100

Norman_Castle wrote: »

^ Pretty impressive? 1713 people killed is appalling, not impressive.

We've still got some of the safest roads in Europe if not the World.

Johnmcl7

Stoke wrote: »

I've seen all kinds of vehicles go through red lights (including myself for which I was punished).

Cyclists probably do it just as much as road users..... you'd have to do some mathematics, but I bet it's close.

It's difficult to measure accurately with so much traffic but I've not seen a measured study with a reasonable amount of coverage show a significant difference in the number of cyclists and drivers. Despite the commonly held belief that most cyclists ignore red lights, this study in London showed only 16% did:

http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/4756/cycling/stats-red-lights/

What is more clearcut is the cause of collisions which is just 4% caused by cyclists compared to 71% by car drivers and 13% motorcyclists. So clearly the more pressing question is why do some car drivers run red lights? However I would expect most car drivers here, like myself do not have an answer as they're not the ones running the red lights and it's a similar story for the cyclists.

John

boliston

I have noticed that both cyclists and motorists regularly run red lights but in a different way - motorists will typically see a light turn amber and decide to floor it through the junction wheras a cyclist will typically check to see if the junction is clear or not before proceeding. There is good reason for this as blindly running a red "motorist style" would often result in instant death for a cyclist compared with a few bent panels for a motorist.

Johno100

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

It's difficult to measure accurately with so much traffic but I've not seen a measured study with a reasonable amount of coverage show a significant difference in the number of cyclists and drivers. Despite the commonly held belief that most cyclists ignore red lights, this study in London showed only 16% did:

http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/4756/cycling/stats-red-lights/

That Tfl study is totally flawed, the reported 84% of cyclists who reportedly didn't 'violate' a red light included those who arrived at the light when it was green, so didn't get the opportunity to jump it.

knightstyle

They do it because they can get away with it same reason as shoplifters, burglars vandals all do it because they know there is very little chance that they will be caught. Plus if they are caught they will only get a slap on the wrist, no proper punishment!

Cornucopia

knightstyle wrote: »

... no proper punishment!

What would a proper punishment be?