Driver banned and appeal denied for close pass on cyclists

unforeseen

[quote=[Deleted User];76432693]But the gap in front of cars on the motorway is often much less than safe (see this thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6062990/distance-between-cars).
That doesn't mean it's a good idea.[/QUOTE]

What has the gap in front of cars on a motorway got to do with the lateral seperation of cars when overtaking on other roads?

Rotor

Marvel1 wrote: »

Example: https://youtu.be/jNixS4Fco74

Red light, lorry in lane to go straight, cyclists in lane to turn left, green - cyclists and Lorry go straight.

Well i was going to , slightly sarcastically, post a long list of youtube videos of cars being driven badly - I think we all know there are literally thousands and thousands of them but decided it was a waste of my time.

The central thrust of your point is one of equivalence ; that cars are driven badly , bike are ridden badly so just the same. But it isn't!

In the same way a spud gun and an assault rifle can , in extremis, cause serious injury so both are guns , both fire projectile so same same really . No, It's the difference in kinetic energy and the level of damage and danger it can cause that informs the penalties for abusing them.

custardy

Heliflyguy wrote: »

Yet I can be in a car travelling up to 25 mph and cyclists will happily pass on my left or right close enough to be considered too close if it were the other way round.

I don't condone the actions of the driver or any that put lives of other road users at risk but unfortunately it seems a lot of cyclist don't like slowing down and staying with the flow of the traffic.

Boom first reply in the thread. Well done.

Rotor

unforeseen wrote: »

In which case 3ft or less is adequate as that appears to be the norm that I see with cars overtaking each other. It is often the gap between traffic in different directions on a lot of roads.

That's one interpretation of 'at least as much room' but is clearly wrong or the many convictions (and several appeals) for this would not have been possible.

Most roads have white line defining the lane it is almost certain a car will cross that line when overtaking another car so why aren't you giving a cyclist that much room?

You may not be prosecuted if you've left 1.5 mts gap but imagine your in court because you've hit a cyclist who has veered 1.5 mts to avoid a big pothole or a gust of wind or a pothole AND a gust of wind.

The court will decide if a 'reasonable' driver using a 'reasonable level of skill' would have overtaken with as much room as they would give a car.

I wonder how you would answer the question 'Why weren't you over the white line?' - Didn't think he needed that much space ; well he clearly did
Didn't want to move too far over in case something was coming - good luck with that one

Why weren't you in the same position as you would be when overtaking a car?

Car_54

unforeseen wrote: »

What has the gap in front of cars on a motorway got to do with the lateral seperation of cars when overtaking on other roads?

The previous poster suggested that because he sees drivers leaving a three foot lateral gap then it must be adequate. I was using an example to make the point that what you see being practised is not necessarily safe or sensible.

FWIW when I was instructing I used to use a two metre gap for passing cyclists. Or, as one colleague taught, a coffin’s length.

peter_the_piper

3ft gap is a problem sometimes. You can be overtaking a group safely and then they decide to change positions and overtake each other, putting the drivers gap to virtually nil. Its not always the driver that's at fault.

unforeseen

[quote=[Deleted User];76433228]The previous poster suggested that because he sees drivers leaving a three foot lateral gap then it must be adequate. I was using an example to make the point that what you see being practised is not necessarily safe or sensible.

FWIW when I was instructing I used to use a two metre gap for passing cyclists. Or, as one colleague taught, a coffin’s length.[/QUOTE]
I'd love to use wide roads where you can give a 2m gap between vehicles and cyclists without both road users riding/driving on kerbs.

Car_54

unforeseen wrote: »

I'd love to use wide roads where you can give a 2m gap between vehicles and cyclists without both road users riding/driving on kerbs.

Nothing to prevent you stopping and waiting, or proceeding at a slow speed.

Marvel1

[quote=[Deleted User];76433500]Nothing to prevent you stopping and waiting, or proceeding at a slow speed.[/QUOTE]

Funny enough I had to this morning, slightly uphill, vehicle in front overtakes cyclist too close are we are approaching the traffic island. I decide to wait until we pass the traffic island, cyclist struggling, i stayed back and must have been doing 2mph-5mph until it was safe and clear.

Jackmydad

peter_the_piper wrote: »

3ft gap is a problem sometimes. You can be overtaking a group safely and then they decide to change positions and overtake each other, putting the drivers gap to virtually nil. Its not always the driver that's at fault.

The trouble with these groups of cyclists in competition with each other is just this. Narrow roads around here with lots of bends, and you can literally drive for miles without being able to pass safely. Then there's a place to overtake, and they start overtaking each other.
I'm all for giving cyclists and anyone else consideration, but it'd be nice if they would do the same.