info
Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
Highway Code: Just 18% of cyclists believe road safety has improved since changes introduced, research finds
13 views
Skip to first unread message
swldx...@gmail.com
Jan 31, 2023, 1:25:04 AM1/31/23
to
New research has found that just 18% of UK cyclists believe last year’s Highway Code changes have made a positive difference to road safety.
The poll by cycling insurance specialist Cycleplan asked 1,000 regular UK cyclists for their views on the changes and how they have been implemented. Just over half (52%) of respondents were aware that the changes had even been introduced, a similar figure to when the insurer carried out a similar poll in early 2022.
When asked whether they had noticed a difference in road safety at junctions over the last 12 months, only 18% of cyclists said that they felt safer. Around one in 10 (12%) said that junctions have felt more dangerous, while a further 70% said they hadn’t noticed a difference at all.
Just one-fifth of the cyclists polled said they feel safe cycling on UK roads, while 32% have had, or nearly had, an accident in the last 12 months. Furthermore, when asked whether they feel that cycling safety is taken seriously enough by legislative bodies, one in 10 agreed that the UK Government makes this a priority, with 12% agreeing that their local council takes cycling safety seriously.
The Highway Code changes were introduced on 29th January 2022. In a YouGov poll carried out in January on behalf of Cycling UK, 25% of British adults asked were not aware of the changes to the Highway Code. Of those who were aware of the changes, 28% were able to correctly answer the question “how much space should a driver leave when overtaking people cycling at speeds of up to 30mph”.
Cycleplan also gathered anonymous first-hand accounts of the aggression faced by cyclists every day while out riding – a selection of which can be found below.
Cyclist one said: “A motorist drove up close behind me when I was approaching a junction. I had the right of way as I signalled to turn. As I pulled out of the junction, he followed me out and intentionally close passed me. I remonstrated at the motorist for driving dangerously and he then stopped and threatened me.”
Cyclist two said: “Just the other day I was sworn at for indicating and turning right. The motorist was about 30m behind me when I made the move to the centre of the right, he was over the 20 mile an hour speed limit and swore at me as he passed on the inside. The abuse was appalling. There is lack of consideration in both car and cycle users and being cut up is not unusual. Having said that, it’s not all motorists’ fault. I belong to a cycle club and some of the riders are a real liability.”
Cyclist three said: “On several occasions, I have been beeped at by a motorist while cycling safely on my commute to work. There is no reason for this attitude and it scares me every time. Only educating motorists – such as insisting on a regular review of Highway Code to maintain your driving licence, or segregating cyclists in safe cycle lanes – will resolve this for the safety of cyclists.”
https://bikebiz.com/highway-code-just-18-of-cyclists-believe-road-safety-has-improved-since-changes-introduced-research-finds/
The poll by cycling insurance specialist Cycleplan asked 1,000 regular UK cyclists for their views on the changes and how they have been implemented. Just over half (52%) of respondents were aware that the changes had even been introduced, a similar figure to when the insurer carried out a similar poll in early 2022.
When asked whether they had noticed a difference in road safety at junctions over the last 12 months, only 18% of cyclists said that they felt safer. Around one in 10 (12%) said that junctions have felt more dangerous, while a further 70% said they hadn’t noticed a difference at all.
Just one-fifth of the cyclists polled said they feel safe cycling on UK roads, while 32% have had, or nearly had, an accident in the last 12 months. Furthermore, when asked whether they feel that cycling safety is taken seriously enough by legislative bodies, one in 10 agreed that the UK Government makes this a priority, with 12% agreeing that their local council takes cycling safety seriously.
The Highway Code changes were introduced on 29th January 2022. In a YouGov poll carried out in January on behalf of Cycling UK, 25% of British adults asked were not aware of the changes to the Highway Code. Of those who were aware of the changes, 28% were able to correctly answer the question “how much space should a driver leave when overtaking people cycling at speeds of up to 30mph”.
Cycleplan also gathered anonymous first-hand accounts of the aggression faced by cyclists every day while out riding – a selection of which can be found below.
Cyclist one said: “A motorist drove up close behind me when I was approaching a junction. I had the right of way as I signalled to turn. As I pulled out of the junction, he followed me out and intentionally close passed me. I remonstrated at the motorist for driving dangerously and he then stopped and threatened me.”
Cyclist two said: “Just the other day I was sworn at for indicating and turning right. The motorist was about 30m behind me when I made the move to the centre of the right, he was over the 20 mile an hour speed limit and swore at me as he passed on the inside. The abuse was appalling. There is lack of consideration in both car and cycle users and being cut up is not unusual. Having said that, it’s not all motorists’ fault. I belong to a cycle club and some of the riders are a real liability.”
Cyclist three said: “On several occasions, I have been beeped at by a motorist while cycling safely on my commute to work. There is no reason for this attitude and it scares me every time. Only educating motorists – such as insisting on a regular review of Highway Code to maintain your driving licence, or segregating cyclists in safe cycle lanes – will resolve this for the safety of cyclists.”
https://bikebiz.com/highway-code-just-18-of-cyclists-believe-road-safety-has-improved-since-changes-introduced-research-finds/
Brian
Jan 31, 2023, 5:40:28 AM1/31/23
to
swldx...@gmail.com <swldx...@gmail.com> wrote:
> New research has found that just 18% of UK cyclists believe last year’s
> Highway Code changes have made a positive difference to road safety.
How many actually know what the changes are, in particular the ones
> New research has found that just 18% of UK cyclists believe last year’s
> Highway Code changes have made a positive difference to road safety.
relating to road position?
As we have seen, many clearly don’t.
swearing at him when supposedly driving past at over 20 mph.
swldx...@gmail.com
Jan 31, 2023, 6:31:08 AM1/31/23
to
QUOTE: Only educating motorists – such as insisting on a regular review of Highway Code to maintain your driving licence. ENDS
What a fantastic idea!
What a fantastic idea!
JNugent
Jan 31, 2023, 6:51:50 AM1/31/23
to
On 31/01/2023 06:25 am, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
> New research has found that just 18% of UK fairy-cyclists believe last year’s Highway Code changes have made a positive difference to road safety.
And?
Many fairy-cyclists also believe that they are entitled to fairy-cycle
on the crown of the road and never give way to anything or anybody.
The weird things they believe should surprise no-one.
> New research has found that just 18% of UK fairy-cyclists believe last year’s Highway Code changes have made a positive difference to road safety.
And?
Many fairy-cyclists also believe that they are entitled to fairy-cycle
on the crown of the road and never give way to anything or anybody.
The weird things they believe should surprise no-one.
swldx...@gmail.com
Jan 31, 2023, 7:53:05 AM1/31/23
to
Yes I mostly agree with your view regarding personal responsibility, but in actual fact, the mistakes aren't on the user. The only road users that feel the effects of contravention of the highway code (through ignorance or otherwise) are through collisions, and a truly minute proportion might get some action in court if it contributes to careless/dangerous driving, or in a civil claim.
You said that "in practice the Highway code is de-facto how people get the rules", but plainly this is not the case. They might have known and understood the rules relevant to their type of road use when they passed their test (where applicable), but as this survey showed and as Capt Sisko (best Capt btw) said, road users (including cyclists) do not know the rules and they are neither required nor incentivised to.
You said that "in practice the Highway code is de-facto how people get the rules", but plainly this is not the case. They might have known and understood the rules relevant to their type of road use when they passed their test (where applicable), but as this survey showed and as Capt Sisko (best Capt btw) said, road users (including cyclists) do not know the rules and they are neither required nor incentivised to.
Spike
Jan 31, 2023, 8:05:00 AM1/31/23
to
perhaps it is time they were regularly examined on it - the distortion and
lies about what it says are rife in the agenda-driven cycling media.
--
Spike
JNugent
Jan 31, 2023, 8:15:48 AM1/31/23
to
On 31/01/2023 12:53 pm, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
> Yes I mostly agree with your view regarding personal responsibility, but in actual fact, the mistakes aren't on the user. The only road users that feel the effects of contravention of the highway code (through ignorance or otherwise) are through collisions, and a truly minute proportion might get some action in court if it contributes to careless/dangerous driving, or in a civil claim.
>
> You said that "in practice the Highway code is de-facto how people get the rules", but plainly this is not the case. They might have known and understood the rules relevant to their type of road use when they passed their test (where applicable), but as this survey showed and as Capt Sisko (best Capt btw) said, road users (including fairy-cyclists) do not know the rules and they are neither required nor incentivised to.
> Yes I mostly agree with your view regarding personal responsibility, but in actual fact, the mistakes aren't on the user. The only road users that feel the effects of contravention of the highway code (through ignorance or otherwise) are through collisions, and a truly minute proportion might get some action in court if it contributes to careless/dangerous driving, or in a civil claim.
>
_Pace_ your use of the phrase "where applicable", there is, of course,
no "test" for fairy-cyclists.
They are not required to know anything at all about anything at all and
they frequently show that they are in full compliance with that.
swldx...@gmail.com
Jan 31, 2023, 8:16:54 AM1/31/23
to
Unless you are a keen spectator of road safety updates, you may be unaware that earlier in 2022 the Highway Code underwent some big changes. The ‘hierarchy of road users’ was updated in January, updates were made on mobile phone use, and further changes came in July for automated or self-driving vehicles. New Rules H1, H2 and H3 have been incorporated into the Highway Code to confirm the hierarchy for road users and self-driving vehicles.
swldx...@gmail.com
Jan 31, 2023, 8:18:37 AM1/31/23
to
The revisions to the Highway Code also updated rules for motorists in relation to passing cyclists, now recommended at 1.5m if travelling at up to 30mph with more space afforded at higher speeds. Drivers should pass horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles at under 10mph with at least two metres of space (rules 211-215). Many may also have missed the introduction of the ‘Dutch Reach Method’ into the Code, to encourage drivers and passengers to reach across with their other arm to open a door to avoid oncoming cyclists.
The overall goal for the revisions – in theory – is to afford higher protection for the most vulnerable road users.
Using mobile phones
The ban on using handheld interactive communication devices when driving or supervising a learner driver includes all road users. Updated in March 2022, Rule 149 is clear that:
You must not pick up the phone or similar device while driving to dial a number and then put it in the cradle for the duration of the conversation.
You must not pick up and use your hand-held phone or similar device while stationary in traffic.
In my own personal experience, I have seen plenty of drivers do both of these in the past week alone, but how feasible is it for the police to issue fines or penalties every time this scenario occurs? It is unreasonable to suggest every offence of this nature is going to be monitored and punishments imposed. It is also still fairly common to see people driving while texting or changing the music on their phone, despite it now being prohibited.
The overall goal for the revisions – in theory – is to afford higher protection for the most vulnerable road users.
Using mobile phones
The ban on using handheld interactive communication devices when driving or supervising a learner driver includes all road users. Updated in March 2022, Rule 149 is clear that:
You must not pick up the phone or similar device while driving to dial a number and then put it in the cradle for the duration of the conversation.
You must not pick up and use your hand-held phone or similar device while stationary in traffic.
In my own personal experience, I have seen plenty of drivers do both of these in the past week alone, but how feasible is it for the police to issue fines or penalties every time this scenario occurs? It is unreasonable to suggest every offence of this nature is going to be monitored and punishments imposed. It is also still fairly common to see people driving while texting or changing the music on their phone, despite it now being prohibited.
0 new messages