I am quite a good driver I think, and i drive at speeds that are safe for the conditions
Hmm. I disagree with your other comments about cycling more than this point, but . . . . I'm picking up this one 'cos it illustrates the problem very well.
"Self-assessment" by drivers like this doesn't help when the statistics tell us that the thousands of road deaths and more injuries can be correllated with specific driving actions or conditions (eg high speed, alcohol, distance between vehicles, use of lights/indications/belts/handbrake etc.). Its easy for a single motorist to assess themselves as "safe" because hey have not experienced a collission, but that same motorist may actually be in one of the high risk categories on account of their driving style. Sure, they may complete their life without an accident, but the impact of a road death is so severe that any driver whose style is in one of the high-risk categories is NOT a good driver - by statistical analysis (based on actual deaths & injurues) , not by self assessment (based on time before a death or injury).
Sorry! But I can't accept any claim that a driver is safe if its not independently verified. I wouldn't make the claim myself - I'm a very high mileage driver (poss 400,000miles) - I
have had accidents. And I'm very, very vigilant, not fast, etc. etc.
But road vehicles are inherently unsafe.
All of them.
And their drivers.
I cycle in cities often - my style is distinctive, where there is questionable width, then I "take the road" (move into the centre of a lane) in my hi-viz top and keep up a high speed. No one tries to overtake. Similarly, I respect traffic signals. I keep off the pavements and wait for a green. Vehicle drivers seem to treat me as one of their own rather than an obstacle (and of course I am
one of them, too!)
BTW I pay over £500 "road tax" p.a. 'cos I have 4 vehicles. Sadly, I can only drive one at a time (and none when I'm on the bike!)
So if any of us has a "claim" on the roads, then perhaps you'd want to nominate me, rather than yourself!
(no. thought not)
I've got a theory about Edinburgh, that they have a certain number of holes in the road that they just move around the city every now and again. :P
But Edinburgh is a special case. The City makes strategic decisions where to make holes. Currently, the Council is planning several miles of new holes, in the form of very long, straight, narrow slots in the road formed by steel. (as a school kid I used to fear getting by bike "stuck" in a tram track. I thought we'd got over that). In fact this is the ONLY justification I can agree with for taking a bike off the road, and I'm still not persuaded that the tram will definitely appear. (including it travelling along the west Edin cycle-way from Haymarket to Blackhall and beyond)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I don't think you're getting what im on about
this is soul destroying to explain, but a road with a curve, cyclist far left with me in left lane (in other words, unseeable cyclist!) and traffic bumper to bumper not letting me in. there is nothing i can physically do other than crash into them or wait behind the cyclist.
What do you mean by "wait"? If it was a car in front, do you descriube your use of the car's pedals' as "waiting" for them? If it was a bus, truck or JCB, do you tell us "
there is nothing i can physically do other than crash into them or wait" as an intelligent analysis of the options?
'couse not. As a vehicle driver its very simple, you don't use the fuel pedal to the extent that the metal box its connected to will touch the metal box ahead of you. Simple.
Call it waiting if you like.
If I am walking towards a brick wall, I stop.
If I'm driving towards a cyclist, I stop.
If I'm driving towards a bus, another car, a red light, a patrol officer or even a badger. I stop.
If I'm driving towards a pedestrian, or a lake, or a tree. I stop.
And I'm pleased to do so.
(whether I'm driving a car, van, truck or bike)
Why don't you?
What's the problem with stopping or waiting?