5 Cyclists Down!

[addictfreak]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-10831563

Any members of border wheelers on here?

Let's hope they all make a full recovery.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

SMIDSYOYOYOYOY?

Not trying to make light out of it, just pointing out the ridiculousness of someone managing not to see "you or you or you....". Shows what a very low standard of driving is needed to get a licence.

Passed a ride on the way back from York today...safely in front of a horsebox which was part of the ride forming a rolling roadblock - was impressed by the organisation to preven this sort of thing happening*

*not victim-blaming, just commenting how well organised the York ride was - though most likely arranged with police approval as it was a charity ride

 

[Arch]

Not trying to make light out of it, just pointing out the ridiculousness of someone managing not to see "you or you or you....". Shows what a very low standard of driving is needed to get a licence.

Looking at the report, it says the car swerved into them - which to me (and it's way too early to speculate, on one word, I know) suggests one of two things. 1) the driver was distracted and either drifted out or drifted in and then swerved to overcorrect. or 2) they did it deliberately as a 'joke' that went wrong.

Agree, it's a low standard of driving, but possibly not SMIDSY, more like SMIWPA (sorry mate I wasn't paying attention) or SMIACP (Sorry mate, I'm a complete prick).

How was the run, BTW?

 

[661-Pete]

"SMIDGAF" ?

Hope they're OK all of them. Had the cold shivers about another Abergele when I read this...

 

[magnatom]

Looking at the report, it says the car swerved into them - which to me (and it's way too early to speculate, on one word, I know) suggests one of two things. 1) the driver was distracted and either drifted out or drifted in and then swerved to overcorrect. or 2) they did it deliberately as a 'joke' that went wrong.

Agree, it's a low standard of driving, but possibly not SMIDSY, more like SMIWPA (sorry mate I wasn't paying attention) or SMIACP (Sorry mate, I'm a complete prick).

How was the run, BTW?

Or as this report suggests 3) the car that hit the cyclists was serving because of the actions of another car/driver.

Obviously all speculation at the moment.

My thoughts are with the cyclists. Let's hope they all make a full recovery.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

My guess would be an aborted overtake but as I say, that is only a guess.

Oh and the run went well thanks though due to broken spokes I didn't get to have a pootle around afterwards

 

[numbnuts]

lets hope they all get well soon

 

[Arch]

Or as this report suggests 3) the car that hit the cyclists was serving because of the actions of another car/driver.

Obviously all speculation at the moment.

My thoughts are with the cyclists. Let's hope they all make a full recovery.

Indeed. If broken bones are the worst thing mentioned, let's hope they mend quickly. And you're right, it's impossible to do more than guess on these accounts.

 

[HLaB]

Shows what a very low standard of driving is needed to get a licence.

I know what you mean. I went out with the club and as we were approaching a traffic island WVM pull out to overtake me. there was another dozen or so cyclists in front of me. Thankfully rather than swerving into the pack he chose the traffic island option. Only a guess but It could be that the driver in Carlisle tried the overtake but found it was a bigger/ faster group than they expected and a car on coming and rather than having a head on swerved in on the cyclists. Unfortunately I was a victim on another occasion of such muppet behaviour

 

[longers]

It does sound nasty and could have been worse. Still bad enough though.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

SMIDSYOYOYOYOY?

Not trying to make light out of it, just pointing out the ridiculousness of someone managing not to see "you or you or you....". Shows what a very low standard of driving is needed to get a licence.

A very high standard of driving is needed to get a licence. The lower standard comes afterwards.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Sorry, swerved into the cyclists??? WTF?

If you are going to attempt an overtake you should be making sure it's safe to do so... if, after making that calculation, you then proceed to start an overtake and realise that the object you are overtaking is faster/bigger than you thought then there should be plenty of time/space to simply brake and fall back in behind it...

...unless of course you are an idiot who's tried to overtake in a stupid place such as when you are approaching a bend in the road, or a dip etc.

Muppet driver.

 

[Arch]

A very high standard of driving is needed to get a licence. The lower standard comes afterwards.

I take your point, and you're correct that many people forget it all once they have the bit of paper, but I'm not sure a 'very high' standard is required to pass the test.

I did my test without actually doing a roundabout, for example. And in nice sunny weather. I (and most people) showed my ability to emergency stop ONCE - and with a certain amount of warning, because the examiner tells you that he's about to hit the dash with his clipboard, so you're waiting for it. All in all, you show that on your very best behaviour, you can pass a test. You might be dreadful otherwise.

I didn't even have to do the theory test, I passed before they came in. Although from what I've seen of it, you'd have to be a retarded jellyfish to fail it.

And did anyone else think "oh oh, Citroen Saxo, that'll be some souped up chav...." I hate thinking like that, but I'm afraid it was my first idea...

 

[thomas]

And did anyone else think "oh oh, Citroen Saxo, that'll be some souped up chav...." I hate thinking like that, but I'm afraid it was my first idea...

Or dopey teenage girl driver.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

The test is purely a test of an ability to drive at the most basic level of competence

I know after I passed my test, 17 years of age, I could have been in the papers and banged up for what would have been a horrific incident. Approaching a pedestrian crossing, at 35 in a 30, lights changed to green so I floored it down the nearside lane and past the waiting traffic. About a foot from the pram pushed by the woman still crossing.

I passed my test first time, and could drive well (or at least cautiously) when I wanted to (if I picked up relatives or adult family friends they commented on how I wasn't a hothead and how sensible I was). At other times I was a bloody idiot and a menace - and I don't think I was in the minority of my age group at the time.

The pram incident had a definite impact in calming my boy-racer tendencies and I like to think I am a far more responsible driver 18 years on...the point being that the test measures the ability to pass the test and nothing more - it is certainly no measure of fitness to be in control of a vehicle. Although I am not sure how one would accurately measure that fitness