So it seems, and by users of this site too.
Car -vs- Cycle Lane incident 😲
- Thread starter Evil_Breakfast
- Start date
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So it seems, and by users of this site too.
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
Although imperfect, the evidence in https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/car-vs-cycle-lane-incident-😲.306971/post-7513104 and its replies seem to directly contradict that. I would welcome whatever better evidence you have, but per mile, older drivers seem to have the worst casualty rate and it appears to remain stubbornly high.
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
In other words, you have no evidence to contradict what has been presented.
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
I think the National Travel Survey should have some data on this. Copilot is not trustworthy.
I'd be surprised because I'm often told the elderly in England rely on their cars and I'm an evil ageist for wanting to take their road space and use it to protect younger cyclists.
midlandsgrimpeur
Senior Member
The serious point first, I am completely in favour of retesting for all drivers at all ages every 10 years, but accept it is impratical and will never happen.
The less serious, based on 800 hours cycling on the road each year (purely anecdotal and my own experience!). Some of the safest drivers in my area are taxi drivers and boy racers. I have a theory that the boy racer thing is that they get their kicks driving fast at 2am so during the day they drive very carefully!
Worst drivers are:
- Clarkson types, 50-70 year old men in beemers, jags etc. Close passes, no indicating, pulling out in front of you when they have clearly seen you approach. Note, not ALL 50-70 year olds, just a certain type hence the Clarkson reference 😉
-SUV drivers on the school run (usually female) also fall into this category.
-Anyone in a vehicle marked 'Highway Maintenance' (they are never actually official HM workers, they have just purchased old vehicles).
Older drivers are generally safe although can suffer from slower reactions and tend to delay pulling out when they have plenty of time, leaving it until it becomes a close call.
The less serious, based on 800 hours cycling on the road each year (purely anecdotal and my own experience!). Some of the safest drivers in my area are taxi drivers and boy racers. I have a theory that the boy racer thing is that they get their kicks driving fast at 2am so during the day they drive very carefully!
Worst drivers are:
- Clarkson types, 50-70 year old men in beemers, jags etc. Close passes, no indicating, pulling out in front of you when they have clearly seen you approach. Note, not ALL 50-70 year olds, just a certain type hence the Clarkson reference 😉
-SUV drivers on the school run (usually female) also fall into this category.
-Anyone in a vehicle marked 'Highway Maintenance' (they are never actually official HM workers, they have just purchased old vehicles).
Older drivers are generally safe although can suffer from slower reactions and tend to delay pulling out when they have plenty of time, leaving it until it becomes a close call.
This is my experience too. There is a massive car and boy (or girl) racer scene around and I do get irritated with them constantly driving up and down my road with very loud exhausts, but when I'm out on the bike, they never cause any problems and they are some of the most respectful drivers on the road. They spend a lot of time getting their cars how they want them and definitely don't want to damage them.
Middle aged men in posh German cars are often very self-entitled and driven fast. My uncle is a Clarkson type and nobody at all should be on the road apart from him.
midlandsgrimpeur
Senior Member
Yes, I think this is spot on. You are right, I think the car being their pride and joy is an essential part of it. It's not my thing, but I respect the care and attention they lavish on their cars, they have a definite passion for it.
Toshiba Boy
N+1er
- Location
- By the beach, West Zummerzet
Yes, would use it myself sometimes on my commute home, 2010 to 2024 (retired last year). You are totally correct AU, really is quite frightening that he drove that far along.
Motorist drives onto cycle bridge at Cambridge Station 2013
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-20932741
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-20932741
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Round here the boy racers drive like theyre in a Fast and Furious movie. They may spend a fortune on their cars, but that doesnt seem to deter them driving like tools.
We have those type too, but they're much more likely to be driving some complete heap of junk they got cheap, probably on NI plates, and will have no tax, test or insurance.
brommieinkorea
Senior Member
- Location
- 'Merica darnit
Why did the police not put the driver in handcuffs and take him to jail? Who cares how old the jerk was ? Let's face it the repercussions for car crimes are laughable, that's why they do it. Has nothing to do with age. I didn't see him has been used as an excuse for premeditated murder for decades and is so commonly bandied about that there are people who believe drivers have vision problems! The fact that the media would refer to the culprit as "vulnerable" speaks volumes as to what is wrong here.
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
They don't usually do that with most crimes unless they believe there is a significant risk they will abscond.
No, they do it because they think they will get away with it. Many studies have shown that the severity of punishment has very little effect on the commission of crime, it is much more about the perceived likelihood of getting caught.
It is very rarely used as an excuse for premeditated murder - apart from anything else, premeditated murder using a vehicle as the weapon is quite rare.
[EDIT]
Deleted my last comment, as I had misremembered it as the victim being described as "vulnerable", rather than the offender.
Last edited:
brommieinkorea
Senior Member
- Location
- 'Merica darnit
Premeditated murder using a car is very common in the UK and USA. The perpetrator isn't charged because the Police know the courts will throw it out.
Driver sees cyclist. Driver thinks "that guy doesn't belong on the road!". Driver hits cyclist from behind or sideswipes him. Driver says "I didn't see him" to the hapless police officer who has to file a report. This is premeditated murder, and the motorist knows he will get away with it, he won't even have to defend himself from dangerous driving or vehicular homicide charges. The felon drives away from the scene, other motorists see this has happened and they now know they too can kill someone at will......as long as they use a car.
Driver sees cyclist. Driver thinks "that guy doesn't belong on the road!". Driver hits cyclist from behind or sideswipes him. Driver says "I didn't see him" to the hapless police officer who has to file a report. This is premeditated murder, and the motorist knows he will get away with it, he won't even have to defend himself from dangerous driving or vehicular homicide charges. The felon drives away from the scene, other motorists see this has happened and they now know they too can kill someone at will......as long as they use a car.
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