No lights at night and wearing black

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BentMikey

Rider of Seolferwulf
Location
South London
I don't sympathise with the cyclist either, and I had a little chuckle at her rant at the OP when it was so clearly wrong. OTOH, you can't say she endangered everyone around her - how exactly was she going to be any threat at all to the OP in his metal cage?
 

gbb

Squire
Location
Peterborough
BentMikey said:
I don't sympathise with the cyclist either, and I had a little chuckle at her rant at the OP when it was so clearly wrong. OTOH, you can't say she endangered everyone around her - how exactly was she going to be any threat at all to the OP in his metal cage?

Just a theory BM. Its not beyond the realms of possibility that a driver at speed swerved to avoid her and either crashed his car, or worse still collided with another car head on. You could be looking at multiple injuries or worse. People minding their own business...dragged into a possibly fatal accident because of the stupid decision of another.

Not likey to be fair....but sh1t happens.

If i'm honest, i used to cycle without lights on occasions when i was younger. Usually age matures us and you start to realise the possible consequences of your actions (to yourself, and others). Not in this womans case obviously :angry:
 

BentMikey

Rider of Seolferwulf
Location
South London
gbb said:
Not likey to be fair...

Exactly.

Not only not likely to happen in the first place, but extreme consequences are also extremely unlikely even if it did happen. Besides which, when I learnt to drive recall being told to minimise swerving to the limits of my control of the car, and my own limits. It's the classic case of don't swerve for a stray dog and as a result kill pedestrians on the pavement.
 

gbb

Squire
Location
Peterborough
BentMikey said:
Exactly.

Not only not likely to happen in the first place, but extreme consequences are also extremely unlikely even if it did happen. Besides which, when I learnt to drive recall being told to minimise swerving to the limits of my control of the car, and my own limits. It's the classic case of don't swerve for a stray dog and as a result kill pedestrians on the pavement.


Ahhh, if only everyone was perfect. What a wonderful world it's be. :angry:

You're party right, but this time we're talking about another person, not a dog. Personally, (and god forbid) if i found myself in that position and it came between hitting a person (ped or cyclist) or a car...i'd choose a car. It can be repaired. The person is unlikely to be.
This brings on another point...it's scary how when you're cycling and someone cant wait to get past, they'll come closer to you than the oncoming car. You'd do less damage to their car must be the logic...scary :biggrin:
 

gbb

Squire
Location
Peterborough
BentMikey said:
Exactly.

Not only not likely to happen in the first place, but extreme consequences are also extremely unlikely even if it did happen. Besides which, when I learnt to drive recall being told to minimise swerving to the limits of my control of the car, and my own limits. It's the classic case of don't swerve for a stray dog and as a result kill pedestrians on the pavement.


I hate getting into these discussions, it must seem i'm quite argumentative :angry:...but.......
Extreme outcomes do happen. Different circumstances, but the outcome was similar to my theory, and extreme.

These incidents are known to me and happened to good friends.
A friend of mine was returning from a football match a few years ago. Driving along the A52, good straight road, not much traffic. An oncoming car swerved across the road, sideswiped my friend, he lost control and put the car in a ditch. Hospital followed for him and his 8 year old son. By the grace of god they were lucky...very lucky. He'd been doing about 60mph...and was run straight off the road. The car was written off. The other driver didnt even stop.
The reason ? who knows, maybe the driver was on the phone....in different circumstances, he could have swerved to avoid an unlit and unseen cyclist.

Another guy i know has quite severe scarring to his face, neck and shoulder. Driving on the A1 one day...he never knew what hit him. He woke up in hospital several days later and had major surgery to repair his face etc.
Apparently, a car on the other carriageway swerved across and hit him straight on. He didnt know it...never saw it coming, probably just as well.

The reason ? who knows, maybe the driver was on the phone....in different circumstances, he could have swerved to avoid an unlit and unseen cyclist.

Two cases where a set of extreme circumstances have impacted on a totally innocent person, because of the actions ( or inaction) of others.

Anyway...bogger it, i'm bored :biggrin:
 

BentMikey

Rider of Seolferwulf
Location
South London
But neither of those involved a cyclist. It seems a bit futile to try and prove that cyclists pose danger to car drivers, because they simply don't.
 

martynjc1977

Veteran
Cyclists don't pose a physical threat to car drivers however if this cyclist had been hit by the OP there could have been psychological damage to the driver, and this can have serious long term effects. At the heart of this matter- The cyclist chose not to have lights and ride on the road, they chose not to respect there fellow road users by not following the law, the end result of this could have been very serious for both the OP and the cyclist.
 

summerdays

Cycling in the sun
Location
Bristol
What would you think of a car with no lights on?

Yes you can hear it etc, but surely the best way is to cycle/drive in a manner which gives the other road users plenty of notice of your presence and intentions. Last minute awareness of another road user, usually leads to complications.
 
User3143 said:
Not to mention being charged with driving without due care and attention

Talking out of your behind there Lee, do you really imagine that if there had been a collision because a driver pulled out on a cyclist without a front light that the plod would have charged the driver?
 
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