OK tell us something we don't know...

[HJ]

Breaking news from the BBC most drivers 'feel they are superior behind the wheel', so they underestimate their own risk and overestimate their ability, this may make them less cautious on the roads.

Does that sound like the drivers you meet on your commute?

 

[Matty]

This morning - yes. Most of them.

 

[benborp]

I was thinking about this very thing this morning. My mother-in-law had an interview with an occupational therapist who managed to state that her accident couldn't have happened how she imagined as it's not possible to drive without a proper licence or speed at 50mph through a town centre. So many people have constructed a perception of driving that is at odds with what happens around them everyday it astounds me.
I was intrigued by the statement at the end of the article about the current overhaul of driver training and testing; does anyone know where I can find details of this overhaul?

 

[Moodyman]

Anti-Motorist sentiment

I ride over 100 miles a week between Bradford & Leeds - biggish cities I'd say.

I have to disagree with many co-cyclists who lambast drivers. I find most drivers courteous and patient. White van men tend to be amongst the nicest in my opinion.

The small idiots that there are, tend be in posh German cars and even they don't drive badly - they're just not as courteous at letting you past in stationery traffic. The "I'm too important to move out of the way of an overtaking cyclist" mentality.

 

[BentMikey]

Let's face it, many cyclists probably have the same opinion of their riding. I like to think I'm more aware of my many faults than I have ever been, but I wonder whether I'm overconfident on occasion.

 

[marinyork]

Let's face it, many cyclists probably have the same opinion of their riding. I like to think I'm more aware of my many faults than I have ever been, but I wonder whether I'm overconfident on occasion.

How would one compare? One can compare instantly when driving with other driving in a sense but when you're on the bike how on earth would you compare to other bikes? You're unlikely to get any kind of a judgement on the bike other than that commuter is 2-3mph faster than me.

 

[Moodyman]

You can tell a bad cyclist when they RLJ, don't have lights/reflective clothing in the dark, when they're doing a slalom weave on a smooth road, riding primary where there is no need, lack of hand indication, swapping unhesitattingly betwen the pavement and the road.

 

[BentMikey]

Marin, it's extremely easy to see a good cyclist. For those who've ridden with the DP, I put Dave as an example to you. It's exactly like comparing driving of others - you can watch their interaction with the environment and other road users.

 

[marinyork]

Marin, it's extremely easy to see a good cyclist. For those who've ridden with the DP, I put Dave as an example to you. It's exactly like comparing driving of others - you can watch their interaction with the environment and other road users.

The only other cyclists I see might drift past me or them. One is unlikely to see them doing some interaction at a junction so is unlikely to be able to garner much of an opinion unless they are doing one of the classic whinges. I know cyclists can be very judgemental but most of the opinions are on superficial things like my bike and clothes getting negative opinions. On the other hand cyclist opinions on things vary a lot, with respect to all the positioning threads we've had recently I've been told I'm a bad cyclist by cycle trainers because I do things properly according to orthodoxy. But I agree many cyclists may consider themselves better than many other cyclists because they spend so much time talking about their imaginary friends the RLJers.

 

[BentMikey]

I don't think anyone would realistically judge you on your cycling clothing, unless you wear a flat cap?

You do things properly according to orthodoxy and are thus a bad cyclist according to cycle trainers? Surely that's an oxymoron - if you did things the orthodox way, then you'd be square in line with cycle trainers.

 

[marinyork]

I don't think anyone would realistically judge you on your cycling clothing, unless you wear a flat cap?

You do things properly according to orthodoxy and are thus a bad cyclist according to cycle trainers? Surely that's an oxymoron - if you did things the orthodox way, then you'd be square in line with cycle trainers.

Don't see why not, people like labelling other people as POBs and on BSOs, especially CTC people. One gets all manner of insults hurled.

Using primary or even proper secondary is seen as "aggressive", "threatening" and "combative" by too many people. It's just comically funny that people think like that.

As for drivers I think the research is fairly obvious . And as far other riders I wouldn't really say anything like that apart from people I've riden with a lot, although I seem to do a lot more winter riding in things like snow, ice, frost than quite a few people.

 

[BentMikey]

It was a joke referring to the "flat cap drivers" prejudice. Tut tut!!!

 

[HJ]

...
I was intrigued by the statement at the end of the article about the current overhaul of driver training and testing; does anyone know where I can find details of this overhaul?

I noticed that but forgot to follow it up, I think it has something to do with this.