When a driver refuses a Driver Awareness Course

[srw]

I'm not sure how the cyclist's riding style causes drivers to use mobile phones, which is the bulk of the incidents he reports and squares with the half a dozen people I'd see on the phone on a 8 mile London commute.

Really? I don't often see drivers on phones. But then I'm focussing on having fun, keeping safe and looking at the road ahead, rather than on peering into car windows.

 

[ianrauk]

Really? I don't often see drivers on phones. But then I'm focussing on having fun, keeping safe and looking at the road ahead, rather than on peering into car windows.

On my daily commute through SE London, I see it all the time. It is a massive problem and drivers just don't seem to care that it's illegal.

 

[srw]

On my daily commute through SE London, I see it all the time. It is a massive problem and drivers just don't seem to care that it's illegal.

Is it really?

Does anyone have any hard facts rather than suppositions?

 

[Snorrarcisco]

As a driver I see them all the time especially on motorways. As a pedestrian I notice them too. As a cyclist? I blooming petrified so i just keep my eyes on the road. Doesn't help when I am afraid of cars as a cyclist but no fear as a pedestrian!!!

 

[ianrauk]

Is it really?

Does anyone have any hard facts rather than suppositions?

When people are not paying attention to driving and the road rather then reading a text or making a call the yes it is a problem. I have lost count of the times I have seen a driver inadvertently swerve or nearly cause an accident and in fact cause accidents because they were using their phones. One not so long back when the person driving was using their phone and didn't stop in time and went into the back of another car. It's all very easy to see from a bike, I saw it and could see it was going to happen.

 

[Dommo]

Is it really?

Does anyone have any hard facts rather than suppositions?

Seriously? I CBA going and digging out all of the articles about the numbers of people getting caught on their phones whilst driving - go and google it for your "hard facts." A single person killed, whether on foot, bike or car because someone decides that they don't need to give driving their full attention is one too many.

As for your comment about not seeing dangerous behaviour on your commute, I suggest maybe pay more attention... On my daily commute into London I see someone doing something dumb/illegal/dangerous pretty much on every ride (not limited to drivers...)

 

[srw]

Official figures show mobile phones pose the biggest accident risk to drivers.

The Department for Transport said that of 88 deaths caused by distractions in 2012, 17 were due to mobile use – a higher death rate than other in-car causes.

With apologies for the link to the Express, here it is...
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/490393/Mobile-phone-use-the-biggest-cause-of-road-fatalities

And a different report...

Department for Transport figures reveal that 378 accidents specifically involving mobile phone use were reported in 2012 — more than any year on record. Those accidents resulted in 548 casualties, including 17 deaths.

But motoring experts say that this figure gives a false impression of the true scale of the problem, as many cases involving phones are classed instead as an "in-vehicle distraction". In-vehicle distractions led to 9,012 accidents and 196 deaths between 2010 and 2012.

http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/201...iggest-killer-on-british-roads-by-2015/53049/
(Note the change of time-period. That second paragraph is over 3 years, not just one!)

I'm not claiming that phoning-while-driving isn't prevalent - clearly it is. I'm also not saying it's safe - there's enough evidence around that any sort of distraction increases risk. I'm asking whether it's really dangerous enough for cyclists to get concerned about - and in particular whether Mr Droid's time couldn't be better spent elsewhere, like on a nice relaxing massage. The evidence suggests that it isn't really. The total number of deaths caused by driver distraction is less than 100 per year, which means that other factors (speed, poor maintenance, carelessness, alcohol) are more important.

This article is pretty good. It points out that there is a negative correlation between the growth in mobile phone use and road injuries.

 

[Dommo]

whether Mr Droid's time couldn't be better spent elsewhere

I don't think anyone is disputing that one

 

[boydj]

I'm not claiming that phoning-while-driving isn't prevalent - clearly it is. I'm also not saying it's safe - there's enough evidence around that any sort of distraction increases risk. I'm asking whether it's really dangerous enough for cyclists to get concerned about - and in particular whether Mr Droid's time couldn't be better spent elsewhere, like on a nice relaxing massage. The evidence suggests that it isn't really. The total number of deaths caused by driver distraction is less than 100 per year, which means that other factors (speed, poor maintenance, carelessness, alcohol) are more important.

For a cyclist, phone users are very high on the list of potential dangers. They might not be the biggest cause of deaths, but they are up there as potential threats.

 

[andyoxon]

As others have said, despite Droid's unusual enthusiasm for the bike application of all things GoPro, I really can't see how a bit of a fine and a few points fits with the apparent intent of the taxi driver's manoeuvres on the YouTube vid.

 

[classic33]

Will it soon be live transmissions?
Now EE have released one.

 

[srw]

For a cyclist, phone users are very high on the list of potential dangers. They might not be the biggest cause of deaths, but they are up there as potential threats.

This is exactly the sort of "it's obvious" comment I'm trying to challenge. Sometimes the obvious things really are dangerous (and this might be one of them, but I'm not convinced yet). Sometimes the obvious things are really not at all dangerous, and sometimes the obvious risk mitigants are actually completely useless.

I think that Mr Droid's videos are one of those things that make things worse - both because he seems intent on winding drivers up, and because he paints the risk of cycling in London as far higher than it actually is.

Please don't make me post @jo from the other place's article again.....

 

[boydj]

My post was based on experience and observation. The evidence, including being 'brushed' while stopped at lights, by a phone-using driver, may be anecdotal, but it's more than just 'it's obvious'.

 

[classic33]

[QUOTE 4056099, member: 259"]I can barely wait. Will they do a version onna stick?

I don't care what the idiot records and posts on YouTube, I don't want to see any more of it, I certainly don't want to contribute to this poltroon's earning stream, and if someone on here, like @glenn forger, links to it, they should say what it is so I don't have to.[/QUOTE]
He'll get staff discount(BT technician) as well. Why it got placed in General Cycling, other than viewing figures is lost on me, using the thread title.

 

[glenn forger]

As others have said, despite Droid's unusual enthusiasm for the bike application of all things GoPro, I really can't see how a bit of a fine and a few points fits with the apparent intent of the taxi driver's manoeuvres on the YouTube vid.

PCO have been receiving links to the footage and complaints about the driver but I dunno if they even accept complaints from non-passengers. The never used to.