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AIBU?

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Original poster

Cyclists killed and seriously injured on roads.....spmeone is being unreasonable

349 replies

GabbyLoggon · 15/04/2011 14:27

Big news in todays independent.(and elsewhere)

They say 230 cyclists are killed or seriously injured on our
roads every month.

Really? I would like to see those figures broken down to serious injury/death
The report says HGV drivers are often involved.

Cycling is becomming more popular here

OP posts:
dearyme · 15/04/2011 14:28

well if they never stop at red lights ......

Original poster
GabbyLoggon · 15/04/2011 14:31

dearyme....If your wife, mother or child is killed on a cyc;e you will learn what the word SERIOUS means

Are you by any chance a lorry or car driver.?

OP posts:
bubblecoral · 15/04/2011 14:31

And don't leave overtaking space when they should, or cycle two side by side, or dodge in and out of traffic......

ipswichwitch · 15/04/2011 14:31

i think there's fault on both sides. a lot of motorists dont use due care when passing/ approaching cyclists or simply dont notice them. however, on the route i used to take to work i always passed a cyclist who was always dressed in black, sometimes with balaclava when it was cold. you cant tell me its easy to spot him when he's riding about dressed like a flamin ninja!!

bubblecoral · 15/04/2011 14:32

What about husbands or fathers? Or is it only women cyclists that get injured?

GypsyMoth · 15/04/2011 14:33

cyclists.....how many know what they are doing?? round here they don't have a clue.

GypsyMoth · 15/04/2011 14:34

they should all be made to take tests before cycling on roads.....

iskra · 15/04/2011 14:34

Several of the recent cyclist deaths in London have been when HGVs turning left have not noticed the cyclist on their inside.

PigeonMalteaserMadness · 15/04/2011 14:35

LOL at ninja cyclist. I'm a learner driver and there will always be my kind on the roads. So why take risks?

dearyme · 15/04/2011 14:35

and if they refuse to use lights at night, and insist on wearing dark clothing ......

TandB · 15/04/2011 14:36

A large number of cycling fatalities are the result of cyclists going up the side of a lorry turning left, not realising that they are in the blindspot for pretty much the whole time.

Some accidents are just that - accidents, but the numbers could be reduced quite substantially if all cyclists rode defensively.

Original poster
GabbyLoggon · 15/04/2011 14:36

Well if you are hit by a lorry or car you are more likel to get killed than if hit by a cycle or a stray fox.

Anyone know anything more about TODAYS FIGURES?

How do car drivers find the standards of lorry drivers (and vice versa)

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByALamb · 15/04/2011 14:38

Oh well done Gabby - A lorry driver bashing thread.

As a horse rider I always rode defensively, and so should cyclists. You have to take responsibility for your own well being.

xstitch · 15/04/2011 14:39

Each accident would have to be judged individually to work out who was at fault you cannot automatically assume who was at fault simply with the fact of the numbers killed. Obviously if there is an accident between a lorry and a cyclist the cyclist is the one most likely to be injured, however either could be at fault depending on the circumstances.

bubblecoral · 15/04/2011 14:40

I'm a car driver. I've never had a problem with lorry drivers they just get on with driving, ususlly quite considerately seeing as they are usually displaying the name of the company they are working for in huge unmissable letters.

Cyclist on the other hand, piss me off on a regular basis. They make up their own rules as they go along, they are not tested to ensure their safety on the road, and they don't have insurance. They are far far more inconsiderate to other road users than lorry drivers.

Original poster
GabbyLoggon · 15/04/2011 14:40

Well if you are hit by a lorry or car you are more likel to get killed than if hit by a cycle or a stray fox.

Anyone know anything more about TODAYS FIGURES?

How do car drivers find the standards of lorry drivers (and vice versa)

Anyone involved in a serious accident....? how did the cops sort you?

OP posts:
nijinsky · 15/04/2011 14:41

Kungfupanda "A large number of cycling fatalities are the result of cyclists going up the side of a lorry turning left, not realising that they are in the blindspot for pretty much the whole time."

Unfortunately when you are cycling along the road and someone overtakes you and then immediately turns left, there is little you can do to avoid then being in their blind spot.

Difference between cycling in cities and on rural roads, and between cyclists and "bike users".

DP's arm was broken on a straight, wide, clear, quiet rural road on a clear day by a driver banging into him with his wing mirror.

waits for all the usual cyclist hating comments that are so typical of the British to kick off. In The Netherlands and Belgie it is strict liability for those drivers who hit cyclists - in order to avoid liability, they have to prove they were not at fault. This proceeds on the basis that those driving large heavy vehicles which they are required to have a license for should be more careful of the consequences than those who are not.

diabolo · 15/04/2011 14:41

2 teenagers who live near me ride their bikes with no lights, in the dark, in dark clothes, on the little country lane with no street lights.

It's an accident wating to happen.

ivykaty44 · 15/04/2011 14:42

Gosh so many perfect motor car drivers on this post Hmm

karma has a way of bitting you on the bum or smashing your car up when your so perfect

Original poster
GabbyLoggon · 15/04/2011 14:42

BUBBLE.....You have never experienced a lorry driver tailgating?

A lot of other people seem to done so?

OP posts:
dearyme · 15/04/2011 14:43

Cyclist on the other hand, piss me off on a regular basis. They make up their own rules as they go along, they are not tested to ensure their safety on the road, and they don't have insurance. They are far far more inconsiderate to other road users than lorry drivers.

ditto

2 teenagers who live near me ride their bikes with no lights, in the dark, in dark clothes, on the little country lane with no street lights.

see that all the time, literally every night

sausagesandmarmelade · 15/04/2011 14:43

I think 5 have been killed in London so far this year...

The latest was a 20 year old Polish girl killed in Camden.

Often HGVs are involved....and often it happens at left hand turnings on
junctions where the vehicle driver just cannot see the cyclist.

I can imagine more are killed than injured.

MmeSurvivedLent · 15/04/2011 14:44

What is the point of linking to individual cases where a pedestrian has been killed by a cyclist?

I think this is an issue worthy of debate but if it immediately descends into a blamegame between cyclists and motorists then no one wins.

Interesting would be to see the difference between UK and continental countries where there are more cyclists on the roads. What do they do that helps keep road cycle deaths down?

ivykaty44 · 15/04/2011 14:45
Grin
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