So, whilst conducting Cycling Proficiency training this afternoon, in a rural area, with safety signs and high-vis jackets all over the shop - what percentage of drivers appeared to give a damn?

[snigger]

1 out of the 14 passing cars had the grace to slow down, 3 white vans tested the kids training to the limit by turning up a neat junction on the wrong side, and at least two appeared to find that 11 yr olds on bikes should be treated much like the chicanes on Top Gear.

I often find that people driving in the countryside around here are far more aggressive than anything I encountered in central London, say. I usually drive quite cautiously along twisty country lanes, because there are often pedestrians, cyclists and horses and sometimes there isn't space for another vehicle to pass so you need to be prepared to pull in.

Maybe local people drive faster because they are used to the roads and know what is coming next but all too often they are driving too quickly/tailgating (they could of course be townies out for a drive and over-excited at being able to drive above 30mph!)

It got a bit hairy when two Fed-Ex vans tore down the road towards one child coming out of the junction turning left, and another coming up the hill turning right - they (the vans, not the kids) were both straddling the centre of the road, our hearts were in our mouths.

I understand driving a little faster on roads you know, we all feel more comfortable on home turf, but I don't understand someone driving manic past three large signs saying "Children Cycle Training" and a large red faced woman in a dayglo jacket hopping up and down in a state of angst.