Is this teaching granny to suck eggs behind the wheel?
Discussion
Is this advice teaching granny to suck eggs behind the wheel, or useful advice for drivers?
IAM Roadsmart said:
During the pandemic, we’ve seen more cyclists out on the road. And with spring here, there will be more vulnerable road users making the most of the sunshine. This week’s tips give advice on sharing the road with cyclists from IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards, Richard Gladman.
- Leave enough room. When riding or driving leave enough room between you and the cyclist, you never know when you have to stop and you want to make sure there is enough space in the event of anything unexpected happening.
- Police forces are enforcing 1.5 meters as the minimum passing width but the easiest way to remember is to treat the cyclist as you would a car. Give them space and treat 1.5 meters as a minimum.
- Don’t overtake a cyclist into a loss of vision as the car towards would possibly cause you to move towards the cyclists. Look beyond the cyclist to develop your ability to get past, keeping distance a of 1.5 meters width and two or three car lengths behind them. Remember, the closer you are, the more nervous the cyclist(s) will be which may result in them becoming unbalanced.
- Be careful when overtaking groups of cyclist and ensure you can see well ahead before attempting an overtake. If cyclists are in single file, bear in mind how long you will need to overtake them, and how far ahead the road needs to be clear, as you will not be able to filter in and out.
- The Highway Code (rule 212) states: “When passing motorcyclists and cyclists, give them plenty of room. If they look over their shoulder it could mean that they intend to pull out, turn right or change direction. Give them time and space to do so.”
- Ensure your view ahead is clear and visible before overtaking. Bear in mind that cyclists may need to move suddenly to avoid obstacles such as potholes and puddles (Highway Code rule 213). Being patient and paying attention to these details will help keep yourself and the cyclist safe on the road.
- During the pandemic, the Government has encouraged us to use different means of transport rather than public transport. Post lockdown, we will experience all types of cyclists; those who have just started out, families, people who have not been on a bike for years and more experienced cyclists. As motorists, we need to ensure we share the road and adapt our driving to keep vulnerable road users safe.
- Take your time. Don’t lose your hair and lose your temper waiting for a cyclist on the road. Acting irrationally leads to unnecessary road rage and accidents that could be easy avoided.
- After parking, check for other road users by opening your door using the Dutch reach method; check your mirrors and reach across with your left hand. This encourages you to look over your shoulder and check your blind spot to see if it is safe to open the door.
Salted_Peanut said:
Is this advice teaching granny to suck eggs behind the wheel, or useful advice for drivers?
Well, given that between yesterday's and today's commute, one particular driver managed to rack up three close passes (one of which was on a blind summit with a white line contravention), i.e. if you went with an FPN for each offence, 12 points accumulated in 2 days...IAM Roadsmart said:
During the pandemic, we’ve seen more cyclists out on the road. And with spring here, there will be more vulnerable road users making the most of the sunshine. This week’s tips give advice on sharing the road with cyclists from IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards, Richard Gladman.
- Leave enough room. When riding or driving leave enough room between you and the cyclist, you never know when you have to stop and you want to make sure there is enough space in the event of anything unexpected happening.
- Police forces are enforcing 1.5 meters as the minimum passing width but the easiest way to remember is to treat the cyclist as you would a car. Give them space and treat 1.5 meters as a minimum.
- Don’t overtake a cyclist into a loss of vision as the car towards would possibly cause you to move towards the cyclists. Look beyond the cyclist to develop your ability to get past, keeping distance a of 1.5 meters width and two or three car lengths behind them. Remember, the closer you are, the more nervous the cyclist(s) will be which may result in them becoming unbalanced.
- Be careful when overtaking groups of cyclist and ensure you can see well ahead before attempting an overtake. If cyclists are in single file, bear in mind how long you will need to overtake them, and how far ahead the road needs to be clear, as you will not be able to filter in and out.
- The Highway Code (rule 212) states: “When passing motorcyclists and cyclists, give them plenty of room. If they look over their shoulder it could mean that they intend to pull out, turn right or change direction. Give them time and space to do so.”
- Ensure your view ahead is clear and visible before overtaking. Bear in mind that cyclists may need to move suddenly to avoid obstacles such as potholes and puddles (Highway Code rule 213). Being patient and paying attention to these details will help keep yourself and the cyclist safe on the road.
- During the pandemic, the Government has encouraged us to use different means of transport rather than public transport. Post lockdown, we will experience all types of cyclists; those who have just started out, families, people who have not been on a bike for years and more experienced cyclists. As motorists, we need to ensure we share the road and adapt our driving to keep vulnerable road users safe.
- Take your time. Don’t lose your hair and lose your temper waiting for a cyclist on the road. Acting irrationally leads to unnecessary road rage and accidents that could be easy avoided.
- After parking, check for other road users by opening your door using the Dutch reach method; check your mirrors and reach across with your left hand. This encourages you to look over your shoulder and check your blind spot to see if it is safe to open the door.
Drivers should know this, but a lot don't, or just don't care.
Salted_Peanut said:
Is this advice teaching granny to suck eggs behind the wheel, or useful advice for drivers?
I'd say it's all valid points. Any driving god won't read it anyway as they are perfect... But considering how many drivers do not give you adequate room when overtaking, overtake on blind corners as they can't wait a few seconds etc a regular reminder might be a good thing.IAM Roadsmart said:
During the pandemic, we’ve seen more cyclists out on the road. And with spring here, there will be more vulnerable road users making the most of the sunshine. This week’s tips give advice on sharing the road with cyclists from IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards, Richard Gladman.
- Leave enough room. When riding or driving leave enough room between you and the cyclist, you never know when you have to stop and you want to make sure there is enough space in the event of anything unexpected happening.
- Police forces are enforcing 1.5 meters as the minimum passing width but the easiest way to remember is to treat the cyclist as you would a car. Give them space and treat 1.5 meters as a minimum.
- Don’t overtake a cyclist into a loss of vision as the car towards would possibly cause you to move towards the cyclists. Look beyond the cyclist to develop your ability to get past, keeping distance a of 1.5 meters width and two or three car lengths behind them. Remember, the closer you are, the more nervous the cyclist(s) will be which may result in them becoming unbalanced.
- Be careful when overtaking groups of cyclist and ensure you can see well ahead before attempting an overtake. If cyclists are in single file, bear in mind how long you will need to overtake them, and how far ahead the road needs to be clear, as you will not be able to filter in and out.
- The Highway Code (rule 212) states: “When passing motorcyclists and cyclists, give them plenty of room. If they look over their shoulder it could mean that they intend to pull out, turn right or change direction. Give them time and space to do so.”
- Ensure your view ahead is clear and visible before overtaking. Bear in mind that cyclists may need to move suddenly to avoid obstacles such as potholes and puddles (Highway Code rule 213). Being patient and paying attention to these details will help keep yourself and the cyclist safe on the road.
- During the pandemic, the Government has encouraged us to use different means of transport rather than public transport. Post lockdown, we will experience all types of cyclists; those who have just started out, families, people who have not been on a bike for years and more experienced cyclists. As motorists, we need to ensure we share the road and adapt our driving to keep vulnerable road users safe.
- Take your time. Don’t lose your hair and lose your temper waiting for a cyclist on the road. Acting irrationally leads to unnecessary road rage and accidents that could be easy avoided.
- After parking, check for other road users by opening your door using the Dutch reach method; check your mirrors and reach across with your left hand. This encourages you to look over your shoulder and check your blind spot to see if it is safe to open the door.
I guess you're right, and it's a good reminder from the IAM.
Whatever happened to the Government's review of The Highway Code to improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders? Did Covid stop play?
Whatever happened to the Government's review of The Highway Code to improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders? Did Covid stop play?
Daveyraveygravey said:
"Don’t overtake a cyclist into a loss of vision as the car towards would possibly cause you to move towards the cyclists. "
Can someone explain this to me?!
Proofreading doesn't appear to be a strong suit at the IAM, either that or Google translate has been at work somewhere.Can someone explain this to me?!
My issue with advice like this is that a small minority of people who are genuinely interested in becoming a considerate driver will take it on board and maybe some will even change their habits, but the people who need to be educated about close passes and the like don't care about improving their driving in the slightest.
Back in the olden days we used to have public information which was a one-way communication (Charlie says, wear a seatbelt etc.), but we seem to have moved onto consuming media through 'discussions' on the likes of Facebook and Twitter, where it seems perfectly acceptable to meet educational efforts with ill-informed rubbish about road tax and terrorising pedestrians with seemingly no consequences at all, and everyone seems to think they are right just by shouting loudest.
I'm not sure what the answer is, but I've not seen any concerted public information efforts across media channels that have worked well in a long time. Things I am aware of through an interest in cycling, like 'drivers should be doing the 'Dutch reach', which is a great idea in theory - if you asked 1000 drivers I'd doubt 1% had even heard of it.
Back in the olden days we used to have public information which was a one-way communication (Charlie says, wear a seatbelt etc.), but we seem to have moved onto consuming media through 'discussions' on the likes of Facebook and Twitter, where it seems perfectly acceptable to meet educational efforts with ill-informed rubbish about road tax and terrorising pedestrians with seemingly no consequences at all, and everyone seems to think they are right just by shouting loudest.
I'm not sure what the answer is, but I've not seen any concerted public information efforts across media channels that have worked well in a long time. Things I am aware of through an interest in cycling, like 'drivers should be doing the 'Dutch reach', which is a great idea in theory - if you asked 1000 drivers I'd doubt 1% had even heard of it.
Gin and Ultrasonic said:
My issue with advice like this is that a small minority of people who are genuinely interested in becoming a considerate driver will take it on board and maybe some will even change their habits, but the people who need to be educated about close passes and the like don't care about improving their driving in the slightest.
Back in the olden days we used to have public information which was a one-way communication (Charlie says, wear a seatbelt etc.), but we seem to have moved onto consuming media through 'discussions' on the likes of Facebook and Twitter, where it seems perfectly acceptable to meet educational efforts with ill-informed rubbish about road tax and terrorising pedestrians with seemingly no consequences at all, and everyone seems to think they are right just by shouting loudest.
I'm not sure what the answer is, but I've not seen any concerted public information efforts across media channels that have worked well in a long time. Things I am aware of through an interest in cycling, like 'drivers should be doing the 'Dutch reach', which is a great idea in theory - if you asked 1000 drivers I'd doubt 1% had even heard of it.
This sums it up. Basically, those interested in being good drivers (and cyclists, for that matter) will already know all of that because their interest will have led them to previously published (and much better written) articles covering the same subject. Those who are either arrogant enough to presume they've nothing to learn that's worth learning, or those who have already decided that cyclists don't deserve their place on the roads (because tax/insurance/two abreast/Lycra/whatever) will learn nothing from articles like this one because they aren't looking for them and probably wouldn't read them if they did land in their 'inbox'. There's probably a hardcore minority of retarded drivers out there who'd look at this advice and then go out and deliberately do all of the things the article advises against, simply because they dislike someone else's transport/exercise choice.Back in the olden days we used to have public information which was a one-way communication (Charlie says, wear a seatbelt etc.), but we seem to have moved onto consuming media through 'discussions' on the likes of Facebook and Twitter, where it seems perfectly acceptable to meet educational efforts with ill-informed rubbish about road tax and terrorising pedestrians with seemingly no consequences at all, and everyone seems to think they are right just by shouting loudest.
I'm not sure what the answer is, but I've not seen any concerted public information efforts across media channels that have worked well in a long time. Things I am aware of through an interest in cycling, like 'drivers should be doing the 'Dutch reach', which is a great idea in theory - if you asked 1000 drivers I'd doubt 1% had even heard of it.
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