These figures are for ALL road user groups bunched together, but a large proportion of these incidents involve cyclists and pedestrians - vulnerable road users who should definitely NOT be feeling unsafe when they use the roads!
The campaign's main aim was to promote harmony between the different road user groups and involved handing out various hi-vis vests and things to vulnerable road users in an attempt to make them more visible on the roads and to promote the campaign website which, rather than just raising awareness of Auto Trader (a comment made by many on line, and it's probably fair to say that any involvement in any campaign by any commercial business is likely to bring in a marketing advantage to some extent), contained helpful tips on reducing hostility on their website for ALL ROAD USER GROUPS.
Whilst well meaning, the campaign has attracted a mixed response with many cyclists and pedestrians (pedestrian versus motorised vehicle collisions are on an upward trend at the moment) claiming that it seemed to put the onus on THEM to keep themselves safe... I fail to see what the complaint is in that really? Why wouldn't you take responsibility for your own safety?
Those of you that are driving instructors will know full well about the regular Standards Check process that we have to go through, but for those who aren't in the trade, let me just quickly explain. A Standards Check takes place every 4 years as a condition of an Approved Driving Instructor's entry onto the register of approved driving instructors and is conducted by a specially trained DVSA Driving Examiner. They observe a lesson and mark the quality of the work against a standard by looking for evidence that certain questions were answered... one of those questions is "Did the trainer maintain an appropriate non-discriminatory manner throughout the session?"
That question was included to try and encourage trainers to make sure that the problems and challenges faced by all road users, particularly those with a certain vulnerability such as cyclists and pedestrians, but also those with control problems like HGV's and buses are discussed in the car with learner drivers in a manner which involves mutual respect, co-operation and equal accountability for road safety. Road safety is everyone's responsibility and collisions always involve normal people like you and me rather than the "idiots" everyone likes to blame it on. (On that subject, isn't it funny how you don't know anyone who drives like an idiot, and don't drive like one yourself, but you hear that a lot of drivers see lots idiots when they're out on the road? Odd isn't it... it's like some people think that everyone they know is okay, but if they don't know them, then they're an idiot - it's a nice character trait to have that is isn't it!)
So as a driving instructor, I will talk with my drivers about cyclists not using cycle lanes sometimes because of the poor condition of the road, or their vulnerability to skidding on manhole covers and that sort of thing, and I'll include in this plenty of talk about mirrors and knowing what's happening around you... keeping a cyclist (and it could be any road user really, I've just chosen them because I need to choose somebody) safe starts firmly with seeing them!
So why the resistance to making yourself more visible?
I'm noticing more and more cyclists these days wearing black gear whilst out on the roads. I also notice them taking up a very aggressive position on the road, potentially blocking an entire lane and making themselves hard to overtake. Now the theory here is to you are forced to wait for the correct gap in oncoming traffic before overtaking them which in turn makes you much more likely to leave the right amount of space (which should be around 2mtrs and would usually put you into the path of oncoming traffic anyway, so it makes no real difference to a good driver's overtaking manoeuvre) by not offering an opportunity to squeeze past, but surely making yourself into an inconvenience is one of the reasons for the increase in road rage events we're seeing and if you're dressed in black too, then you're going to get hit by an inattentive driver (not that that's okay, but it's going to happen if you put yourself in harms way). The advice to ride in that position is actively encouraged by the national cycling groups, that's why you're seeing so much of it (I assume the black clothing is a fashion thing - I haven't seen anyone advising cyclists to wear black).
Yet... when somebody suggests they wear a hi-vis vest to make yourself more visible... cyclists attack that as not being their responsibility - I don't understand that!
On the social media feeds recently, I asked the question "how tolerant are you of cyclists?" and the results surprised me - 70-80% of the respondents came back saying that they felt they were very tolerant of cyclists. I must admit, I expected that there'd be a definite "we don't like them" answer, but it wasn't, people generally accepted that the bikes were free to share the road with them.
So where does it come from? Cycling is a great way of getting fit and seeing some countryside. So is walking. The Highway Code contains rules for both on staying safe when using the roads and that involves wearing bright or reflective clothing - why not? I know you get bad tempered people riding bikes, driving cars, driving trucks and walking... but why so much disharmony? Don't we all just want to use the roads in peace?
HGV's have got massive blind spots - WHY not stay out of them?
Cyclists might swerve around grids so they don't fall off - WHY not leave loads of space as you pass?
Horses might be scared as you approach them on the road - WHY not slow down for 20 seconds?
Pedestrians could fall into the road - WHY not go round corners at speeds that allow you to stop easily?
ANYONE can make a mistake - WHY not make it less likely to happen?
I'm fully behind Auto Trader's campaign and it's a shame I've read some of the comments I've read this week... perhaps what people really need to do is start seeing more good in things and try to just get along with each other a bit more.
Nick Heath Driver Training is a multi-car driver training company based in and around Alsager in South Cheshire / Stoke On Trent. We provide driver training for all levels of driver from the complete novice who holds a provisional licence, to those training to become Approved Driving Instructors or those looking to complete an advanced driving qualification through Diamond Advanced Motorists (including the taxi driving assessment) More details can be found on our website www.nickheathdrivertraining.org.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment