Mind How You Go

[choux]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10432079/Highway-Code-overhaul-tells-cyclists-pedal-middle-road-takes-effect-DAYS.html

[Gizmonster]

My friend told me about this a couple of days ago.
It's absolute madness - I'm sure a lot of people won't be aware of this (myself included) and it will cause more problems than it's meant to solve.

[choux]

It may seem ridiculous to some but the Highway Code is not the law.

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/16-highway-code-rules-most-people-ignore/

[barry1010]

I don't fancy stopping part way in to a turning from a 60 mph dual carriageway because a pedestrian wants to cross

[ToraToraTora]

I can't see what is new. If a cyclist is riding on the road legally we already give way to them in "give way" situations, so what is new?

[barry1010]

Giving priority to pedestrians and cyclists waiting to cross the road is new

[ToraToraTora]

as for pedestrians it has always been in the HC to give way to pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning so what has changed?

[ToraToraTora]

ok but cyclists can never be waiting to cross the road unless they are illegally on the pavement if they are legal then they will be either giving way or being given the way. Can someone give me an example of what they are on about.

[THECORBYLOON]

From the Road Traffic Act 1988,

"A failure on the part of a person to observe a provision of the Highway Code shall not of itself render that person liable to criminal proceedings of any kind but any such failure may in any proceedings (whether civil or criminal, and including proceedings for an offence under the Traffic Acts, the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 or sections 18 to 23 of the Transport Act 1985) be relied upon by any party to the proceedings as tending to establish or negative any liability which is in question in those proceedings."

[jourdain2]

The bit that gets me is using your opposite hand to open the door. I already know that you should check in your mirrors (and I do), but arthritis in my neck & shoulders would make this almost impossible. Surely it should just be 'Check before opening your door'?

[barry1010]

TTT, giving priority to pedestrians WAITING to cross the road you are turning in to

[jourdain2]

We are soon going to reach the ridiculous situation which evolved in France, where the cyclist is always in the right. Someone I knew was driving safely along a main road through a village when a cyclist hurtled out of a blind side-road and was hit by the car, which had no time to stop. The car-driver was held to be at fault!

[barry1010]

Jourdain, over 30 years ago I was stationary in a traffic jam when a cyclist slammed in to the side of my car and broke his legs. I had to pay the bill for the ambulance

[Stickybottle]

My understanding is that in Holland in the case of an accident it is up to the larger vehicle in any situation to prove that they were not at fault

Regardless of who you are or what you drive if you do so correctly it should not be too difficult to prove in court
Should it ?

I see a massive rise in dashcam sales in the offing too :

[Barsel]

Stickybottle, do you think she said 'Smile, you're on my dashcam camera?'

[Barsel]

Have I got this right?
If a cyclist is riding down a country lane, they can just cycle down the middle of it in front of someone in a car?

[Stickybottle]

Barsel
Have I got this right?
If a cyclist is riding down a country lane, they can just cycle down the middle of it in front of someone in a car?
——-
No
I believe the link says
‘In certain circumstances’

The Highway Code already tells cyclists to do that anyway in certain circumstances anyway I believe
Like taking primary position at a pinch point :

From the web

When to take the lane
If you can keep up with the traffic, such as around town, it's safest to take the lane. It's also the position to adopt when you want to dissuade drivers from doing something stupid, like cutting you up. Here's a non-exhaustive list of situations when it's best to take the lane.

• Approaching a pinch point, such as pedestrian island in the centre of the road.
• Approaching and negotiating a roundabout.
• Approaching Give Way markings.
• Approaching a side road, to prevent drivers from 'left-hooking' you and to help drivers on the side road to see you.
• Approaching traffic lights.
• Approaching a blind corner.
• Negotiating a junction.
• In queues of stationary traffic.
• Overtaking parked cars.

A lot in there that I did not realise they are allowed to do either !
Guess we had all better brush up
As I said earlier if you drive correctly then you have nothing to worry about I guess ?

[Stickybottle]

Not sure if the whole video is a setup Barsel but either way
I think I might get a dash cam just to be safe

[THECORBYLOON]

"New Rule 72
Road positioning.

When riding on the roads, there are two basic road positions you should adopt, depending on the situation.

1. Ride in the centre of your lane, to make yourself as clearly visible as possible, in the following situations:
• on quiet roads or streets – if a faster vehicle comes up behind you, move to the left to enable them to overtake, if you can do so safely
• in slower-moving traffic - when the traffic around you starts to flow more freely, move over to the left if you can do so safely so that faster vehicles behind you can overtake
• at the approach to junctions or road narrowings where it would be unsafe for drivers to overtake you"

[tiggerblue10]

Isn't this going to cause more traffic if you're stuck behind a cyclist going at 10/15mph?

[Stickybottle]

tiggerblue10
Isn't this going to cause more traffic if you're stuck behind a cyclist going at 10/15mph?

Fail to see how
The only thing that will cause more traffic is more vehicles surely ?
Most causes of jams or delays that I see are down to bad driving
Nothing less
People thinking they are ‘being safe’ by driving no more than 50 mph on a motorway
Really grinds my gears !