Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[robbo299]

Saw this today and just can`t believe they are serious.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6211429/Drivers-could-be-blamed-for-all-crashes-with-cyclists.html

So the thinking here is that, say for example, if a driver driving an Escort or Fiesta crashes into an Omega, the driver of the Omega will automatically be at fault regardless of blame just because he has a more powerful car??? And if a cyclist jumps or fails to stop at a red light and is hit by any car then the driver of the car is also automtically at fault?   I can see this leading to anarchy on our roads with drivers driving old beat up minis, fiestas etc. deliberatly into Beemers, Lexus and, god forbid, our Miggys knowing that we will get the blame. A few of my mates at work regard cyclists as "pikeys on wheels" because they dont have any insurance, road tax, or MOT`s. And we as road tax payers are paying for their own cycle lanes on the roads. Definately a world gone/going mad.

[tunnie]

thats the way it works in Holland, seems to work! cars have huge respect for Bicycles!

[Mr Skrunts]

I stand by what I have allways said.  If we as car drivers have to have a Tax Disc, Mot and Insurance to legally use the road.  Then why shouldnt Cyclists and Horse riders at leat have insurance in the case of an accident. Why should we the motorist allways be to blame.

[robbo299]

That may be Tunnie but respect has to go both ways!

[robbo299]

Agree Mr Skruntie.   A motorcyclist has to have insurance so why not a cyclist? Just because the bike doesn`t have an engine doesn`t make it any less dangerous to others on the road or pedestrians.

[HolyCount]

Cycling arguements apart .... if the driver of the more powerful vehicle in any incident is deemed to be automatically at fault, guess what that is going to do to insurance premiums of the higher grouped cars !!!!!!

Back to cycling ... the best way to deal with the cyclist vs. motorist situation is simply ... keep them apart !!!

Get cyclists to have to take a test of proficiency (at a fee the government gets a cut of), carry insurance ( part of which goes to government) and pay a road fund licence equivalent (which goes, guess where).  Then the government uses this revenue to build dedicated cycleways.

[tunnie]

same as sailing, a wind powered craft always has right of way over a petrol / diesel powered craft.

[HolyCount]

same as sailing, a wind powered craft always has right of way over a petrol / diesel powered craft.

ah -- but that's down to the wind powered craft being at the mercy of the elements and having to follow certain manouvres and tacks to forces outside of their control. Whereas a cyclist can stop, start and change course at will.

[Big Fra]

How is a bicycle more powerful than a pedestrian?

This is an utterly daft suggestion and would never work.

[robbo299]

Holy Count for transport minister!!

[tunnie]

How is a bicycle more powerful than a pedestrian?

This is an utterly daft suggestion and would never work.

Disagree, it works in Holland! Cycling there is an absolute joy, cars giving way for bikes on roundabouts and junctions.

But as Holy Count says, it needs to go both ways.

[Tony H]

One thing that makes my blood boil is close to me the A 565 duel carriage way has at the expence of tax payers had quality cycle tracks added on both sides and the cyclists don't rather use them . On many occasions I have witnessed cyclists on the main carriage way (sometimes two abreast )being overtaken by cars at 70 MPH I sometimes think the people on the bikes have joined a suicide cult.

[STMO999]

Calm down. 

But a spokesman for the Department of Transport said the proposals were not being considered by ministers and added: “Cyclists are traffic and are subject to the same laws as other traffic. They are responsible for their own actions and whether insured or not are liable for the consequences of their actions.”

[Mr Skrunts]

same as sailing, a wind powered craft always has right of way over a petrol / diesel powered craft.

I can see it now, a 800,000,000 tonne oil tanker giving way to a 25 ft sailing dinghy.  Beep beep, please move liccle boat, I would liketo get past.   [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif] [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]

[KillerWatt]

It's been that way in France for years, and the "protection" is actually extended to mopeds (which can be ridden at 14, and don't have to be registered).

You know what??

The system works (at least, it does there).