Cycle death near my home

[bode]

Honestly, I hold the opinion that if other road users lack the awareness, or have such poor eyesight that they cannot see other traffic in daylight, let alone at night, they should not be driving/riding/walking/flying/sailing in the first place.

I might have agreed with that until yesterday. I was driving home in the early evening and came round a bend in a single-track road on a 1 in 10 hill, to have the very low sun shine straight into my eyes. I came to a halt as I could literally see nothing in the lane ahead with its high banks, because of the sudden extreme contrast. I had actually to stick my head out of the window as I edged forward since visibility was improved without the windscreen.

Had a cyclist been there as I stopped, there is no way that I could have seen them. Fortunately there was no other road user of any variety, and after a few yards I was in a shadier stretch and had no problems for the rest of the journey.

But it was quite a salutary experience (and I have been driving for 50 years and my vision is perfect apart from for close reading).

 

[bode]

Good idea Indalo, blocking "hands free" as well, which I'm also opposed to. Good driving is a full time job, there is no spare time and concentration for other things.

But what about passengers? Does that mean that they would also be unable to use a phone, or could the blocking field be tailored to encompass only the driver's seat? I doubt if such a refinement is possible!

 

[flecc]

But what about passengers? Does that mean that they would also be unable to use a phone, or could the blocking field be tailored to encompass only the driver's seat? I doubt if such a refinement is possible!

Yes of course, block passengers from phoning as well. Their conversation can be very distracting to a driver as well. When asked, the Government's RRL said that the greatest improvement in car road safety would come from enclosing drivers in a separate compartment, London taxi style.

They have all the facts and figures and I'm sure they are right.

 

[Synthman]

I might have agreed with that until yesterday. I was driving home in the early evening and came round a bend in a single-track road on a 1 in 10 hill, to have the very low sun shine straight into my eyes. I came to a halt as I could literally see nothing in the lane ahead with its high banks, because of the sudden extreme contrast. I had actually to stick my head out of the window as I edged forward since visibility was improved without the windscreen.

Had a cyclist been there as I stopped, there is no way that I could have seen them. Fortunately there was no other road user of any variety, and after a few yards I was in a shadier stretch and had no problems for the rest of the journey.

But it was quite a salutary experience (and I have been driving for 50 years and my vision is perfect apart from for close reading).

If you had sunglasses for that stretch do you think it would have helped?

 

[bode]

If you had sunglasses for that stretch do you think it would have helped?

Nope! I had tried sunglasses a little earlier, and they just made the shadows darker.

 

[bode]

Yes of course, block passengers from phoning as well. Their conversation can be very distracting to a driver as well. When asked, the Government's RRL said that the greatest improvement in car road safety would come from enclosing drivers in a separate compartment, London taxi style.

They have all the facts and figures and I'm sure they are right.

And I expect that a universal speed limit of 15mph for all road users, not just e-bikers, would have a very beneficial effect; or what about a man with a red flag...

 

[flecc]

Of course one can go to extremes Roger, but drivers in separate compartments could be practical, those taxis manage it and then the passengers could have a reception zone and speak without disturbing the driver.

Ultimately it's a decision between how many deaths we accept and our freedoms, and applying the measures appropriate to that. I personally liked it when there were almost no speed limits and road deaths were around 6000 per annum instead of less than half that now, but most think that unacceptable it seems.
.

 

[mike killay]

As I understand it, it is not the actual holding of the phone that is dangerous, but having a conversation causes the mind to wander to another 'place' inhabited only by the two people speaking.
As an illustration, I was sailing my dinghy in the Gulf of Morbihan, France and having a difficult time beating into the wind against a strong tide. My phone rang and it was my Mother in Law who was looking after my Father for me whilst I was away. They could not get my TV to work. Suddenly, I was mentally transported all the way to my living room at home and gave them instructions as to how to work the TV.
This is where the danger lies.
Strangely, it is not illegal to use a walkie talkie when driving.

 

[steveindenmark]

With regards to mobile phones, and you may find this quite ridiculous, because I do.

I was driving in the car and I said to Jannie that every time I saw a driver using a phone in a car I would make a noise like an alarm and award myself a "Virtual" £50 as a fine from the driver.

I carry this on subconciously now and know full well that if the powers give me the chance to do this for a living that I would have a very good living by working 2 hours a day. The amount of car drivers who use phones is staggering. But look and see how many car drivers use phones while someone else is in the car....not many. It is almost always solo drivers. Probably because they are bored.

Fortunately my sister in law has just qualified as a hypnotherapist. I think I need to go and visit her.....BEEP::::BEEP::::BEEP

Steve

 

[fishingpaul]

Using a phone while driving should be seen just as seriously as drink driving,if somebody is driving along and taking their eyes off the road while texting on a phone held in their lap or knees,it is just as bad as drinking several pints of beer,also the phone held between kneck and shoulder i so often see, it is limiting control and vision to an extent just as bad as drinking three pints and driving home,people involved in accidents get tested for drink driving,i think they should also check for phone use at the time of the accident.

 

[tillson]

I was driving in the car and I said to Jannie that every time I saw a driver using a phone in a car I would make a noise like an alarm and award myself a "Virtual" £50 as a fine from the driver.

I bet the miles just fly by on those long monotonous journeys........

 

[steveindenmark]

I bet the miles just fly by on those long monotonous journeys........

Being an advanced police driver observing what is going on around you does not just apply to ten feet in front of the car ;Ø).

Steve

 

[flash]

A close friend of mine was killed earlier this year by a truck hitting him from behind. He leaves a wife and 2 grown up children. The driver was arrested, now we await the outcome of the inquest. The repercussions are too immense to comment on. He always rode with a powerful flashing LED rear light.

Text if you want to meet Jesus - On the Edge - Kristi Gustafson Barlette - Style Fashion Dating Blog - timesunion.com - Albany NY

 

[aseb]

(back to the start) I got a 12V led rear light that can be set as flashing or continuous from ebay which is pretty good. (Run via a 12V inverter).
If I'm squinting or blinded by the sun I assume that it's the same for drivers so venture onto the path where there is one, or try and think of somewhere else to go if there's no safer route. No amount of lighting will help, avoidance is the safest option.

 

[indalo]

Using a phone while driving should be seen just as seriously as drink driving

Paul, you've got it right. There needs to be a wholesale culture change in the UK in the way people drive and it has to start somewhere.

Cyclists are dying on our roads, not because they are venturing into territory where they don't belong; they are dying because of (a) A lack of respect from vehicle drivers and (b) A lack of law enforcement.

Regards,
Indalo

 

[tillson]

Being an advanced police driver observing what is going on around you does not just apply to ten feet in front of the car ;Ø).

Steve

I'm sorry officer, it is a serious point that you make.

I had conjured up this image in my mind of a bloke driving along making strange noises at seemingly random intervals. It was probably a bit juvenile on my part.

 

[funkylyn]

Using a phone while driving should be seen just as seriously as drink driving,if somebody is driving along and taking their eyes off the road while texting on a phone held in their lap or knees,it is just as bad as drinking several pints of beer,also the phone held between kneck and shoulder i so often see, it is limiting control and vision to an extent just as bad as drinking three pints and driving home,people involved in accidents get tested for drink driving,i think they should also check for phone use at the time of the accident.

You are right.....but HOW do we make people realise its just as bad as drink driving ?
I suppose its down to time passing.......it eventually filters into people psyche that it is unacceptable.

But of course to get there it has to be enforced more rigidly......just like when the seat belt law came in and the drink driving legislation........there just doesnt seem to be the same focus on this 'no phone' legislation....WHY ?

Is it down to lack of finance ?
Are the police stretched too far.....yes of course they are........so what next then ??
Back to first question....HOW ?
It seems to most people to be such an innocuous crime I just cannot see it being stopped.......the idea of electronically blocking the signal whilst you are in the car..... on the surface seems to be a possibly good idea......

If that had happened 8 years ago when my daughter, at 1am, was trapped and badly injured in her flattened car 30 metres down off a bridge in a spanish ravine ....but thank god could reach her shoulder bag for her mobile to call me before passing out........then she would most probably be dead now.......

And NO.....she hadnt been on her phone

Lynda