why is this even up for debate?

Ghost1951

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 2, 2024
2,257
1,017
The story about the family member losing a leg is tragic and horrible, but all too common.

Many drivers treat the task of driving like they were sitting at home in an armchair watching TV. They are often inattentive, careless, and cavalier about the safety of others.

I knew of someone who was knocked off his bicycle on a mini round about - clipped by a close passing car. It did not stop. He fell and banged his head. He was wearing a helmet, got up and went home, but was never the same again. He had serious cognitive issues afterwards. He died about three years later at an early age.

Who cares?

No one.

The incident is probably just a line in a police computer somewhere, with 'No Further Action' recorded against it.

Being realistic, unless someone produced dash cam evidence, or had the opportunity to record the registration number, and report it, there is not much anyone could do to track down the driver.

Two motorcyclists I knew have been killed in the last 12 years. Neither was at fault. One was run over by a large SUV on a roundabout. The driver got away with it. The other was killed by a farmer who turned right in front of him from the opposing carriageway, directly into his path. He was an experienced rider who used to volunteer as a safety instructor of newer riders for Durham Police. Much good that did him - sadly.

EVERY motorcyclist can tell you numerous horrible tales of car and other drivers pulling out of side roads into their path. I certainly can. I have three motorbikes. None of them has been out this year yet. Unless you ride slowly on the less busy roads, you are at massive risk. Even then, ridiculous things happen.
 

volt x

Pedelecer
Apr 26, 2025
65
1
Now you are making assumptions and just being silly and insulting. My stance is definitely NOT that I'm above the law, no-one is.

But when the law theatens life and actually takes lives, as the white line law has on so many occasions, one is entitled to defend oneself on those occasions.

After 73 years of driving, similar of cycling and some 54 years of motorcycling, there's not a road accident scar on me or anyone else, so I'll continue to trust my judgement and ignore your closed mind one.
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Then your stance is to encourage others into using the box or going over the white line. As you see this as a safety measure for motorcyclists. Yet it is still against the law so perhaps technically you might be seen to be inciting to breaking the law.

In all the years I've been using the London roads I've never seen a motorcyclist being hit by a car at traffic lights as you have described. Most bikers are probably hit by drivers pulling out at a junction. I remember the TV campaign to get drivers to watch out for bikers, when pulling out.

The question is who's being silly, me for advocating the proper use of traffic lights. You for as you put it defending themselves against the white line law. The bigger question is, how far past the white line is okay. I was going to say legitimate but everyone knows it's not.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,503
30,813
In all the years I've been using the London roads I've never seen a motorcyclist being hit by a car at traffic lights as you have described.
Nor have I and I've never described anything of the sort.

My mention, if you reread my posts, is of two wheelers being crushed by left turning trucks, killing the riders when leaving the lights. Many of them, up to ten or more every year, a subject we discussed in depth long ago. I see now that you've only joined pedelecs this year so it's perhaps not surprising you know so little about this subject.

And it seems you also know nothing about how optional some traffic related laws are, with the government's official published approval.
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