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Obeying the highway code
We all know that motorists are obsessed with cyclists obeying the
highway code. I contend that there are occasions when it is safer for me (and better for motorists) for me to break the highway code. Do any other cyclists agree on this one? Brian. |
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#2
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Obeying the highway code
"brianrob1961" wrote in message
... We all know that motorists are obsessed with cyclists obeying the highway code. I contend that there are occasions when it is safer for me (and better for motorists) for me to break the highway code. Do any other cyclists agree on this one? Brian. No, as a cyclist I disagree. The Highway code is there to be followed, not ignored. It has been written by road safety experts for the benefit of all road users. |
#3
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Obeying the highway code
On Thu, 05 Sep 2013 21:23:57 +0100, brianrob1961 wrote:
We all know that motorists are obsessed with cyclists obeying the highway code. I contend that there are occasions when it is safer for me (and better for motorists) for me to break the highway code. Do any other cyclists agree on this one? Well, the majority of the highway code is of course optional in a strict sense - it being guidance rather than law. There probably are circumstances when it is better to take an action that doesn't match that guidance, but they are pretty few. With respect to the bits that are law, there are certainly parts where it would be safer for the cyclist and better for motorists if the cyclist broke the law. However, cyclists and motorists are not the only people with an interest. Pedestrians, for example, may be seriously disadvantaged by cyclists on the pavement, even in the (rare) cases where it's safer for the cyclist to be there. In my view, cyclists should obey the law, and self-serving arguments that it's safer for them to break it cut no ice. Cyclists breaking the law should be prosecuted to the fullest extent, as should all other road-users breaking the law. If you don't like it, get it changed. regards, Ian SMith -- |\ /| no .sig |o o| |/ \| |
#4
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Obeying the highway code
"brianrob1961" wrote
We all know that motorists are obsessed with cyclists obeying the highway code. I contend that there are occasions when it is safer for me (and better for motorists) for me to break the highway code. Do any other cyclists agree on this one? For drivers, the Highway Code is the default safe situation. That is, it is not necessarily unsafe to break it but it is not necessary to break it to be safe. For a person on a bike, that does not apply; safety can be enhanced by being selective. There is, of course, a difference between doing something that helps and doing something daft. |
#5
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Obeying the highway code
On 05/09/2013 21:47, John Benn wrote:
"brianrob1961" wrote in message ... We all know that motorists are obsessed with cyclists obeying the highway code. I contend that there are occasions when it is safer for me (and better for motorists) for me to break the highway code. Do any other cyclists agree on this one? Brian. No, as a cyclist I disagree. The Highway code is there to be followed, not ignored. It has been written by road safety experts for the benefit of all road users. I think he means that sometimes situations occur, which the highway code doesn't allow for and common sense prevails. |
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Obeying the highway code
On Thursday, 5 September 2013 21:23:57 UTC+1, brianrob1961 wrote:
We all know that motorists are obsessed with cyclists obeying the highway code. I contend that there are occasions when it is safer for me (and better for motorists) for me to break the highway code. Do any other cyclists agree on this one? "I was in fear of losing my life", "I was in fear of serious injury", "I was in fear of being injured". "I am not contractually obliged as I am neither a state employee nor have I agreed explicitly to such regulations of service". "I have not been and I am not a cyclist". |
#7
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Obeying the highway code
On Thu, 05 Sep 2013 21:23:57 +0100
brianrob1961 wrote: We all know that motorists are obsessed with cyclists obeying the highway code. I contend that there are occasions when it is safer for me (and better for motorists) for me to break the highway code. Do any other cyclists agree on this one? Large parts of the Highway Code are advisory rather than statements of legal requirements, so you can't really "break" them. The basic laws like not riding on footways where not permitted, against one-way traffic or through red lights, having lights and reflectors at night, and working brakes, are pretty important both for safety and not winding up other road users who do stick to the rules. So basically no, I don't agree with your law-breaking, and I think that in doing so you harm the public perception of cyclists as responsible road users. |
#8
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Obeying the highway code
On Thu, 5 Sep 2013 23:33:25 +0100, Rob Morley
wrote: On Thu, 05 Sep 2013 21:23:57 +0100 brianrob1961 wrote: We all know that motorists are obsessed with cyclists obeying the highway code. I contend that there are occasions when it is safer for me (and better for motorists) for me to break the highway code. Do any other cyclists agree on this one? Large parts of the Highway Code are advisory rather than statements of legal requirements, so you can't really "break" them. The basic laws like not riding on footways where not permitted, against one-way traffic or through red lights, having lights and reflectors at night, and working brakes, are pretty important both for safety and not winding up other road users who do stick to the rules. So basically no, I don't agree with your law-breaking, and I think that in doing so you harm the public perception of cyclists as responsible road users. How many other road users stick to the rules? As far as I can tell, criminality by motorists is endemic throughout the British Isles. How many motorists do you know that rigorously keep within the speed limits - always? And breaking the speed limit is just one example of criminality among motor vehicle drivers. |
#9
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Obeying the highway code
"Bertie Wooster" wrote in message ... On Thu, 5 Sep 2013 23:33:25 +0100, Rob Morley wrote: On Thu, 05 Sep 2013 21:23:57 +0100 brianrob1961 wrote: We all know that motorists are obsessed with cyclists obeying the highway code. I contend that there are occasions when it is safer for me (and better for motorists) for me to break the highway code. Do any other cyclists agree on this one? Large parts of the Highway Code are advisory rather than statements of legal requirements, so you can't really "break" them. The basic laws like not riding on footways where not permitted, against one-way traffic or through red lights, having lights and reflectors at night, and working brakes, are pretty important both for safety and not winding up other road users who do stick to the rules. So basically no, I don't agree with your law-breaking, and I think that in doing so you harm the public perception of cyclists as responsible road users. How many other road users stick to the rules? As far as I can tell, criminality by motorists is endemic throughout the British Isles. How many motorists do you know that rigorously keep within the speed limits - always? And breaking the speed limit is just one example of criminality among motor vehicle drivers. This is a cycling newsgroup. Please stay on topic. |
#10
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Obeying the highway code
On 06/09/2013 07:49, Bertie Wooster wrote:
On Thu, 5 Sep 2013 23:33:25 +0100, Rob Morley wrote: On Thu, 05 Sep 2013 21:23:57 +0100 brianrob1961 wrote: We all know that motorists are obsessed with cyclists obeying the highway code. I contend that there are occasions when it is safer for me (and better for motorists) for me to break the highway code. Do any other cyclists agree on this one? Large parts of the Highway Code are advisory rather than statements of legal requirements, so you can't really "break" them. The basic laws like not riding on footways where not permitted, against one-way traffic or through red lights, having lights and reflectors at night, and working brakes, are pretty important both for safety and not winding up other road users who do stick to the rules. So basically no, I don't agree with your law-breaking, and I think that in doing so you harm the public perception of cyclists as responsible road users. How many other road users stick to the rules? As far as I can tell, criminality by motorists is endemic throughout the British Isles. How many motorists do you know that rigorously keep within the speed limits - always? And breaking the speed limit is just one example of criminality among motor vehicle drivers. Well, yes, that is largely my point. There are certainly places where I am safer (with care) taking action that contravenes the highway code. |
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