AA Streetwatch survey - to record bad driving behaviour - CLOSES 9th MAY

The AA are asking everyone to do a survey to record bad driver behaviour. You need to observe a minimum of 100 cars while standing  inconspicuously at a junction (taking about an hour). They are looking at mobile phone use, seatbelt use, speed being 'too fast for conditions' - so I assume anything above 20mph in a residential area should be given a black mark :-), no indicator, defective brake lights, and jumping traffic lights.

Survey needs to be done between 16th April - 9th May. Note you can only submit your results via their website.

      Details    [CLICK HERE]
                                          Form to print   [CLICK HERE]

I guess the more people that commit to doing this, the more evidence will be generated regarding bad driver behaviour.

Notified By (& thanks to) Alasdair Massie   CTC RTR North Herts

As Alastair says, be inconspicuous. If you wear a bright yellow cycling top, remove it before you start your obs, motorists change their behaviour when they see one lurking; I wonder why.

You can go to as many obs sites as you like & submit umpteen forms.
Be careful to judge the behaviour fairly & in accord with Highway Code - for example transgressions at traffic lights only occur if the vehicle crosses the stop line (or enters the ASL box) after the red light is showing.
Make sure the car is not left hand drive when you see the 'driver' on the phone.
I guess that driving over the centre dot of a mini roundabout means 'too fast for conditions'.
Some drivers have exemption from seat belts - never mind count them too.

It would be interesting to see some feedback on your experiences - so please add a comment to this post.

Results of a previous 'Streetwatch' survey are to be found [HERE], I expect that the survey related to this post will appear at the same URL.

Cycle Lane Widths & Cyclist's Position on Road (Cycle infrastructure design)

Comments from Google Group cam.transport
on Local transport note 2/08 - Cycle infrastructure design

Comments can be found [HERE]

"7.4.3 Cyclists can overtake each other within a 2-metre wide lane and
easily remain within it when looking back to check for traffic,"

Can we overtake each other within 2 metre width? I think not.
Two sets of handlebars at 600mm + four elbows at 150 is more than 2m; would require a great deal of cooperation.

"...or when avoiding kerbside drainage grates, etc. "

The authors are assuming that drainage grates are the only hazard - Hertfordshire has potholes as well.

"...Drivers do not always realise that cyclists need to move away from the kerb to avoid surface hazards "

But they are supposed to know this as they have all read their Highway Code!!

Higway code- progress!

It appears common sense is beginning to prevail. It's also fairly clear that the actions of individuals writing to MPs and signing online petitions helped the CTC a great deal. There's news from the CTC here and, inevitably, another petition here which should help the CTC show the wide grass-roots support for their campaigning position.

From BikeForAll.com: Following a high-profile campaign by CTC, the Government has agreed to amend the draft Highway Code wording to improve cyclists’ safety and to encourage drivers to take more care around vulnerable road users. 11,000 people contacted their MPs, 20,000 signed an online petition and a cross-party coalition in both Houses of Parliament defended cyclists' right to cycle on the road.

CTC campaigner, Richard George, said "We're delighted that the Minister has decided to make these changes to the Highway Code; it now makes clear that cyclists have every right to be on the road. Following some intensive negotiations the Department for Transport has listened to cyclists, and this new version is a definite improvement."

From The Daily Mail:

Rule 61, stated: "Use cycle routes and cycle facilities such as advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings wherever possible, as they can make your journey safer."

It is now planned that it will read: "Cycle Facilities. Use cycle routes, advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings unless at the time it is unsafe to do so. Use of these facilities is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills, but they can make your journey safer."

Rule 63, said: "(cycle lanes) are marked with a white line (which may be broken). Keep within the lane wherever possible."

The proposed revision now reads: "Cycle Lanes. These are marked by a white line (which may be broken) along the carriageway. When using a cycle lane, keep within the lane when practicable. When leaving a cycle lane check before pulling out that it is safe to do so and signal your intention clearly to other road users. Use of these facilities is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills, but they can make your journey safer."

Highway code- in Parliament

Cycle lane, originally uploaded by rich-pix.

News from Parliament, via Theyworkforyou.com

Read what your elected (and unelected) representatives have to say.

Then sign the petition and write to your MP!

Yesterday (17 May) there were questions in the Lords on the highway code changes. Answers were varied, if somewhat predictable. Pro-cycling peers opposed the changes and put up with the inevitable 'cyclists jump red lights, ride on pavements and don't use lights at nights' comments with great patience. The government maintained that "the department is extremely conscious of the need to get this right. I have gone through the wording very carefully with your Lordships; if your Lordships have a better form of wording, we will listen to it. We have been consulting for a very long time on this and are determined to get it right." The debate is well (and amusingly) summed up by this thread on the usenet forum uk.rec.cycling.

10 May Stephen Ladyman repeats the government position in a written answer, asserting that that other rules were amended to afford more protection to cyclists and other venerable road users, but not saying why cyclists' responses to the consultation were ignored.

8 May In response to another question Stephen Ladyman fails to detail how much account was taken of cyclists' responses to the consulation.

9 May 2006 House of Commons cycling debate, containing some indication of the volume of letters to MPs on the Highway Code revision

2 May 2006 'The simple answer is that it will not' says Derek Twigg, when asked if the new Highway Code may force cyclists off the road for fear of legal consequences.

UK Highway Code revision- Tories to force Lords debate

UK Highway Code revision- Tories to force Lords debate, originally uploaded by mike1727.

Part of Anne Main's response to my letter about Highway Code changes.

This is good news- but keep writing letters!

Anne also says:

Highway code revision threatens your safety- ACT NOW!

Last year the highway code came up for review. Some of the wording changes will put cyclists in increased danger, and cyclists need to act now to have their voice heard.

If you don't want (presumably) well-intentioned but badly framed legislation to force you to use substandard cycle lanes then join the 13,000 cyclists who have already objected by signing the online petition here. It only takes a moment and shows the level of cyclists' opposition to these changes.

Once you've done that, please spend a few minutes writing to Anne Main, asking her to support Early Day Motion 1433 "That the alterations in the provisions of the Highway Code proposed to be made by the Secretary of State for Transport, dated 28th March 2007, a copy of which was laid before this House on 28th March, be not made.". Please also Mrs Main to talk to her colleagues in the Lords who can 'pray against' the rewording, since the most effective challenge is likely to take place in the Lords.

There's more information on the CCN site here, including a sample letter. If you have time, please write in your own words, since personal comments are more effective than just sending 'yet another form letter'. This site allows you to send a message direct to Anne Main without a stamp- from experience you should have some sort of reply within 48 hours.