Motorists face prosecution for driving too close to cyclists

[superkartracer]

http://news.sky.com/story/motorists-face-prosecuti...

[BoRED S2upid]

Good if it's enforced drivers are supposed to be fined for using their phones but how many actually are?

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Good - I was nearly taken out by a lady in her 50s last week. I rarely have any incidents on the road and I am not prone to cycling road rage but this was an extremely close pass so when I caught up with her at the next set of lights I politely gestured that I wanted a word and she ignored me. She turned into a pub about a mile further down the road was quite surprised to see me waiting for her when she got out of the car. I suggested that in future she should give cyclists a little bit more space and her response was - "you cyclists should stay in the cycle lanes".

Where she nearly took me out there wasn't a cycle lane and I was doing over 20mph. I explained that there was no cycle lane and that if she were to clip a cyclist she would probably put them in the hospital and would have to live hurting or killing someones father/son/husband/brother. She then became quiet apologetic and hopefully she will give the next cyclist she encounters a bit more room.

[Magic919]

I'd prefer to see some adverts and signs.

As usual, the reality and headline don't match. They won't actually prosecute most of the drivers.

[47p2]

Does this mean the Sky bus driver from last weeks incident will be prosecuted?

[Dr Murdoch]

Magic919 said:

I'd prefer to see some adverts and signs.

As usual, the reality and headline don't match. They won't actually prosecute most of the drivers.

I agree 100%

Will it be enforced? Is it enforceable?

Public awareness might prove to be a better solution, ad campaigns etc

[Magic919]

Certainly enforceable as careless driving.

[Dr Murdoch]

Magic919 said:

Certainly enforceable as careless driving.

How is the distance accurately measured?

[Magic919]

It doesn't need to be. There isn't any magic distance.

[Dr Murdoch]

Magic919 said:

It doesn't need to be. There isn't any magic distance.

I thought the article stated 1.5m?

"West Midlands Police have begun proceedings against 38 motorists for what is known as close passing - giving cyclists less than a metre-and-a-half of room."

[Magic919]

The prosecution bit is careless driving. There are no set distances in that law.

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Magic919 said:

I'd prefer to see some adverts and signs.

As usual, the reality and headline don't match. They won't actually prosecute most of the drivers.

Agreed a national campaign to educate would be good idea...

[simonpieman]

This is a welcome start. However, ultimately Bhm city council needs to change the road infrastructure so that cyclists and cars don't share the same space in busy areas. London has gone a long way towards this. It is much more fun cycling in London, than Birmingham.

[47p2]

Very seldom can I go out for a cycle without a close pass. It seems the norm now to be given a punishment pass just because some knob in a motorised vehicle is delayed by a few seconds.

[Daveyraveygravey]

This was on Talksport news this morning, I actually cheered! But there should be a lot more publicity about it, we should all post to Facebook, talk about it with friends and family, work mates. They said something along the lines of "minimum compulosry distance of 1.5m" which I have never heard of, I think the Highway Code says "at least as much room as a car" doesn't it?