2008-09-14 - Rider Down/Fatality x 2

Feel free to shoot me down but I'm fairly convinced that being a driver makes you a 'safer' cyclist. I say 'safer' because safer can mean several things. More cautious? More aware? More confident? Take your pick. Might have to think it through some more, but I'm sure there's a link. Of course there are plenty of shit drivers, so it's not a rule by any means.

It's logical isn't it? If you've operated more than one vehicle on the road you have experience with the pitfalls of each, ie. you know where blindspots are, have a grasp of how fast/slow they can accelerate etc.

This is very true. I am qualified to, and have, driven everything from artic lorries through motorbikes down to cycles around the country, continent and London (which can be considered in my opinion to be it's own seperate entity). I consider myself to be aware of all other drivers, their view of the road, and how they are driven, and therefore can appreciate what each is thinking and how they are driving. This DOES NOT mean everyone has the same view and just because a cyclist can anticipate what a driver is about to, doesn't mean a driver can anticipate the actions of a cyclist, or even has looked in the appropriate places to have seen him/her.

I'm not defending blasay (sp?) drivers, just saying that we, as cyclists, should be aware that drivers do things without fully thinking or looking. And since we will always come off worse, we should always be prepared for and anticipate dickheads doing dickhead things.