Cycling and Risk Taking survey

The survey focuses on cyclist behaviour at junctions, and it is therefore no surprise that it attempts to explore all possible scenarios that occur at junctions. It does not paint only scenarios where the cyclist places him- or herself in harm's way, but offers in each option a number of safe positionings (although, as I said above, the 'either' options aren't clear).

It is certainly true that the 'blind spot' excuse is unacceptable, but in what way was that part of the survey? I couldn't discover it.

Also, it is not victim-blaming to be clear that there are a number of clearly recorded instances in which cyclists negotiated the proximity of a high-sided vehicle incautiously at junctions, much as it is quite clear that there are also cases in which a significant or primary aspect of fault lay with the motor vehicle driver.

How exactly the crashes occurred is irrelevant to the importance of advising cyclists clearly not to go down the inside of a lorry, or that lorries can swing out to the right before making a sharp left turn. It is very important to spread that message in order to prevent deaths, as it is still not known widely enough.

It is true that many people immediately rush out to blame exclusively the victims, and that tendency must be stopped. Collisions must be investigated properly. Traffic law must change to enable better convictions. There's a lot work to do and I wouldn't claim that pointing out this risk to cyclists is the most important part of this work, but I'm perfectly comfortable with it if it prevents deaths.

So, a "yes" then?