Primary position

It takes a good instructor to assess you and tailor the training specifically to you.

This is a good point Oliver. Sadly, several of the most dangerous cyclists I have ever riden with have been cycle instructors. These are cycle instructors who have applied the theory too rigidly at the expense of over time forgetting how to read the road and traffic appropriately. One of the more dangerous examples of this was an instructor who insisted on taking primary in fast flowing traffic where visibility was extremely limited as GA2G suggested could happen. I watched in horror as several vehicles, travelling at over 40mph, had to drop the anchors to avoid killing this person. This is one example of instances where I have seen cycle instructors put themselves in danger through not adapting the theory to the circumstances they find themselves in.

Before anybody starts to try to guess which instructors I am talking about, please note that I do know some who are not on this forum or from London. I am also in no way saying that all cycle instructors are dangerous riders, I am talking about a minority.

Primary position is a very useful tool that I can use when the circumstances mean that it will put me in a safer position. If there is space for me to safely be out of the way on the left I will do so instead.

Like all safe cycling theories, they must only be used where appropriate rather than as a rule.