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@rpm
Why does the media continue to describe cycle transport and the associated safety as a 'debate'? There's not that much to discuss in all reality.
Victim blaming and skirting around factual issues aside, I think this country has very real problem with facing up to personal responsibility. Leaving London out of the equation for a minute, many if not most people rely on a car. Clearly any suggestion that they should obey the law regarding the car must be a huge issue for the government to tackle, like limiting the number of children people have, or whether to bring back the death penalty.
It seems so simple to reasonable people with a modicum of intelligence: prevent deaths at the root cause, in this case, by discovering why and how motorists kill. It's not because of a painted blue path (or lack of), it's not because of the victim failing to use optional protective equipment, it's not really even about whether some cyclists break the law as much as motorists do. Its a plain and simple fact that an increasing number of drivers are being at best careless, negligent and selfish, and at worst, aggressive, lawless and willfully violent. Furthermore, the chances of being caught and brought to book for this behaviour are few and far between, and when they are, often with surprisingly leniency.
The real 'debate' is not who's or what is to blame, it's whether we, as a country can admit we are wrong and work to redeem ourselves, and know that when we start up that motor, it's a privilege which requires us to respect and safeguard ourselves and others we encounter, by obeying the law, being considerate, knowledgable and skilled behind the wheel.
You may also consider, that the death of a pedestrian is lamented as a terrible 'accident', and you rarely hear anyone suggest it's their own fault because 'they run out in the road without looking' or 'they disobey traffic signals', yet these must be the cause of many pedestrian deaths. Not only is there a very 'pro motoring' attitude in the UK, there's a lot of daily evidence to say it's very much 'anti cycling' too.