Why you should always assume the driver has not seen you

^^^ I was so hoping that was a video link!

Ok Andy, we'll have to just agree to disagree. I don't think right of way is the only factor here - legally being in the right & staying on your bike without doing a face plant don't always go hand in hand - it would be nice if they did though!

Fuck off you numpty twat! You must be fucking kidding?

OMG Andy, have you switched to the same brand of milk as DJ's? :D

DJ doesn't get a chance to drink his milk.

Give us hope, please explain.

Obeying the law doesn't make them blameless - it would have been sensible to slow down, given the fact they were entering a roundabout & that said roundabout had at least two cars approaching it - are you seriously disagreeing with that?

I have to agree with this. There are laws, and there is common sense.

I used to row on the Thames, with big boats coming past. As a non-motor boat I had certain rights of way, but I always remember what my coach said to me "Being right doesn't help if you are dead, stay the fuck away from other boats".

And that's the same principle I apply to cycling.

I dunno, you could also say that if he hadn't taken his new shiny camera out to film himself riding fast, he might have been riding a little more defensively.

Lots of things the cyclist could or should have done differently and it is certainly worth pointing these things out, but in the end it's the car driver that's at fault.

Are you people that fucking SOFT upstairs??

What is the point of having a highway code, written law and a force to enforce it? Do you think the driver would have hit the cyclist (who was in the correct position) if it had been a London Cement mixer truck thingy, or the 53 bus to Plumstead? No he would not. It was 100% driver error. The cyclist maybe should have slowed in the interest of self preservation but not because of anything he'd done wrong.

incidentally, when a car that could possibly have right-hooked me coming from other direction at a green traffic light does indeed make eye contact and waits like they would for a car, i give a quick nod / wave thankyou hoping to encourage more of this behaviour

that's more like it.

I blame the cyclist 100%, even though its obvious that the car driver was in the wrong.

drivers reading this will think...?

What is the point of having a highway code, if according to you the cyclist that has right of way can have cars driving into his path unlawfully?

cyclist may be a plum for not doing the self preservation thing but IT IS NOT 100% HIS FAULT.

incidentally, when a car that could possibly have right-hooked me coming from other direction at a green traffic light does indeed make eye contact and waits like they would for a car, i give a quick nod / wave thankyou hoping to encourage more of this behaviour

another 1+ on this, behaving almost exactly like a car work wonder (taking the lane, waiting in line with other traffic instead of going on the front, letting cars out).

in fact, from what i seen of Will's training, his cycling behaviour is pretty akin to a drivers.

+1

Right of way, driver didn't see cyclist, driver hit cyclist, cyclist fell.

black and white, driver's fault.

I have to agree with this. There are laws, and there is common sense.

I used to row on the Thames, with big boats coming past. As a non-motor boat I had certain rights of way, but I always remember what my coach said to me "Being right doesn't help if you are dead, stay the fuck away from other boats".

And that's the same principle I apply to cycling.

Another numpty.

I don't want to get banned for flaming numpty cunts who are thick as shit.

+1 to the comments from andyp, mrsmyth and Festus, thank fuck there are some intelligent cyclists on here who don't mince their words.

Definitely the drivers fault, but it's always wiser to be a bit more cautious. No point being the most pious fucker in the hospital, is there?
Saying that, if he'd been going slower he'd have hit the car fully side on - the car was pulling out regardless, and the cyclist wouldn't have had time to stop.
You still getting your milk nicked, James?

Lucy

no milk

want to taste my creamy goodness little girl?

Dirty bird.
You're like Old Greg.

I have to agree with this. There are laws, and there is common sense.

I used to row on the Thames, with big boats coming past. As a non-motor boat I had certain rights of way, but I always remember what my coach said to me "Being right doesn't help if you are dead, stay the fuck away from other boats".

And that's the same principle I apply to cycling.

+1. I generally cycle assuming I have the same rights as any road user, BUT always try to have a plan B to account for idiot drivers - I'm not happy to put my general health in the hands of fools. I get the impression that a lot of drivers a) assume cyclists don't go very fast b) are just a pain in the arse that get in the way of real road users. If I don't think I can get out of a situation I try not to get into it. By approaching the roundabout at that speed, that cyclist wasn't giving himself enough options.

I actually can't believe that some of the forums most active posters are jumping on the backs of other people just because they don't agree with them - or maybe I can, but it usually takes a little more provacation.

At no point did i say it was all the riders fault or that the driver was blameless - it's obvious that the driver drove into the cyclist and so they are at fault. My point was that if the cyclist had slowed down they would have been able to ride away and kept all their blood on the inside. It's all very well riding around knowing you're in the right but a bit of common sense in slowing down would seriously help because it's well known that drivers aren't always concentrating/capable.

I know a lot of this is just internet bravato & IRL you probably wouldn't act like this, but still...

^indeed.

Someone got hurt and you are all insulting each other. It makes perfect sense.

The cyclist was riding like a twat. You have to slow down in these situations otherwise expect to end up on the floor. Its a sad fact that you have to assume that a car is always going to pull out in situations like that and take action before the event happens.

Knowing this and the difference between thinking it's my right of way I am not slowing down, is the difference between spending a lot of time getting hit by cars and not getting hit by cars. This comes from experience.

oh dear Mike, someone is going to dig up the dreaded thread.

HA HA. yeah I have it on ignore so I wouldn't know if they did ;)

The cyclist scrubs speed (slightly) before entering the 2nd rdbt, then accelerates (slightly) once he's on it.

This is normal, predictable, and correct.

The driver fails to pay attention/stop/slow and ploughs straight into him.

This is not normal, unpredictable (statistically), and incorrect.

Anyone apportioning ANY blame to the cyclist in this example should shut the make love up.

I think it's worth pointing out that a large amount of road users have no fucking idea who's right of way it is at a roundabout so It's definitely worth slowing down. I came a whisker away from being taken out like this last week. The melt behind the wheel was seen fuming and fist shaking as he was convinced it was his right of way.