Video: Astana driver almost hits Tour de Yorkshire marshal

Beecho wrote:

Astana have called the marshal and apologised. I hope they're sending him a trunk load of goodies.

Yeah, they just delivered it this afternoon.

Beecho wrote:

Astana have called the marshal and apologised. I hope they're sending him a trunk load of goodies.

I hope they reprimand the driver and look at their internal processes that allowed this to happen... Before they kill or injure someone.

iso2000 wrote:

Funny i was thinking the other day that it can’t be that difficult to make a device that can be put near obsticles and waves a flag or flashes a light. Maybe it will take the death of a marshall before more thought is put into hazard warning.

I can remember going past roadworks in France when i was a kid and they had a dummy waving a flag to warn motorists.

iso2000 wrote:

Funny i was thinking the other day that it can’t be that difficult to make a device that can be put near obsticles and waves a flag or flashes a light. Maybe it will take the death of a marshall before more thought is put into hazard warning.

isn’t that what those hi-viz, strategically-placed but apparently invisible bollards are supposed to do?

ConcordeCX wrote:

iso2000 wrote:

Funny i was thinking the other day that it can’t be that difficult to make a device that can be put near obsticles and waves a flag or flashes a light. Maybe it will take the death of a marshall before more thought is put into hazard warning.

isn’t that what those hi-viz, strategically-placed but apparently invisible bollards are supposed to do?

 

I think he means instead of the martial.
The billiards are fine for normal driving (including team cars) but not for the cycling peloton due to close proximity to other riders, but it seems safer to have an automated warning than risk the safety of volunteers.

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

"blind bend"? Bullshit, you can see the Marshall from 40m away.

This and other incidents should mean all team cars have designated drivers who aren't titting about being distracted. I hope the police get involved because there's no excuse for that.

The problem with blanket rules is they have widespread unintended consequences.

At what level would your 'all team cars' kick in? Local club races on a closed circuit? Pro-continental teams? What evidence do you have that your rule would reduce harm?

It's how we get mandatory helmet laws. A blanket rule that is a knee jerk reaction to a situation implemented without supporting evidence that then affects every user on every level, all to save the entirely unique situation that arises in a tiny percentage of cases. 

I can't see you being in favour of that

madcarew wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

"blind bend"? Bullshit, you can see the Marshall from 40m away.

This and other incidents should mean all team cars have designated drivers who aren't titting about being distracted. I hope the police get involved because there's no excuse for that.

The problem with blanket rules is they have widespread unintended consequences.

At what level would your 'all team cars' kick in? Local club races on a closed circuit? Pro-continental teams? What evidence do you have that your rule would reduce harm?

It's how we get mandatory helmet laws. A blanket rule that is a knee jerk reaction to a situation implemented without supporting evidence that then affects every user on every level, all to save the entirely unique situation that arises in a tiny percentage of cases. 

I can't see you being in favour of that

it's not remotely the same as helmets for a start off, and as for what level, every level that has cars on the course at the same time as people racing bicycles and/or has marshalls on the road.

The effect should be minimal, every team has someone who can drive, I and others are just saying that that driver do exactly that and not do what they currently do, on the radio, fannying about with all sorts inside the vehicle everything except actually looking ahead and driving safely when in close proximity to vulnerable road users.

Look at recent years and the amount of incidents are stacking up with some real shockers, the Hoogeland one was bad enough because the driver failed to notice that big arse tree slightly on the lane and thought driving into riders at speed was the best option instead of slowing down, another where the guy undertook and sideswiped a rider wiping him out, another rammed into the back of another team car which in turn hits a rider, the list goes on.

It's a minor adjustment and each driver should have a minimum set of requirements stipulated by the UCI and/or race organisers so they are fully understanding of their responsibilities.

Or do we wait until someone is killed before we act, we've already had seriously injured parties due to piss poor driving.

ktache wrote:

Those fluorescent yellow illuminated retroreflective bollards should have made themselves more visible!

Daytime running lights should be made mandatory for vulnerable street furniture.