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news
Highway Code (Department for Transport)Highway Code 'fury': Calls for cyclists' driving test as Mike Graham and Daily Express continue attacking changes
The Highway Code changes were back in the spotlight again today after an article on the Daily Express' website, in which Paul Biggs from the Alliance of British Drivers demanded cyclists take a test to use the roads.
Despite the story claiming Biggs is a "keen leisure cyclist", the representitive for the voluntary organisation that promotes the interests and concerns of Britain's drivers, said it was "bizarre untrained cyclists are still allowed on the roads."
"It seems crazy to allow cyclists on the roads with no requirement to have at least passed a cycling proficiency test or to have even read the Highway Code," Biggs said.
"If the government are genuinely interested in cycling safety, then it's bizarre that untrained cyclists are still allowed on the roads."
The news site then shared messages from readers on social media supporting the calls for an official test for cyclists to be allowed on the road, although some did suggest motorists be required to complete cycling experience as part of the driving test.
Biggs commented that 15 to 20 per cent of cyclists had never passed a driving test or Highway Code theory test, words which were published alongside figures from Avaris Bikes explaining there were 12,252 crashes 'involving a car and cycle' in London since 2019.
The Express story set the scene for the calls, saying: "Cyclists are currently not required to take a test or learn the Highway Code to be on the roads. This is despite cyclists being placed with pedestrians at the top of the new ‘hierarchy of road users’ which has led to some cyclists riding three abreast down the middle of the road."
Within the article a clip from Good Morning Britain featuring TalkRadio presenter Mike Graham slamming the Highway Code changes was included.
During Graham's rant he says giving priority to cyclists at roundabouts is "a recipe for disaster", and claims that cyclists are being encouraged to ride "three abreast slowly in front of cars".
Before finally adding: "Let's not forget we've spent tens of millions of pounds, hundreds of millions, probably, creating cycle lanes for cyclists to be able to ride safely in lockdown [...]
"They're now saying they want room back on the rest of the road that we are all squeezed onto, and that's why people are rushing around so much because congestion has actually increased as a result of this mad dash to turn everybody into a cyclist."
At the heart of the revised Highway Code is the 'Hierachy of Road Users':
A concept that places those road users most at risk in the event of a collision at the top of the hierarchy. The hierarchy does not remove the need for everyone to behave responsibly. The road users most likely to be injured in the event of a collision are pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists, with children, older adults and disabled people being more at risk
Regarding Graham's comments about cyclists being told to ride "three abreast slowly in front of cars", the Highway Code actually states:
Be considerate of the needs of other road users when riding in groups. You can ride two abreast and it can be safer to do so, particularly in larger groups or when accompanying children or less experienced riders. Be aware of drivers behind you and allow them to overtake (for example, by moving into single file or stopping) when you feel it is safe to let them do so
It is not the first time the changes have been misrepresented or criticised by the national press.
> Press misrepresents Highway Code changes – just days before they come into force
Days before the changes came into force the Express ran with, "POLL: Do you support new fine for opening car with wrong hand as cyclists given priority?" in reference to the advised Dutch Reach method of opening your vehicle's door.
The truth is it was already an offence to open a car door, or cause or permit it to be opened, so as to cause injury, punishable by a maximum fine of £1,000.
It is not a new law and drivers who do not use the Dutch Reach technique will not be fined, unless they commit the aforementioned existing offence.
Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Dan has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too.
Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously, when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace, or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family. Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way, he's a bit strange like that.
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60 comments
Indeed. It is fairly common among most of us here (apart from the special one who all motorists know he rides courteously and never has any issues with any motorists.....) for us to be the victim of the treatment that you describe even though we stick to all of the rules of the road etc. all because a driver has seen someone on a bike do something.
And in relation to close passes most of them are entirely avoidable, I would go as far as to say in a lot of cases feel deliberate (but it will come back and say there is no way to prove intent of someone close passing) because a large percentage of close passes take place on two lane roads when there is no oncoming traffic and there is nothing to stop said driver moving entirely onto the opposite lane of the carriageway to pass...... but quite simply they do not.
You sound exactly the same as me! And yes, I still get the abuse, and have to explain my choice of transport/sport to others.
Fine, give them what they want. Cancel all drivers licences and make everyone sit a cycling proficiency test. Because if you're not safe enough operating a bicycle, you sure as hell ain't safe enough operating anything else.
As I understand it, motorists are trained and licenced and insured because if they make a mistake then it is far more likely that the other party will be seriously damaged (property) or KSI (person).
If a cyclist or a pedestrian makes a mistake then it is far likelier that they will be KSI.
Putting this up for our friend as it doesn't feel as bad as responding directly
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/08/killer-cyclists-ro...
Every year the KSI's and minor injury figures consistently prove that the real danger on our roads come from the allegedly licensed, insured and registered motorists. Every year many of these 'highly trained and skilled' road users wreck havoc on the roads. Not just with vulnerable road users but with other motorists. There are many of us in this site who have been victims or personally know victims of the shoddy road craft demonstrated by a lot of motorists out there. And yet we see a judicial system that gives people a slap on the wrist in many cases for taking the life of another human being.
To make demands that cyclists be insured and licensed will only serve to reduce the numbers of active travel and placing greater pressure on the NHS with long term illnesses. Cycling and walking should be made more accessible, especially in the urban areas. There are so many benefits that outweigh the reliance on the motor vehicle. And even if the motoring lobby is successful in forcing cyclists off the road. They will still kill and maim each other and pedestrians.
The likes of Mike Graham and his ilk are only stirring up more animosity with their rants. They need to step back and look more objectively at road safety rather than get in a lather about being slowed down. Today I watched a rather good YouTube clip by Ashley Neal who actually talked through various scenarios at junctions while driving round a small town. They all made sense and most were pretty much skills I've been putting into practice as a cyclist and driver naturally for years.
It's disappointing that much of the media has abused their position by giving Mike Graham, Mr Loophole and others a platform in order to gain clicks and not give other road safety experts an equal footing.
What a well put comment, but the motorists will still hate us.
Thanks Phil. I suppose haters will always hate. I do know that work colleagues attitudes have changed after a couple of us have been clattered. It shouldn't take a KSI of someone you know to change your attitude though.
How many times do these people have to be told No.
I'm just glad the made the safe passing distance metres that must really piss off the gammons
"Perhaps the most controversial of all the updates to the code, this encourages cyclists to ride down the centre of the road."
How upset are they going to be when they find out this is exactly how cyclists would be expected to ride of there was a test.
Nice one...
Well, centre of the lane rather than the road ... the mainstream media haven't quite got their heads round that one yet, it appears.
It's worth remembering that in the entire history of roads, nobody needed training, testing, and licencing at all... until motor vehicles became popular.
"Ufnsafe at any speed"
Whilst I agree, it's interesting that cyclists were bizarrely demonised back in the 1890s:
https://thevictoriancyclist.wordpress.com/2015/06/21/cycling-accidents-and-1890s-moral-panics/
"daily express"
What makes "the roads safer"?
According to a few men on Talk Radio / in The Express / commenting on the internet / promoting their services:
Sort out these dangerous cyclists / scooterists! They need training / licenses / more PPE / rules stopping them riding next to each other / booting off the roads.
People who are actually concerned with road safety:
A joined up and general policy of road safety, fewer vehicles, lower speeds, less mixing of vehicles with other road users (e.g. send the motor vehicles elsewhere) and indeed each other, better policing of drivers, reducing the substantial proportion of unlicenced / uninsured drivers and those who've already had a "close call" (e.g. crash which the police haven't done anything about yet) or unlicenced vehicles.
LICENCES in the UK.
and ARSEHOLES in the comments.
LANGUAGE is not GEOGRAPHICALLY restricted.
...and yet a bloke wearing thongs in Australia is considered normal, but wearing a thong in the UK keeps getting me some funny looks
The same confusion could happen if the Australian was in the UK. It's not where that's the issue, it's which language you're speaking. If swldxer had said 'in British English' (NB - not 'UK English') they might have had a point.
If you're going to define yourself by pedantry, at least pedant accurately.
Nothing escapes you, huh?
Ah.... one of the lesser known Sex Pistols album tracks.
Seems like these people have forgotten how they used be young and stupid and ride their bikes around freely without worrying about being killed or needing to get into a shouting match with people who literally don't know what they're talking about. Now they're just old and stupid.
Or, as Bungle_52 mentioned on the live blog, how about requiring drivers to complete Bikeability Level 2. Can you believe that they let people drive around vulnerable people without ever demonstrating an understanding of what it's like to share the road with the driver of a car?
Presumably my four year old child must have a license before they cycle on our quiet residential street?
also, i presume that other road users, such as pedestrians, will also need some kind of walking proficiency test?
I suspect the Express readers response to that will be a 4 year old child has no business cycling on a residential street. In fact, they should be safely strapped into a 4x4 before leaving your driveway.
I was Googling for some humorous story about a 4 year old taking the family car for a drive. I hoped to find something at least from the USA. Brought down to earth by link after link referencing 4 year olds being killed and seriously injured by drivers. Not so funny.
I've said it on here before, a neighbour straps her little darling into the Range Rover Sport every morning, and drives her 200 yards from home to school, parks on the zig zag lines outside scholl then drives round the block and back home. Hilarious to watch.
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