Note accompanying my bad driving reports

Given the nature of some of the responses I get to my reports of bad driving I have prepared the following note to go with all future submissions which I hope will be heeded by the police and CPS who determine what action to take.

As requested a pdf link is here https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bzho2RYpC3VuZ1BST2llVmFTRTQ/view?usp=sharing

Note on riding style and position

Primary and secondary riding positions

My default riding position is ‘primary’ which is the middle of the lane that is the nearest lane to the nearside which is suitable for my direction of travel.  However I will ride further to the left in the ‘secondary’ position in order to assist following traffic if, but only if, my own safety is not thereby impaired.  The secondary position is just to the left of the nearside wheels of the flow of four wheeled traffic.  I avoid riding ‘in the gutter’ i.e. within 0.5 metre of the edge of the road.

This riding is in accordance with my training to national bikeability standards which are approved by the Department of Transport.  Details can be found in ‘Cyclecraft’ by John Franklin (the officially approved guide to cycling in accordance with national training standards.  The concept is also explained in this DfT film sent out to all driving instructors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJHXzt7TC2k&feature=youtu.be

Overtaking queues

When encountering a queue of traffic ahead I will use my judgment as to whether to wait in the queue (in primary position) or to overtake the queue (usually on the offside if there is room).  This too is in accordance with my training and the national standards.

Using cycling specific infrastructure

I will use cycling specific infrastructure if it has an advantage in terms of safety or convenience over the main lanes.

The National Standard states this:

“In the UK no cycle facilities are compulsory for cyclists to use. Therefore the choice over whether to use any facilities provided should be on the basis of whether or not they will give the cyclist any advantage in terms of safety and/or access. This will be for the individual cyclist to decide. Staying in the normal flow of traffic rather than use a cycle facility is therefore a valid choice.”

This is also reflected in the Highway Code:

"Rule 61

Cycle Routes and Other Facilities. Use cycle routes, advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings unless at the time it is unsafe to do so. Use of these facilities is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills, but they can make your journey safer."

Motorists overtaking cyclists

The guidance in the Highway Code is clear:

"Rule 163

Overtake only when it is safe and legal to do so. You should…

·         give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car (see Rules 211 to 215).

Remember: Mirrors – Signal – Manoeuvre

Rule 163: Give vulnerable road users at least as much space as you would a car"

Any ambiguity in ‘as much space as you would give a car’ is resolved by the clear illustration accompanying rule 163.

The DfT’s Transport Note LTN 2/08 has a section at 2.5 dealing with overtaking of cyclists by motor vehicles:

“2.5 Overtaking by motor vehicles

2.5.1 Cyclists often feel uncomfortable when cars overtake, particularly if they do so at high speed. Research from the Netherlands (CROW, 2003) shows that motorists driving at 20 mph will often pass cyclists leaving a clearance of only 0.85 metres. This distance increases to around 1.05 metres when passing at 30 mph.

2.5.2 These clearances are not necessarily sufficient for comfort and have been increased to establish the minimum suggested passing distances in Table 2.2. Even these clearances will be uncomfortable for some cyclists and should be exceeded where possible.

2.5.3 Table 2.3 sets out ideal minimum total widths (not necessarily lane widths) required for vehicles overtaking cyclists.”

The ‘dynamic envelope’ referred to in the above table is 1 metre wide:

Obviously the minimum passing distance increases further with increased speed   If the speed is well above 30 mph then the passing distance should be well over 1.5 metres outside the dynamic envelope.

It follows that unless the lane is exceptionally wide the motorist cannot safely pass within the same lane and should be using the adjacent lane (if clear) or wait behind for a better overtaking opportunity.  The correct decision is encouraged by the cyclist ‘taking the lane’ in primary position.