Lorry and maybe motorhome blind spot regulations

mark61 said:
It's not against the law to ride two abreast. Yes, sometimes it is inconsiderate.
Don't go bothering to quote the Highway Code, an advisory does not reflect a legal requirement.

So, to sum up, it's done for safety, it's not against the law, and sometimes it is inconsiderate. :)
Click to expand...

We will have to agree to disagree on this one. 👍
 
mark61 said:
Some mountain bikers are also road cyclists. I've been waved on by road cyclist, maybe because I show some consideration. It's done for safety, it's everything to do with safety.
I am not suggesting there are no ignorant road cyclist, same as any other road user.
Click to expand...

Correct Mark, my mate is a keen cyclist and they ride side by side to stop idiot motorists from overtaking far to close to them. When riding alone he cycles one third from the middle of the road for the same reason.
A few years ago he was struck by a wing mirror and knocked of his bike, spending three days in hospital and a month of work with his injuries. The driver drove on leaving him on the road. And being self employed he lost a months earnings, and let a few of his customers down.

I agree with the comments about poor road use from all types of road users.

The big problem with cyclists is many are relatively new to the sport and some lack enough experience.
Also in the last ten years or so cycling has become much more popular, increasing the amount of bikes on the road. Many motorists get far to close to cyclists when over taking. You should allow a gap of 1-1.5m when overtaking. I have seen cars missing cyclists by inches many times.

The only issue I have is when they cycle in large groups. I was heading for aberfoyle last year and was confronted by a line of around 30-40 cyclists making it dangerous to overtake. I reckon they should have split up into smaller groups.
 
I will bow out this tread now the oracle has posted before I get accused of being a liar😂
 
***** said:
I once followed a pair of cyclists doing just that for about one mile on a one way road.
Had they been ridding single, it would have been wide enough to pass and leave a safe distance.
Click to expand...

They have the law on their side,DVLA guidelines recommend riding two abreast.
 
Asterix said:
They have the law on their side,DVLA guidelines recommend riding two abreast.
Click to expand...

Asterix this is taken from DVLA guidelines


Cyclists are allowed to cycle two abreast! Rule 66 states you should never cycle more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads. This means cycles are perfectly legal to cycle side by side on most roads in the UK.

To me this is common sense. On most roads two abreast is fine.
The problem with this guideline is it lacks detail.
What is a narrow road, what is busy, how sharp is a sharp bend.
They also state that when turning a sharp corner or on a roundabout they should ride single file.
 
Last edited:
GreggBear said:
And why should it only apply to vehicles over 7.5t? Many drivers of smaller vehicles should never be allowed on the roads. HGV drivers in general go through far stricter training/testing than small vehicle drivers. A lot of cyclists seem to have a death wish riding through red lights & on footpaths & generally showing no consideration for anyone else, be it drivers or pedestrians. Yet when they do come to greif it's usually down to "that blind tosser" driving that big truck! I've had cars pull onto motorways without even seeing the 44tonner that's trapped in the left hand lane by passing traffic. Usually, after either s******g themselves they either carry on as if they still haven't seen me or blow the horn at me as if it was all my fault! Strangely enough, bus drivers never seem to get much flack.
Click to expand...
I don't think I suggested it was a good idea, merely that it was likely, as most commercial vehicle laws don't take in anything under 3.5t, eg tachographs.
 
Fisherman said:
Asterix this is taken from DVLA guidelines


Cyclists are allowed to cycle two abreast! Rule 66 states you should never cycle more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads. This means cycles are perfectly legal to cycle side by side on most roads in the UK.

To me this is common sense. On most roads two abreast is fine.
The problem with this guideline is it lacks detail.
What is a narrow road, what is busy, how sharp is a sharp bend.
They also state that when turning a sharp corner or on a roundabout they should ride single file.
Click to expand...

As they say,the law is an ass and people will take it as read,but whether it's trucks side swiping cars,or cyclists not thinking,most accidents and near misses would be avoided if defensive driving was given a higher priority than learning all the rules and regs.
 
***** said:
Maybe so, but if you read my post (one full mile) what about manners!
They certainly had none!:scared:

edit
It was along a seaside prom and associated lead in and out road
Click to expand...

I had exactly that situation a couple of weeks ago,narrow road,two cyclist one of which pulled in and let me pass after half a mile,his mate didn't for quite some time.The way I deal with them is to enjoy the scenery while matching their speed, that'll teach em!
 
Asterix said:
As they say,the law is an ass and people will take it as read,but whether it's trucks side swiping cars,or cyclists not thinking,most accidents and near misses would be avoided if defensive driving was given a higher priority than learning all the rules and regs.
Click to expand...
In the first job I had which came with a Company Car (a few decades ago now :( ), the company started a policy of all company car drivers to attend a RoSPA Driving Course, which if I remember correctly was called a "Defensive Driving Course" as opposed to an "Advanced Driving Course" such as run by the IAM.
It was a very useful course and seemed to be a lot more 'real-world' than the IAM type courses.

The motorbike tuition I did was along the same lines, with the recognition that in an argument between a motorbike and a car, the biker tends to be the one to come off worse irrelevant of who was legally in the right.
This simple, if unfair, fact of life tends to be forgotten it seems, but I guess at least when someone is in hospital with a broken body, at least they can feel satisified that the other driver (unhurt and still driving around) broke more rules than they did.
 
Asterix said:
As they say,the law is an ass and people will take it as read,but whether it's trucks side swiping cars,or cyclists not thinking,most accidents and near misses would be avoided if defensive driving was given a higher priority than learning all the rules and regs.
Click to expand...

I was pointing out that the dvla don’t recommend cyclists riding two abreast as you posted earlier.
What they actually state is it’s permissible, but should not be done on narrow roads, bends or roundabouts.

To me there is to much confrontation between vehicle drivers and cyclists.
This has led to some terrible accidents and sadly fatalities on our roads.
Yes cyclists can be idiots at times, as can every other road user.
But as has been posted earlier, vehicle drivers are normally unhurt whilst the cyclist suffers.
With this in mind I always cross over to the other side of the road when passing cyclists, and no matter how much of a hurry I am in, or how much of an idiot the cyclist may be, I put their safety first.
 
wildebus said:
In the first job I had which came with a Company Car (a few decades ago now :( ), the company started a policy of all company car drivers to attend a RoSPA Driving Course, which if I remember correctly was called a "Defensive Driving Course" as opposed to an "Advanced Driving Course" such as run by the IAM.
It was a very useful course and seemed to be a lot more 'real-world' than the IAM type courses.

The motorbike tuition I did was along the same lines, with the recognition that in an argument between a motorbike and a car, the biker tends to be the one to come off worse irrelevant of who was legally in the right.
This simple, if unfair, fact of life tends to be forgotten it seems, but I guess at least when someone is in hospital with a broken body, at least they can feel satisified that the other driver (unhurt and still driving around) broke more rules than they did.
Click to expand...

I did one when I was around 15-16, unfortunately it was ordered by a judge:hammer: but nonetheless it was an experience that has served me well ever since.
 
Long lines of cyclists can pose a more difficult challenge to passing drivers. A more compact group of two-abreast cyclists can make passing easier and more predictable. A two-abreast formation is approximately the width of a car, and cars should pass them as if they were passing a slower automobile

In addition the overtaking vehicle where this situation arises spends less time straddling the opposite carriageway

1,5 is classed as the minimum that should be maintained when overtaking

Channa
 
channa said:
Long lines of cyclists can pose a more difficult challenge to passing drivers. A more compact group of two-abreast cyclists can make passing easier and more predictable. A two-abreast formation is approximately the width of a car, and cars should pass them as if they were passing a slower automobile

In addition the overtaking vehicle where this situation arises spends less time straddling the opposite carriageway

1,5 is classed as the minimum that should be maintained when overtaking

Channa
Click to expand...

Yea, I've been stuck behind slow cars/tractors for mile after mile, that I haven't been able to pass. And I'll pass where a lot wouldn't.

I've been behind many single cyclists that I've pretty much passed instantly . Nobody has ever been hurt.

I've had to wait behind 2 abreast cyclists for longer than I would like to, because I'm now at a crawl, and don't have the momentum to pass, because I've had to wait for the other side of the road to be clear.

Every road user should just do all they can to get out of the way. I do, why can't you? The classic is someone turning right that blocks the road, when with better road positioning would be no problem at all. Cucumbers.

Today, I'm in the truck at just over 50 where cars can do 60, and I'm constantly on the lookout for traffic building behind me. When it does, I'll stop and let them pass. Much rather that than someone doing a risky overtake. Why can't everyone do that? Whatever type of traffic they are...
 
st3v3 said:
Yea, I've been stuck behind slow cars/tractors for mile after mile, that I haven't been able to pass. And I'll pass where a lot wouldn't.

I've been behind many single cyclists that I've pretty much passed instantly . Nobody has ever been hurt.

I've had to wait behind 2 abreast cyclists for longer than I would like to, because I'm now at a crawl, and don't have the momentum to pass, because I've had to wait for the other side of the road to be clear.

Every road user should just do all they can to get out of the way. I do, why can't you? The classic is someone turning right that blocks the road, when with better road positioning would be no problem at all. Cucumbers.

Today, I'm in the truck at just over 50 where cars can do 60, and I'm constantly on the lookout for traffic building behind me. When it does, I'll stop and let them pass. Much rather that than someone doing a risky overtake. Why can't everyone do that? Whatever type of traffic they are...
Click to expand...

Comes back to manners, patience, courtesy for others. Sadly alot of time folk just don't have it the same as 20+years ago..
 
***** said:
I seem to have said that 10 posts ago in post 55.
Manners are sadly lacking in the whole of society now a days
Click to expand...

Yes *****, and poor manners and aggressive attitudes and driving lead to families losing loved ones.

Why, because someone was late for a dentist appointment, or they simply don’t like cyclists getting in their way.
 
Last edited:
Well after 7 pages we know a lot about what people think about drivers of lorries, horse riders and cyclists, but have no answer to whether more mirrors will be a legal requirement for MHs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top