Drivers turning left across cyclists

Published by Matt Polaine | Filed under Bicycle, Cycling

Cyclists just aren’t seen by two-thirds of drivers, and even when they do, treat them as stationary objects. The most common behaviour is for a driver to overtake a cyclist and then immediately turn left across them. even when I am doinig 30mph on a time trial bike. Many cyclists have been killed this way and the drivers have all said ‘sorry I didn’t see them.’

This excuse is accepted by the UK Law Courts, and killing a cyclist this way may cost you at most 6 points and a £500 fine. The fact that as a driver you can not see objects like another human being using the Highway, doesn’t seem to be a big deal according to our Courts and Police. Most drivers will also say ‘what are you making a fuss about’?

So, imagine you are on the bike with the camera, and you are waiting for your daughter/son/husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend/mum/dad to cycle past in front of you, and you are going to join them once the car in front pulls out. They are coming from the right and are in a dayglow top. You first see them at 8 seconds in to the video. Once you have watched the video, pause it at 13 seconds. What would you think of the driver?

Why do drivers do this?