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Cyclists should break red lights!

  • 16-03-2011 7:04am
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,408 ✭✭✭


    Spotted this in CW. I've always felt that sometimes it's safer to break the lights and I do. Seems I could be right!
    The RAC Foundation has suggested there may be a case for allowing cyclists to turn left when traffic lights are red.

    The recommendation that the Department for Transport should trial the idea is one of a number made on the back of a report the Foundation commissioned into the operation of traffic l

    http://road.cc/content/news/31550-rac-suggests-cyclist-left-turn-red-trials


    Also, regarding the wearing of helmets. We should remember that over half the cyclist fatalities are caused by collision with lorries. I wonder just how much use a helmet is in those situations?


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,109 ✭✭✭Cavehill Red


    While you're at it, you could always fire crossbow bolts at motorists and deal drugs from your bike, seeing as you're so mad keen on breaking the law.

    Here's a proposal for you - cyclists should have insurance and licence plates so that miscreants like yourself can be tracked down and penalised for breaking the rules of the road, which exist so that everyone can be safe on the road.

    You might be up for running red lights, but I'm not so keen on having to perform an emergency stop to save your fool life for you when you do it in front of me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 503 ✭✭✭davidsatelle100


    Is it Friday already:confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,216 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    The linked article does not state that "Cyclists should break red lights!", since the proposal is to change the law, not ignore it.

    There is a case for all road users to be able to turn left on red. I guess it would mean treating a red the same as the amber yield filters we have already.

    I don't know what helmets have to do with this.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 97 ✭✭HappyHouseWife


    Cyclists absolutely should be allowed break red lights (most of them do it anyway) but if they are involved in an accident as a result they must bear full responsibility and costs arising from the accident.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,256 ✭✭✭c0rk3r


    Is it Friday already:confused:

    Well if you've taken Friday off today is your Friday :p


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭OldmanMondeo


    This report makes no odds. Cyclists break red light anyway. I have been nearly knocked down while crossing the road, with a baby carrier in my hand, by a cyclist. I have seen cars nearly have accidents because of cyclist breaking red lights. And not only the guy or girl who cycles to work, but the speed freaks in the Tour De France kits... The ROR are their for everyone, the more you respect them the more other road users will respect you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,017 ✭✭✭Crow92


    That's such a stupid way of thinking about it, your increasing the chances of an accident, your tiering road users which increased the divide and disgruntlement amongst all road users, your breaking the law and you gain no respect from fellow users.

    This topic has been done to death though, I find it disrespectful for a fellow cyclist to past by me and break the red light when I stop. Always has a sense of entitlement which screams dickhead to me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,309 ✭✭✭07Lapierre


    Oh this is going to be gooood. ( i'll pull up a chair) :).


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,408 ✭✭✭studiorat


    Lumen wrote: »
    The linked article does not state that "Cyclists should break red lights!", since the proposal is to change the law, not ignore it.

    Well is is friday after all! ;) But I don't have a problem bending the rules of the road if means being safer.
    Lumen wrote: »
    There is a case for all road users to be able to turn left on red. I guess it would mean treating a red the same as the amber yield filters we have already.

    Not really, the amber filter means all traffic would proceed. Which I guess would be worse.

    Lumen wrote: »
    I don't know what helmets have to do with this.

    It means that the road statistics used to argue for helmet wear (particularly those used in the organ donor thread) are flawed since they do not account for accidents where a helmet would be of absolutely no use.


    I do like cave hills's comment that as a motorist he doesn't want to have to do an emergency stop! This really does illustrate the average motorist's mind set. That is to follow lights blindly, to drive aimlessly through the green light without looking simply because they are green.

    As a motorist, motorcyclist and cyclist obviously I always check all entrances to junctions whether the lights are green or not. Look where you are going and you don't need to do "emergency"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 811 ✭✭✭mal1


    studiorat wrote: »
    Also, regarding the wearing of helmets. We should remember that over half the cyclist fatalities are caused by collision with lorries. I wonder just how much use a helmet is in those situations?


    What an odd thing to say? This actual supports the use of helmets. You're talking about collisions that involve a fatality. It's obvious that a helmet won't help when faced with a lorry. As proven above. But if people stopped wearing helmets then we may start to see that most collisions involving faltalities may be more minor accidents such as collisions with car doors or falling on pavements or hitting ford fiestas. See the logic?


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  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 28,536 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cabaal


    This report makes no odds. motorists break red light anyway. I have been nearly knocked down while crossing the road, with a baby carrier in my hand, by a motorist. I have seen people nearly have accidents because of motorists breaking red lights.

    Fixed that for you,
    I know from my experience more cars break reds then bikes and I drive around 400 miles a week :)
    but the speed freaks in the Tour De France kits...

    Speed freaks are people doing an average of 25km/hour....really?

    Holy **** then those drivers doing 80km/hour must be super speed freaks on some sort of mission to kill us all
    :rolleyes:
    The ROR are their for everyone, the more you respect them the more other road users will respect you.

    Indeed they are, its funny though that your post has much more relevance to motorists statistically then to cyclists though :cool:
    mal1 wrote: »
    .......... But if people stopped wearing helmets then we may start to see that most collisions involving faltalities may be more minor accidents such as collisions with car doors or falling on pavements or hitting ford fiestas. See the logic?

    Its an assumption nothing more,


  • Moderators, Politics Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,269 Mod ✭✭✭✭Chips Lovell


    Sigh...

    This is what happens when you use a misleading thread title.


This discussion has been closed.
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