Road Rage program, ITV 9pm last night

The Rookie

Anyone else watch it? Very balanced program I thought, apart from the dash/helmet cam footage, it involved taking some cyclists (a 'commuter' and a courier) and some drivers (a white van man and a cabby) and getting them to swap places for a few days. All told quite well done I thought.

zx6man

I thought it was ok, don't cyclist hit back these days though ? :-)

rubertoe

Only if you carry a D-lock

drlodge

I thought it was a fairly balanced program showing both sides of the story. It did surprise me me how irrate people get so quickly. Even that Doris on the sit-up-and-beg bike was saying "he's not going to let me through" when a car half pulled out in to a queue of stationary cars - quote normal and expected behaviour I think. People (drivers and cyclists) need to take a chill pill and not insist they have absolute right of way at all times.

slowbike

drlodge wrote:

People (drivers and cyclists) need to take a chill pill and not insist they have absolute right of way at all times.

People need to realise that they may have priority but never right of way.

debeli

I watched it through my fingers... and not quite all of it...

Up to a point, these shows will involve the self-elected head-cam brigade.

It was a nice touch to get the drivers to cycle and the cyclists to drive.... and I thought the realisation of life at the other end of the scale made the participants more reasonable in their outlook. Much of the conflict on the UK's roads today is caused by bubble-occupying, blinkered ignorance. I see this in both cyclists and motorists. Most road-users are courteous and skilled, but those who are not make up for their rarity with volume, stupidity and... um... stupidity.

I am an average cyclist and probably sub-average driver, but I am convinced that my driving, cycling and motorcycling are all better than they would be if I didn't have fairly extensive experience on the road with cars, HGVs, motorcycles, tractors and bicycles.

It seems to me (and the show seemed to bear this out) that the least tolerant road users are those who have not ridden or driven a mile in the saddle or driving seat of the person with whom they find themselves in conflict.

So a good effort and a noble intent, but it was still unsure whether it was going for shock or trying to educate.

The Rookie

There has to be a 'good telly viewing' element, but overall I thought it was well presented, I did like the clip of the WVM blatantly RLJing on his bike when that was one of his pet hates of cyclists.... The cabby did come across as a reasonable and fairly balanced person....

Gallywomack

Was quite pleasantly surprised, considering it was on ITV. Seemed pretty balanced and they hadn't just got the nuttiest people they could find to make it 'good TV' *cough Traffic Droid guy cough*

Biggest tosser of the head cam users was probably that Bartosz motorcyclist guy who blew his top at a slightly hesitant driver who found herself in the wrong lane at a roundabout . The rest came across reasonably OK.

The Rookie

I agree with your second point, she made a mistake, no-one was at any real risk, so why the tantrum!