Should drivers be fined for going too close to cyclists?

talius

http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news ... 1.display/

Not entirely sure it would make any practical difference, but I guess it would send the right signals

SME

I think this was discussed recently on here somewhere, at least the 'distance' part (maybe not the fines).

It may seem a great idea to keep cyclists safe, but on some roads I've used it would be an impossibility, and it would just be another rule that couldn't be policed, like using a mobile phone while driving.

Maybe word would get around where a cyclist was involved in an accident and the driver was at fault and fined, but would this news/knowledge really deter some drivers?

T C

I think we should put the drivers on a bike and let the cyclist drive past them with inches to spare to see how it feels.

The Rookie

An American TV show did this, they put the drivers onto exercise bike machines (so they couldn't fall off) and drove the same type of vehicle the drivers drove past them at a moderate speed and fairly close, in all cases their response was pretty much 'F*** that was scary and felt dangerous'...... The law is available now to prosecute for close passing (Driving without due care and attention), but there simply aren't the Police out there to do it, so like enforcing mobile phone and ASL's it would be another that was ineffective.

The only benefit of a fixed distance requirement is that prosecutions would be easier.

anonymousblackfg

Utter waste of time, we have plenty of laws which in theory should help us but they are never enforced. How about raise the fine for mobile phone use to £800, copper keeps £200, force gets £200 and the gov gets £400.

Of course this is 'total war on the motorist' screams the daily mail

Snakebite the 2nd

anonymousblackfg wrote:

Utter waste of time, we have plenty of laws which in theory should help us but they are never enforced. How about raise the fine for mobile phone use to £800, copper keeps £200, force gets £200 and the gov gets £400.

Of course this is 'total war on the motorist' screams the daily mail

But then the police would be focused on getting revenue rather than catching "proper criminals"... oh hang on......

itboffin

Only two lorries and a van for me today, that's a really good day.