It is Road Safety Week (21-27 November 2011) and cycling and motoring rage is in the spotlight. Both cyclists and motorists have strong feelings about how to handle road related anger according to a survey conducted by Confused.com.
Both cyclists and motorists are turning to social media to report incidents of road related anger with Confused.com identifying 2,674 tweets mentioning both ‘road rage’ and ‘cyclist’ during the first nine months of this year. In response to this emerging danger, Confused.com has created an interactive map that both cyclists and drivers can use to pinpoint rage blackspots.
A survey of 1,000 motorists and 1,000 cyclists carried out by Confused.com identifies what sends cyclists into a ‘two-wheel tantrum’ and turns car drivers ‘cyclo-pathic’:
72% of drivers have experienced one or more of the following incidents involving a cyclist during the last two years, broken down as follows:
– A cyclist caused me to swerve in my car [31%]
– A cyclist slowed down my journey and made me late [22%]
– A cyclist caused an accident which I was involved in [5%]
– Someone I know was involved in an accident involving a cyclist [11%]
– A cyclist went through red lights [39%]
– Cyclists riding on the pavement or in an area with a ‘no cycling’ sign [26%]
46% of drivers say that they are sometimes annoyed by cyclists being on the road and they have suggested some ways to handle them (drivers were permitted to choose more than one solution):
A quarter (25%) of these drivers are keen to see cyclists pay road tax meanwhile 14% of angry drivers want to see cyclists displaying number plates on their bikes. Getting cyclists to pass a version of the driving test before they can ride on the road is a popular idea with 44% of annoyed motorists, while 43% say that they would like to see cyclists taking out a form of insurance in case they cause a collision. Catching those who cycle through red lights was seen as the top solution with 59% of car drivers saying they’d like to see cyclists caught for doing this. Almost one third of motorists (31%) feel that cycling on the pavement (which the Highway Code states is illegal) should be stopped.
Meanwhile, almost a quarter of cyclists have been beeped at or sworn at by a motorist and more than one in eight have been knocked off their bike by a motorist. Over the last 2 years cyclists had the following unpleasant experiences:
– 13% have been knocked off their bike by a motorist
– 24% have been sworn at or beeped at by a motorist
– 14% say they have been run off the road by a motorist
– 11% were hit by a car door being opened
– 4% were chased by a motorist
65% of cyclists told Confused.com that they are feeling less safe than they did a year ago and 34% say they’ve been a victim of road rage.
Cyclists have some suggestions about ways to improve their journeys (cyclists were permitted to suggest more than one solution:
– 28% think cycling on the pavement should be legalised
– 58% suggest that more cycle lanes should be available in the UK
– 25% think that more hire bikes should be available in the UK
– 9% (almost one in ten) suggest that cyclists should be allowed to go through red lights
– 37% would like drivers to stop driving and parking in cycle lanes
Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com: “Rage on the roads is a big problem for both motorists and cyclists and our research shows that both groups have much to complain about. 14% of drivers want to see license plates on bicycles making them more visible on roads. Drivers also need to be tolerant of cyclists taking a prominent position on today’s roads as 13% of cyclists have been knocked off their bike by a motorist. Whilst both parties can point at differing solutions to help improve road safety, we urge all road users to exercise respect and courtesy as the roads are for everyone and tolerance could save people’s lives.”
Malcolm Shepherd, Chief Executive of Sustrans, the UK charity encouraging people to travel by foot, bike or public transport added its weight to the issue. “The truth is that most people use different forms of transport to get about, be it driving a car, riding a bike or being a pedestrian.
“People need to be more considerate and aware of all other users when making their journeys. Cyclists are among the most vulnerable groups of road users, so when cycling it is important to look after yourself by being visible and positioning yourself correctly on the road. Drivers need to be aware of cyclists on the road and make sure they treat those on bikes with the same consideration they would other road users.”
Source : Confused.com
