road safety survey - the invisible cyclist re-appears
Bicycle Network Victoria e-news asks cyclists to do survey at
http://myviews.justice.vic.gov.au/complete-the-survey.html
The invisible cyclist re-appears
Published by Bicycle Network Victoria on Thursday 5-Sep-2012.
http://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/bikes-and-riding/10218
The spectre of the invisible cyclist who appears out of no-where and crashes into law abiding motorists has made an alarming re-appearance – this time in the latest State Government road safety initiative. Yes, its all our fault, apparently.
In a survey by the Department of Justice on behalf of the Ministerial Council for Road Safety, launched today and heavily promoted by the Herald-Sun newspaper, a crude attempt is made to imply bike riders are to blame when drivers collide with them.
In a key question in the public consultation survey, people are asked if they agree that cyclists should be forced to wear "special high visibility clothes".
This is yet another attempt to blame the cyclists victim in "failure to observe" crashes.
It is totally the responsibility of the driver to be be aware of their surroundings and observe other traffic on the road.
Drivers crash into riders not because they couldn't be seen, but because the drivers were not looking. Driver distraction is rampant on the roads with widespread illegal use of devices, texting, and interaction with children and pets.
All the high visibility clothing in the world won't help if the driver is busy composing a text message.
Many riders who have been crashed into have been highly visible, many wearing special hi-vis clothing at the time of the crash. Yet drivers said they did not see the cyclist.
Make sure you take the survey at http://myviews.justice.vic.gov.au/complete-the-survey.html and let the government know your view on this and other issues. Many important issues are raised which deserve your input.
Another puzzling question is about increasing fines for cycling offences.
Penalties for key offences such as running red lights, and dangerous riding, are already high in Victoria – some of the highest in Australia and the world – and near-equivalent to those that apply to drivers.
These severe penalties have been highly effective at keeping the rate of offences low in Victoria, making our riders some of the best behaved anywhere.
So why would the survey be suggesting they be made higher?
The survey is to be used to develop a road safety strategy in conjunction with the the Department of Justice, Victoria Police, TAC, VicRoads and other experts in the field.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
rossmg, thanks. SA residents do use roads across the border, and Victorian recommendations might influence what happens elsewhere in Australia.
Only 65 views. Expected the heading would be unappealing so will add to it.
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Permalink Reply by Don (Who's lost?) Nairn on -
perhaps motorists should be forced to have special high visibility features as well.
may I suggest a person walking with a red flag in front of all cars within 200m of a dwelling.
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Permalink Reply by Christo B1 on -
Hi Heather,
There seems to be a real mindset in Victoria (something in the water?) that sees the powers that be always leaping to the defense of car and truck operators. I'm reminded of the recent TAC (Vic) add in which a car enters a T intersection and cleans up a motorcyclist. The campaign is about motorcyclists reducing their speed by 5kph and the accident is dissected in super slow motion with the final outcome being that the rider would have survived had they been traveling slightly slower. At no point do they mention that if you drive a car you probably should not run stop signs and that you should show respect for all other road users by making a concerted effort not to kill them! I'm happy to accept a large proportion of responsibility for my own safety but I agree wholeheartedly that placing the entire onus of safety on the most vulnerable road users is madness. It will result in the reinforcement of the dangerous attitudes that are the so often the cause of the problem.
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Permalink Reply by heather on
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Christo, have you responded to the survey? Think we need to support Victorian cyclists, but also for us when we cycle interstate, and to discourage the idea of blaming the cyclist becoming even more entrenched in SA.
An invite to join my cycling advocacy groups on AC:
-- Look For Cyclists at http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/group/lookforcyclists
-- Vote For Cyclists at http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/group/VoteForCyclists
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Permalink Reply by Christo B1 on
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Already done. Sorry, I got started on my rant and forgot to mention it.. Cheers.
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Permalink Reply by Doddsy on -
Was brought up in NSW parliament not long ago also. I guess the haters are just trying to take mhl's to a new level.
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Permalink Reply by David Bowler on -
Talk about a push poll if ever there was one. The writers of "Yes Minister would be proud".
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Permalink Reply by Simon Lownsborough on -
No room for comments on that survey.
Slanted, like a federal referendum.
Wanted to add - if cyclists have to wear special clothes, motorists should have a man walking 20 paces ahead with a big red flag.
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Permalink Reply by heather on
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Simon, I noticed that and unable to explain that hi-vis clothing for cyclists does not work. All I could do was score lowest on some questions, which was better than nothing.
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Permalink Reply by Jase "Flatty" C on
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Hi Vis makes no difference. I wear Hi Vis most of the time. I'm 6'4" and have very broad shoulders so it's actually harder to NOT see me.
Friday night on the way home, I had three near-misses with doorings on Rundle Street between Pulteny and East Terrace. Then between East Terrace and Dequetaville Terrace, I had two cars overtake me only to immediately swing in front of me to park. Finally, I had someone just miss me when they swung INTO the bike lane just to get around someone turning right onto The Parade West. I was wearing a very bright Hi-Vis jersey with both front and rear lights flashing. It's the most number of instances of near-accident I've ever experienced in such a short distance.
*Edit* Survey completed.
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Permalink Reply by heather on
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Jase, I summarised your 6 near misses on Friday at
http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/group/lookforcyclists/forum/topics/...An invite to join AC advocacy groups that I coordinate:
– Adelaide BUG http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/group/adelaidebug (You cycle in the City).
– Look For Cyclists http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/group/lookforcyclists
– Vote For Cyclists http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/group/VoteForCyclistsMembers can receive the free monthly BUG News.
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