A Crash Course in Cycling (or, why everyone should be a cyclist)

[Wolfshade]

No that is true.

But many drivers aren't even prosecuted. Heck you have 1 in 10 chance of going to jail ([url]http://www.ctc.org.uk/news/drivers-have-1-in-10-chance-of-going-to-jail-for-killing-cyclist[/url]) for killing a cyclist with a vehicle.

[Psychosplodge]

Is that the stat for when the driver is found at fault/negligent or the stat for all cyclist deaths? Because if its the first it seems low, if its the latter we know in any accident whoever is at fault a cyclist will come off worse.

[Wolfshade]

The newspaper analysed police data on the 40 cyclists killed in the capital between 2010 and 2012 and found that only 4 of the drivers involved had been sent to prison.

More worryingly, only 15 of the cases were even prosecuted, the remaining cases were either discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or there was no charge brought.

[Psychosplodge]

So it's more like a 30% rate then? as the ones never charged were obviously never considered at fault.
The dropped ones were possibly 50/50?

[Wolfshade]

No when you look at it, there are mutliple issues. Like police failing to collect evidence and the CPS deciding not to presecute because reasons. It isn't because there was no fault, after all someone has to be to blame for a hgv driving into a cyclist.

[Psychosplodge]

who's at fault if it was down to the blindspots inherent in current lorry design?

[Wolfshade]

The driver.

[Wolfshade]

Cyclists *can't* undertake.

Regardless of the technicalities, the issue comes that the driver still drives the vehicle into the cyclist. A patially sighted guy wouldn't expect to get mitigation for shooting someone in his blindspot.

But we aren't talking here of every occasion there is a fatalitiy it is because a vehcile is filtering. We are talking about moving in free flow conditions, on bright days. Where mitigations for murder are things like "low sun", where driving at 125% of the speed limit is not seen as a contributory factor.

[Psychosplodge]

That sun can take you by surprise, and it'd be dangerous to slam the anchors on if the car behind can't see...

idk its difficult.

[Wolfshade]

It is difficult I agree, especially when you see people put themselves in dangerous positions, both on the road, or without lights.

Through infrastructure and bullying cyclists are pushed to the left and that makes the squeeze past more inevitable.