Cycling in Sydney Australia

Put onus on drivers, says cycling world champion Mark Cavendish

Here's one from The Times . . . (if only News Ltd in Australia would adopt the tactics of their UK sister papers):

Philip Pank Transport Correspondent

Last updated at 2:56PM, June 21 2012

Mark Cavendish, the cycle road race world champion who is tipped to win Britain’s first gold medal at the London Olympics, today calls on ministers to consider European laws to protect cyclists.

The fastest man on two wheels says that if drivers knew that they would face harsh penalties if they knocked down a cyclist they would pay more attention and safety would improve.

He cited the example of the Netherlands and Belgium, where there is a presumption of liability against drivers involved in crashes with cyclists.

In most European countries the onus is on drivers to prove their innocence in collisions resulting in civil law suits for damages. The reverse is true in Britain, where cyclists or their families have to prove that the driver was at fault if they are to win a civil action.

Hit the link to read more and watch the video

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Permalink Reply by Carlos Kramer on June 25, 2012 at 4:51pm

Last night Mike Penning, the Road Safety Minister, said that the Government would not change the law. “Making a motorist automatically at fault for an accident with a cyclist, unless he or she can prove otherwise, would be unfair where someone is driving entirely responsibly — or when there is an accident where no one is to blame,” he said.

But look at this picture, only the police are wearing helments. Who is that balding chap far right on the Boris bike?:-

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Permalink Reply by sit ubu sit on June 25, 2012 at 5:46pm

That's fine, if they're driving responsibly then they won't cause an accident. If they're involved in an accident then they can prove it was the cyclist's fault (in the small percentage of cases where it actually is). But when 87% of car-bike accidents are proven to be the fault of the car driver, and the driver is much more likely to cause death, injury or damage to the cyclist than the other way around then surely it is a reasonable thing to do?

The problem is, there are more drivers than cyclists who vote.

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Permalink Reply by Stanislaw Filipek on June 25, 2012 at 6:52pm

Ah yes,

Agree wholeheartedly. It is unfortunate that our country is also backward, and negligent, in regards to best practice roadbuilding infrastructure, traffic management, road law, and road safety. Especially in regard of cyclists.

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Permalink Reply by Aaron K on June 25, 2012 at 10:41pm

Michael, again, thanks for shedding more light on this important subject.

Cav aka The Manx Missile, has given prominance to an issue which our dutch friends solved with their protests on Child deaths back in the 70's.

So we know that these laws work, the more celebraties that promote them the better.

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Permalink Reply by Doddsy on June 25, 2012 at 11:48pm

He's the man with three legs.

Not the man with the Manx Missile.

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Permalink Reply by Aaron K on June 28, 2012 at 9:38pm

It took me a cupla days but I GOT IT now....Good one (sorry I do have a blonde Gene).

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Permalink Reply by noelbike on June 25, 2012 at 11:15pm

I have to agree with Mark Cavendish. In Auistralia it is quite routine for some fool/dickhead/badperson to almost run you over. Meanwhile in mainland Europe, drivers come up behind and slow to your speed before eventually passing you slowly and with a very wide berth.