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'Safe' overtaking distance(?)

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    Found on another forum.

    "

    The French are ahead of us in this and many other aspects of their respect for cyclists. This page summarises those parts of the French highway code that refer to cyclists:
    http://velobuc.free.fr/coderoutecycliste.html
    It includes this:
    ' • la distance latérale de sécurité passe à 1,50m hors agglomération * (1m en agglomération) Art.4'
    (The safe distance for vehicles passing cycles is 1 m in built-up areas and 1.5 metres elsewhere).
    This is a required minimum, not an average.

    "

    Don't know if "required minimum" has any legal significance.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. ruggtomcat
    Member

    Im guessing it means that if you were struck by a car because you wobbled and the car was too close (like the tragic case of the Northern Irish pro who was killed during a race swerving round a dog) then there is a legal measure for that which can be applied. I hope.

    Reading road.cc is depressing, because they are currently highlighting how little legal protection we have in this country.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. mgj
    Member

    IIRC the Highway Code says 'as much room as a small car' which is a meaningless phrase; does that include wing mirrors etc or not, and which small car do they mean ( a Smart, a Mini, A Class Merc?) - fortunately most drivers assume it is a Matchbox or Dinky car that is meant.

    Why not define the distance in feet or metres; 3 feet plus one foot for each ten mph of each vehicle, to a maximum of 10 feet.

    And while they are changing that section, they could clarify that undertaking traffic in the same lane is an offence (there has to be some point to all those bike lanes)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. kaputnik
    Moderator

    My highlight this morning at Roseburn was pulling a U-turn across the road from opposite lane infront of me, which required me to come to a complete stop, only to put the flashers on and jump out to go into the newsagents. I'd like that specific offence in the updated Highway Code (cyclists' ammendment).

    Posted 13 years ago #

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