A cyclist has questioned the “terrible habits” being taught by driving instructors, after one posted a clip of himself close passing a person on a bike on a climb, “triggering” an oncoming rider, in which he questioned the attitudes of “entitled cyclists” on the roads.
The manoeuvre was reported by the cyclist to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, who deemed it perfectly acceptable for prospective motorists to carry out during a test.
The clip in question was posted late last year by Halifax-based driving instructor Lee Albon, who uploads videos of lessons and his own driving to social media, attracting thousands of followers.
In the video, captioned “Am I the asshole?”, Albon was driving on his own behind a cyclist on a long climb, as a number of other riders descended in the opposite direction.
“Am I the asshole? The other day I was driving down this road and turning into it, straight away, I could see a cyclist ahead,” he says, narrating the clip.
“Now, as we all know, we need to give cyclists plenty of space and distance. Ideally we need to pass at 1.5m, where possible.”
In fact, the Highway Code states that motorists must leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds.
Albon continued: “I also saw some cyclists coming down the other side, which I thought was just a coincidence at this point. Anyway, I’m keeping backed off and I’m giving this cyclist a bit of distance.
“However, what I will say is, when I went around this corner, I did get a little bit close, which I realised and then I backed off. I then saw another cyclist coming down the other side of the road, so I’m thinking, ‘is this a cycling trial going on?’
“I’m keeping my distance, bearing in mind this is a national speed limit road… I’m going about 10mph at this point, maybe less. Again, I’m keeping my distance as I can’t see.
“But as we come around the corner it opens up. However, I have spotted a cyclist on the other side of the road. I then check my mirrors and move out, as there was a decent gap.”
Albon then attempts to overtake the cyclist he’s been following, as well as one a short distance ahead, just as two other riders approach on the opposite side of the road, one of these cyclists responding to the overtake by waving his arm in frustration at the driving instructor.
“Now, this cyclist on the other side got a little bit triggered and, as you can see from the arm gesture and facial expression, this guy was not happy,” Albon said. “So am I the asshole or is this just entitled cyclists?”
In the comments section, Albon elaborated on the manoeuvre, claiming that it was safe and legal and “would not raise an eyebrow on a driving test”.
The clip was reported to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) by road.cc reader David, who criticised the “terrible habits” being taught by the instructor.
“The video initially looks positive as he holds back, but then moves into the opposite lane to pass with about one metre space, but directly into the path of other riders coming down the hill,” David said.
“I found it hard to believe that a registered instructor is teaching such terrible habits, so raised it with the DVSA. They immediately took the instructor’s side and confirmed that they would have no issues if this happened on a test.
“Really no wonder that new drivers behave so terribly around cyclists if this is what they’re taught.”
21 thoughts on ““This cyclist got triggered”: Driving instructor questions “entitled cyclists” after close pass towards oncoming riders – but standards agency says overtake would be “no issue” during test”
I’ve seen and experienced far worse. I’d have forgotten this before I got to the cake stop.
Yes, you are the *rsehole. It’s not appropriate to overtake using the oncoming lane when there’s oncoming traffic. I doubt any cyclist there got a minimum of 1.5m clearance.
Not only are there oncoming cyclists, but there’s a car behind them. What if that driver decided to go for that gap too?!
Very poor standard of driving.
It would have cost him another 20 seconds to wait until the top of the hill. So yes, complete arsehole.
Reality – standard for A roads (which clearly this isn’t) is 3.6m wide lanes – basically if it isn’t a motorway the lanes will be at most 3.6m wide…
So 7.2m total.
3m margin each side to give 1.5m
1m for physical width of riders.
2m for width of small car (inc wing mirrors)
1m for riders margin from edge of road
0.5m for margin of error on all these given the above numbers are IMHO minimums
( – I expect most cars are now closer to 2.1-2.2m inc mirrors
– 0.5m is minimum distance from kerb – rider should be adding a wobble margin on top;
– Rider in front having some wobble to allow for hill – competent driver should be allowing 2m given HW code states that as a minimum… (Note that I wouldn’t push for this if the rider was using primary position, but thats because the rider then has a margin to wobble the other way…))
Reality – standard for A roads (which clearly this isn’t) is 3.6m wide lanes – basically if it isn’t a motorway the lanes will be at most 3.6m wide…
Even realler reality. Measurements taken the day after this offence show that the left lane is indeed 3.6m, and the 2016 Audi Q7 CD10 WER is 2m width to mirrors. The vehicle remains within the left lane throughout, and this photo shows his mirror was about 140 cms from the kerb when he passed me. The police did not respond. Who are the cyclist’s real enemies?
Driver is the arsehole. If you’re supposed to give cyclists 1.5m at least, there’s cyclists on either side of the road, and it’s a single lane carriageway, then you should not over take. I’m often not sure what to do as a cyclist in this situation. Ideally I’d prevent this kind of overtake but then if I’m in the centre of the lane the rider coming the other way is in the gutter, my actions may cause them to get a close pass. But I don’t want a close pass either.
Yep, I will usually take primary descending and when climbing a blind bend. However, if I encounter an oncoming cyclist(s) who is(are) clearly not comfortable taking the lane and an oncoming driver looks like they’re going for the gap, I will move over to the gutter as I don’t want to make it worse for them.
The answer to the video question is, ‘yes!’.
Driving into the face of oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the road is treated as ‘dangerous driving’ and is punishable by six points and a fine.
Perhaps someone should tell the DVSA
Perhaps someone should tell the DVSA
They would have to convince the police that it was a ‘real offence’ first! Lancashire Constabulary wouId definitely ignore the report of such an incident; Gloucestershire Police would insist on evidence that the cyclist was inconvenienced and Kent Police would say: no KSI’d cyclist, therefore no offence. I would be only too pleased if even one person on here was able to show us both an online copy of the video of an offence like this along with convincing evidence that the police took significant action against the offender
Overtaking can be done in the face of oncoming traffic—it’s not necessarily dangerous driving. It was taught to me during the latter stages of my advanced motorcycle course.
However, it requires very high levels of forward observation, anticipation and planning, alongside flawless judgment of distance and speed. Lee Albon didn’t demonstrate these skills.
A little restraint and a lot more forward planning would have enabled Mr Albon to find a safer overtaking opportunity—one without risk to other road users.
I hold numerous driving and motorcycling qualifications, and I’m deeply disappointed by the DVLA’s response.
If you read the full article, someone did and the DVSA responded that it was a safe manoeuvre. Goes to show why the standard of driving feels like it’s getting progressively worse.
Suspect that if you attempted an overtake into oncoming traffic and argued that it’s fine because the road was wide enough, you probably wouldn’t pass your test. But because it’s someone on a bike who’s expendable, it’s not an issue.
Interesting that he sees a few people on bikes and thinks it might be a cycle event, rather than people just using bikes to get about….. immediately removing his empathy…he doesn’t understand why it might be scary to be driven at ….. That’s modern car driving for you….
Yes URTA.
“… bearing in mind this is a national speed limit road… I’m going about 10mph at this point, maybe less…”
Once I herd that it was game over.
The speed limit is a LIMIT, not a target.
And the DVLA response is also appalling.
Even if the oncoming cyclists were not* put at risk by Lee Albon driving close to them on the oncoming side of the road, the car that was waiting behind them with apparent patience was. Although the oncoming driver was following at a reasonable distance, he had to slow/stop to ensure Lee had space to exorcise his frustration.
(* they clearly were – if the oncoming cyclist felt the need to put their arm out, it was clearly a perception that he was too close.)
Lee’s pejorative use of the term “entitled” is ironic, but perhaps not intentionally.
There are so many problems with this individual’s understanding of roadcraft. This is highlighted not just by his close pass of cyclists into the path of other cyclists descending, but also by his narration, where he doesn’t seem to understand the different between “must” and “should” in the Highway Code. I won’t bore anyone with examples, but the standard of professional driving instruction is all to often, appalling. The consequences of this we see day in and day out.
* too
How about a complaint about the government department to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman?
Such a complaint requires sign off by the complainers MP.
I forgot to add, I have this example of a driving instructor thinking their standard of teaching was ok.
The Met police had initially wanted to issue an NIP but the driver argued that I had reported the wrong location so the Met abandoned it.
But the point is the instructor was wrong and the Met would have actioned the close pass.
Sorry. The instructor argued… not the driver.
No wonder people overtake so badly when an instructor (and the DVSA) thinks this is good idea.
There isn’t room for two 1.5m gaps here.