Professor killed after van driver opened door without looking for cyclists, inquest hears

Robert Hardy wrote:

It underlines the importance of leaving a door's width when passing stationary vehicles, a precaution I try to take having been knocked off my bicycle myself by a carelessly opened door. But why hasn't more been asked of the taxi driver, over taking a cyclist who is in the process of overtaking a stationary goods vehicle. We have heard much recently of the responsibility of cyclists towards pedestrians who wander like stray cattle all over the carrageway yet it seems professional motorists are excused grossly unsafe overtaking practices.

You mean HC 213?

"Motorcyclists and cyclists may suddenly need to avoid uneven road surfaces and obstacles such as drain covers or oily, wet or icy patches on the road. Give them plenty of room and pay particular attention to any sudden change of direction they may have to make."

Well, it doesn't say "MUST" so it can happily be ignored.  I think thats what they get taught, anyway...

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

Another example of the problem when people come out with the  pro-helmet and pro-high-viz stuff about 'take responsibility for your own safety' and 'it won't help being right if you are dead', etc.

  Ultimately you _can't_ "take responsibility for your own safety" when you are at the mercy of careless fools who have the power to harm you (and a legal system that doesn't seem to care that much either).

A tragic waste of life.  Why is this tolerated?

Your point is  perfectly demonstrated by the mother of the 14 year old boy who was killed by a dangerous driver starting a petition for all new bicycles to be fitted with lights.

It's tolerated because the rich originally wrote the road laws when cars were their playthings, and now that the masses have them too, there is no incentive for politicians to address the issue.  And it's only a cyclist.

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

Anyone suspect it was an Amazon or similar delivery driver, one who is in such a rush they park anywhere nearby (usually double park) and then just rush out with their small parcel under the arm.

Gig economies do have a lot to answer for in todays rush world, both from Automobiles and Cyclists doing it. 

I was out jogging this morning with my daughter and was suddenly presented with a DPD van mounting the kerb and braking to a halt not far in front of me. Obviously it was very important for him to get his van out of the way of the other cars, never mind little old me on the pavement... They're all at it.

vonhelmet wrote:

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

Anyone suspect it was an Amazon or similar delivery driver, one who is in such a rush they park anywhere nearby (usually double park) and then just rush out with their small parcel under the arm.

Gig economies do have a lot to answer for in todays rush world, both from Automobiles and Cyclists doing it. 

I was out jogging this morning with my daughter and was suddenly presented with a DPD van mounting the kerb and braking to a halt not far in front of me. Obviously it was very important for him to get his van out of the way of the other cars, never mind little old me on the pavement... They're all at it.

Thatb happened to me one time: I was walking on the pavement when a van coming toward me went to pull up onto the pavement.  I stood my ground and refused to move out of its way.  The driver wasn't terribly happy about it... 

Pedantic Pedaller wrote:

This danger could be eliminated if all vehicles were required to have a very simple device fitted to every vehicle door. All vehicle doors have simple restrictors fitted to stop the door opening too far. Instead of this restrictor, an oil damper could be fitted that limited the SPEED the door could be opened. Such a simple device would elimnate virtually all "Doorings".

Alternatively, people could just look before blindly opening a door.

hawkinspeter wrote:

Pedantic Pedaller wrote:

This danger could be eliminated if all vehicles were required to have a very simple device fitted to every vehicle door. All vehicle doors have simple restrictors fitted to stop the door opening too far. Instead of this restrictor, an oil damper could be fitted that limited the SPEED the door could be opened. Such a simple device would elimnate virtually all "Doorings".

Alternatively, people could just look before blindly opening a door.

In the additon to the  eye, hand, brain device there are anti-blindspot devices already installed on some cars to alert drivers that they are about to pull into the path of an overtaking car.

The same device could be used when stationary to stop the drivers door from opening?

Butty wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Pedantic Pedaller wrote:

This danger could be eliminated if all vehicles were required to have a very simple device fitted to every vehicle door. All vehicle doors have simple restrictors fitted to stop the door opening too far. Instead of this restrictor, an oil damper could be fitted that limited the SPEED the door could be opened. Such a simple device would elimnate virtually all "Doorings".

Alternatively, people could just look before blindly opening a door.

In the additon to the  eye, hand, brain device there are anti-blindspot devices already installed on some cars to alert drivers that they are about to pull into the path of an overtaking car.

The same device could be used when stationary to stop the drivers door from opening?

Yes, all motor vehicles have them. They are called mirrors.

hawkinspeter wrote:

Pedantic Pedaller wrote:

This danger could be eliminated if all vehicles were required to have a very simple device fitted to every vehicle door. All vehicle doors have simple restrictors fitted to stop the door opening too far. Instead of this restrictor, an oil damper could be fitted that limited the SPEED the door could be opened. Such a simple device would elimnate virtually all "Doorings".

Alternatively, people could just look before blindly opening a door.

Might be asking too much of human nature.  Mr Pedaller's idea doesn't seem like a bad one.  There's something to be said for physically preventing people from being selfish.  It's either that or lock them up for such a long time that others notice and change their ways.  Either one might help save lives.

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Pedantic Pedaller wrote:

This danger could be eliminated if all vehicles were required to have a very simple device fitted to every vehicle door. All vehicle doors have simple restrictors fitted to stop the door opening too far. Instead of this restrictor, an oil damper could be fitted that limited the SPEED the door could be opened. Such a simple device would elimnate virtually all "Doorings".

Alternatively, people could just look before blindly opening a door.

 

Might be asking too much of human nature.  Mr Pedaller's idea doesn't seem like a bad one.  There's something to be said for physically preventing people from being selfish.  It's either that or lock them up for such a long time that others notice and change their ways.  Either one might help save lives.

I don't think so - it's just about education and enforcement for when people are just too inconsiderate.

How about a law so that whenever there's a dooring incident, the car owner has their driving license cancelled for a year? Then you'd get parents telling their kids to always be careful when opening the car door and soon enough the problem would disappear.

People don't tend to have trouble using doors in other circumstances, so it's just a matter of getting them to pay attention when they're on the road.

hawkinspeter wrote:

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Pedantic Pedaller wrote:

This danger could be eliminated if all vehicles were required to have a very simple device fitted to every vehicle door. All vehicle doors have simple restrictors fitted to stop the door opening too far. Instead of this restrictor, an oil damper could be fitted that limited the SPEED the door could be opened. Such a simple device would elimnate virtually all "Doorings".

Alternatively, people could just look before blindly opening a door.

 

Might be asking too much of human nature.  Mr Pedaller's idea doesn't seem like a bad one.  There's something to be said for physically preventing people from being selfish.  It's either that or lock them up for such a long time that others notice and change their ways.  Either one might help save lives.

I don't think so - it's just about education and enforcement for when people are just too inconsiderate.

How about a law so that whenever there's a dooring incident, the car owner has their driving license cancelled for a year? Then you'd get parents telling their kids to always be careful when opening the car door and soon enough the problem would disappear.

People don't tend to have trouble using doors in other circumstances, so it's just a matter of getting them to pay attention when they're on the road.

If ALL road users were careful, considerate and law abiding, cars wouldn't need airbags, crumple zones, side impact bars, ABS, anti roll protection, lane guidance systems etc.

All this technology is now fitted to cars to save the lives of car occupants.

A simple device fitted to the doors of a vehicle would save cyclists from the errors of a car occupant.

Pedantic Pedaller wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Pedantic Pedaller wrote:

This danger could be eliminated if all vehicles were required to have a very simple device fitted to every vehicle door. All vehicle doors have simple restrictors fitted to stop the door opening too far. Instead of this restrictor, an oil damper could be fitted that limited the SPEED the door could be opened. Such a simple device would elimnate virtually all "Doorings".

Alternatively, people could just look before blindly opening a door.

 

Might be asking too much of human nature.  Mr Pedaller's idea doesn't seem like a bad one.  There's something to be said for physically preventing people from being selfish.  It's either that or lock them up for such a long time that others notice and change their ways.  Either one might help save lives.

I don't think so - it's just about education and enforcement for when people are just too inconsiderate.

How about a law so that whenever there's a dooring incident, the car owner has their driving license cancelled for a year? Then you'd get parents telling their kids to always be careful when opening the car door and soon enough the problem would disappear.

People don't tend to have trouble using doors in other circumstances, so it's just a matter of getting them to pay attention when they're on the road.

If ALL road users were careful, considerate and law abiding, cars wouldn't need airbags, crumple zones, side impact bars, ABS, anti roll protection, lane guidance systems etc.

All this technology is now fitted to cars to save the lives of car occupants.

A simple device fitted to the doors of a vehicle would save cyclists from the errors of a car occupant.

Negotiating through traffic safely is a skill which is why motorists have to take a test to get a license, whereas opening a door on a stationary vehicle is something a child can do (as long as the child-lock isn't in operation), so it's a much simpler problem to solve. Just look before opening.

Double.

brooksby wrote:

Thats weird - a comment I left on this thread earlier this morning has disappeared.

I'd replied to Blackthorne above, suggesting that they changed the batteries in their sarcasm meter.

(Dear admins: surely thats not offensive to anyone?  )

Could be connected with the site being down early (checked with down just for me).
Probably a DoS attack by RBWM.

kil0ran wrote:

Ah well, just one of those things

thank you for ur grand eloquence and respect for the deceased