Petition to improve road safety

[rooel]

Members may wish to sign the following parliamentary (Westminster)epetition:

Petition to: improve road safety by introducing strict liability for motorists in collisions.

Here are the details:

Youngsters are being asked to walk or cycle to school to be green and reduce jams.

Walking and cycling are generally safe but parents will worry - if they are brave enough to let youngsters be independent.

The perception of safety has to be improved.

Lower speeds and extra road education will play a part but this petition is calling for a change to strict liability laws on drivers’ insurance policies.

At present, in a car - bike/pedestrian collision, the cyclist or pedestrian (probably the worst injured) has to prove the motorist was reckless.

We want that burden of proof switched so the motorist – choosing to use a ton of metal at speed – has to prove the cyclist or pedestrian was at fault.

This only applies to insurance claims. In criminal law, drivers in collisions remain innocent until proven guilty.

This rule exists in many EU countries with more walking and cycling, and a better child road safety record, Let’s raise driving standards and create better road user attitudes.

 

[frank9755]

Well done! I saw this last week and signed it, and meant to put a posting on the forum but forgot. Makes sense to me!

Frank

 

[rooel]

Thanks, Frank. I knew nothing about this petition until today when I had a quick look through the latest edition of A to B magazine. I hope it comes to the attention of as many pedestrians and cyclists as possible before the closing date on 12th November.

 

[flecc]

Well done Rooel, I absolutely support this in every respect and am off to sign in a moment. In particular the quicker we get automatic motorist liability in those cases, the sooner they'll calm down and drive more responsibly.

I'd like to see this go further into legal responsibility, but this step will be progress.
.

 

[Beeping-Sleauty]

good link Rooel,

hadn't seen this,

..............'Power to the Peds', be they Pedestrians or Pedal Pushers............

signed today,
beeps

 

[rooel]

I put the same link on the Dahon forum Log In (General Discussion)
and it is interesting to compare the mainly hostile reacton there to the favourable one here

 

[flecc]

That's intriguing Rooel.

Have you any ideas why that is?

Might many Dahon owners use them folded in their cars possibly?
.

 

[rooel]

Perhaps the different reaction is simply due to random psychological variation, but there have not been all that many posts on either forum, so perhaps no valid conclusions can yet be drawn.

One of the Dahon posters, who definitely owns Dahon folders, however does not appear to do multimodal journeys with a Dahon in the boot, and much regrets the fact that he has to use his car.

 

[richard]

Great stuff, I would'nt have known but for your posting.
Have signed in hope but fear we are the underdogs !!
However ..one day..one day
richard

 

[JohnInStockie]

Signed immediately, its bonkers that this isnt already the law.

 

[HarryB]

At present, in a car - bike/pedestrian collision, the cyclist or pedestrian (probably the worst injured) has to prove the motorist was reckless.

Certainly for pedestrians this is untrue. The civil law in this country is set by precedent and the precedent is that in a collision a motor vehicle would always be at fault and a claim could be made. The insurance company could argue that the pedestrian was at fault and this would reduce the claim by a percentage - this seems fair enough.

How many driver know this and how many know that a pedestrian always has the right of way? Do we really need another law rather than educating drivers/cyclist/pedestrians about road safety. Personally I think the politicians/police need to take more of an interest in road safety with education and enforcement. It would cost money of course and generally we are more interested in the cheap options - eg speed cameras.

 

[flecc]

I do wish education worked Harry, but the record in this is largely of failure. It's taken enforcement to make any real changes.

Although I don't like excessive law, the key lies in what you said, "how many drivers know this". New legislation affecting drivers is given wide publicity both in the national and motoring media, so the good result would be that more drivers would know, and hopefully that would make them more circumspect about their road conduct.
.

 

[Beeping-Sleauty]

a response...

i rec'd a reply from the 'Office of the Prime Minister...' in response to the petition some of us signed up to..."improve road safety by
introducing strict liability for motorists in collisions."

roadsafety9 - epetition response

whitewash may be too polite a term,
discuss.

mildly irritated beeper

 

[Chris]

i rec'd a reply from the 'Office of the Prime Minister...' in response to the petition some of us signed up to..."improve road safety by
introducing strict liability for motorists in collisions."

roadsafety9 - epetition response

whitewash may be too polite a term,
discuss.

mildly irritated beeper

Sorry but I totally agree with the response from the 'Office of the Prime Minister`, and feel that the problem was ill directed. A petition for better facilities would be worthwhile (IE cycle lanes, use of pavements etc)
Chris

 

[carpetbagger]

Maybe we should bombard them until something is done. Has anybody any views on cycle lanes or lack of them,i don't mean the painted variety...please see
Petition to: create cycle lanes in all built up areas/busy roads, alongside and at the same height as pavements.

 

[rooel]

"whitewash may be too polite a term"

I totally agree, another surrender to the road motor lobby.

No-one was suggesting that the motorist would be automatically liable in a collision with a cyclist or pedestrian, only that the onus of proof (of no fault) should be shifted from the injured party to the motorist.

Such provisions seem to work fine in some other EU countries.

 

[rooel]

Petition to: create cycle lanes in all built up areas/busy roads, alongside and at the same height as pavements.[/QUOTE]

I think every cyclist should sign this. Spending money on separating cyclists from road motor traffic would be much more effective than spending it on propaganda to wear useless helmets.

 

[Chris]

Maybe we should bombard them until something is done. Has anybody any views on cycle lanes or lack of them,i don't mean the painted variety...please see
Petition to: create cycle lanes in all built up areas/busy roads, alongside and at the same height as pavements.

This I agree with and have signed my name to same.I do contend that that the other petition (liability on motorist) is ridiculous, and totally unnecessary;we have enough law on the subject which workes perfectly well,if an injured cyclist does not use the law thats his problem.
As a fact of life there will always be accidents the trick is to amelorate them,hence reason to support cycle lanes and the like.
Out of shear couriosity, how many accidents are there per year in the UK ?

Chris

 

[flecc]

how many accidents are there per year in the UK ?

Chris

Probably at least three quarters of the numbers of first born, Chris, particularly where teenagers are involved.
.

 

[Chris]

During my first 20 years, all accidents that I suffered were due to a varity of reasons,but never with a car.In todays world of stastics, my numerous scrapes would piled into the heap of figures,and then some well meaning gentlemen would blame the car.
Chris