Sharing the road

With summer bringing more people onto bikes and motorbikes, Simon advises drivers on how best to share the road with other road users.

• Keep an eye out for cyclists and motorcyclists and give them lots of space
• Especially leave cyclists enough room when you pass them to allow them to move out to negotiate drains and potholes.
• Overtake thoughtfully. Passing a cyclist quickly might feel safe from inside the metal shell of your car, but it will not for the cyclist – the closer you are, the worse it feels.
• Bear in mind that cyclists and certainly motorcyclists may be travelling quicker than you down the same road. Check all of your mirrors regularly so you see bikes approaching from behind.
• In particular, check your mirrors before either changing direction or changing lanes, especially in traffic queues.
• If a motorcyclist is trying to get past in heavy traffic, let them. Don’t hinder their progress just because you are stuck where you are.
• Give clear and early signals to allow other road users plenty of time to react.
• Don’t cut up a cyclist when turning left. Never overtake then turn left across their front wheel.
• Check for bikes coming before opening the driver’s door when you’ve parked.

Simon Elstow said: “The most common cause of road accidents is ‘failed to look properly’ – and this oversight is being made by all kinds of road users. We all need to look out for each other to stamp out these avoidable collisions.

“Most road users don’t just use one mode of transport, so use the knowledge you have from the others to practise a bit more patience and understanding of those around you.”