Burden that other road users impose on the car driver

FOLLOWING the letter from A Wilson (Yorkshire Post, September 6) regarding anti-car rhetoric, I must say I’m in total agreement. Furthermore, there seems to be a total onus on car drivers to avoid cyclists, motorcyclists, and HGVs, and none the other way around.

Near where I live, there is a narrow stretch of road between two villages, alongside which the local council, at public expense, have constructed a cycle way. Do cyclists use it?

In many cases the answer is no, because “it’s too slow”. Last weekend, I was stuck behind a pack of cyclists from a local cycling club, on this stretch, not using the cycle way. They blocked one side of the road completely and wouldn’t give way at all, not even to go into single file. If there had been an accident who would have been at fault? Yes, the car driver.

Also around our area are lots of “Think Bike” signs. How about some “Think Car” signs? When I’ve seen near misses between cars and motorcycles, it’s nearly always been the motorcyclists’ fault, usually trying to overtake, and squeeze in, before an oncoming car arrives. Who ends up having to brake, and take evasive action? Yes, the car driver.

Finally, can any HGV driver tell me why it is necessary, particularly on dual carriageways, to give two flicks on an indicator, and then pull out into the outside lane, regardless of the effect on other traffic, to overtake another HGV doing just a few mph less? Who ends up having to take evasive action? Yes, the car driver.

From: E Evans, Barleyview, Wigginton, York.

IN support of the letter from A Wilson, I would like to say how fed up and irritated I get with the constant tirade we hear from these pressure groups.

When I was at school we 
had lessons on road safety, 
which made it quite clear that children and adults should be extremely careful before crossing roads.

On the subject of cyclists they seem to be a law unto themselves, most of them show no respect for any other road or pavement users.

As a frequent walker, I am under constant threat from cyclists riding on pavements. If they have bells, they never use them.

From: JD Smith, Leeds.

AS vehicle insurance for the law abiding is obligatory, while insurance companies continue 
to raise premiums for those without claims the previous year, and are in receipt of maximum no claims bonuses, it is nothing less than sheer extortion when young and older drivers in particular are made to suffer in this way. As is their failure to lower premiums in accordance with the reduced value of the insured vehicle for which they would only pay market value in the event of a write-off. How convenient.

A case in point was my own insurance fee for 2011-12 with no claims and a vehicle which had depreciated by some 70 per cent over the past three years, rose by 20 per cent to £690, which made an accident-free year of no significance whatsoever when the price increased anyway.

I am now nearing the time when, in an effort to obtain a better quote, I will undoubtedly have to go through the whole sorry business again.

The situation becomes even more confusing when cover for disabled drivers seems to be easily obtainable; provided perhaps by government or car dealers to facilitate sales.

While not begrudging genuine recipients of Motability vehicles, what does rankle is the fact that disabled drivers seem to be thought of as less of a risk than the able-bodied, regardless of experience and long records of safe driving.

Why do we have to 
continue being ripped off by an industry which is totally unregulated and therefore out of control?

From: Tim Mickleburgh, Boulevard Avenue, Grimsby.

READING Barrie Frost’s letter (Yorkshire Post, August 31), I would assume he is one of those who thought the last Labour Government had a war against the motorist.

In fact during the Blair-Brown years the fuel price escalator was abolished and the Road Fund Licence reduced for most vehicles, helping to cut the cost of motoring in real terms for drivers. By contrast both bus and rail fares increased.

Sadly nothing has changed under this ConDem coalition.