Re: Cyclist hit and runs - what is the answer?

(apologies for quoting this post in full, just wanted to make sure there
was no wiggle room. Followup at the bottom)

in message <dov70h$o90$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, p.k.
('spam.trap100.remove@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx') wrote:

> Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
>> On Wed, 28 Dec 2005 14:16:03 +0000 (UTC), "p.k."
>> <spam.trap100.remove@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> said in
>> <dou6n3$t3$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
>>
>>> The stopping distances referred to (HC 105) relate to distances
>>> between moving cars. to use the same rule in relation to (say)
>>> pedestrians stepping of pavements or seeing stealth cyclists is
>>> wrong, intellectually dishonest and deliberately distorting.
>>
>> Bzzt! Wrong. Rule 105 makes no reference at all to moving cars. It
>> says you should be able to stop well within the distance you can see
>> to be clear. It's always said that, give or take the odd word. I
>> have heard Plod telling some clueless old bat who drove into a fallen
>> tree exactly that.
>>
>> Of course, some drivers like to /interpret/ it as meaning the distance
>> you can't see to be occupied, or some other variant, but what it
>> /actually/ says is "well within the distance you can see to be clear".
>> It is, to my reading, quite unambiguous.
>
> Simply stating someting to be so does not make it so Guy, Try reading
> it again and look at the accomanying pictures.
>
> the reference to moving traffic is clear and unambiguous hc105 is a
> guide about stopping distances in movign traffic.
>
> HC section in full
>
> Stopping distances
>
> 105: Drive at a speed that will allow you to stop well within the
> distance you can see to be clear. You should
>
> a.. leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front so
> that
> you can pull up safely if it suddenly slows down or stops. The safe
> rule is never to get closer than the overall stopping distance (see
> Typical Stopping Distances diagram below)
> b.. allow at least a two-second gap between you and the vehicle
> in
> front on roads carrying fast traffic. The gap should be at least
> doubled on wet roads and increased still further on icy roads
> c.. remember, large vehicles and motorcycles need a greater
> distance
> to stop.
>
> Use a fixed point to help measure a two second gap
>
> Typical Stopping Distances
>
> 20
> MPH
> 6 metres 6 metres = 12 metres
> (40 feet)
> or 3 car lengths
>
> 30
> MPH
> 9 metres 14 metres = 23 metres
> (75 feet)
> or 6 car lengths
>
> 40
> MPH
> 12 metres 24 metres = 36 metres
> (120 feet)
> or 9 car lengths
>
> 50
> MPH
> 15 metres 38 metres = 53 metres
> (175 feet)
> or 13 car lengths
>
> 60
> MPH
> 18 metres 55 metres = 73 metres
> (240 feet)
> or 18 car lengths
>
> 70
> MPH
> 21 metres 75 metres = 96 metres
> (315 feet)
> or 24 car lengths
>
> Thinking Distance
> Braking Distance
> average car length = 4 metres

Exactly. As you can see, as Guy said, no reference whatever to moving
cars. There's reference to 'vehicles', and there's reference to 'car
lengths' as units of distance, but none to moving cars. What part of
"Drive at a speed that will allow you to stop well within the distance
you can see to be clear" do you have /such/ trouble understanding?

Also note that 'typical stopping distances' does not mean 'legal
distances'. You have to be able to stop /your/ vehicle, with /its/
foibles, well within the space /you/ can see to be clear, under the
prevailing conditions. If you hit someone, 'but I left enough room
according to the table in the Highway Code' is precisely no defence at
all.

--
simon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
Copyright (c) Simon Brooke; All rights reserved. Permission is
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to transfer it by HTTP.

.

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