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On Yer Bike
In April last year, cyclist Tsk Fok was killed by a rubbish truck turning left from Broad Street into Parks Road. The courts have just ruled that this was an accident caused by careless driving - the driver, Trevor Ashworth, didn't see Fok because the truck's mirror was not adjusted properly.
The judge said Ashworth had driven without due care and attention because he had failed to notice his faulty mirror, although he also said that Fok should have waited for the truck to turn before he set off from the traffic lights. There is understandable outrage among cyclists about the £500 fine and eight-month driving ban.
This seems to most an extraordinarily light sentence, which sends out the message that life is cheap. A heavier fine may force drivers to take more notice of the condition of their vehicles before driving.
However, to put the sentence into context, the driver who infamously ran over and killed four cyclists in north Wales two years ago was fined just £180 with £35 costs, and given six points on his licence after admitting having defective tyres.
On the bright side, both councils appear to be taking heed. The county council has starting a publicity campaign to make cyclists and HGV drivers more aware.
This campaign is vital. Apparently, a message to cyclists is appearing on the back of trucks. Assuming the message warns cyclists never to cut inside an HGV or a bus, then it's welcome. After all, 80 per cent of cyclist deaths are caused by HGVs, the majority of which involve an HGV turning left and running over a cyclist.
The council has also produced a useful leaflet aimed at truck drivers and cyclists. It explains that truck mirrors have a blind spot. If you cycle into the blind spot, the driver can't see you. And if the lorry turns left, the consequences are now, sadly, clear.
It urges drivers to turn slowly and to keep checking in their mirrors. It's quite good and I hope it gets out to truckers and cyclists. To get your copy, call 01865 815704.
The city council consulted Cyclox about cyclist-awareness messages for its truck drivers. Drivers need to give cyclists an extra-wide berth. It is pointless to overtake a cyclist only to pull in immediately at a traffic light or other barrier. It is much safer to pull back and give cyclists some room. Of course, by far the most important message is taking extra care when turning left.
Both councils should make sure that all their trucks have under-running sideguards - bars or skirts which allow cyclists and pedestrians to bounce away from the wheels in an accident. Not all of their trucks have them.
With regard to the junction of Broad Street and Parks Road, I was pleased to hear that the county council is looking at solutions along the lines of a raised table with shared priority and no lights, as recommended by Cyclox last year.
In the meantime, the safety of the junction can be immediately improved by installing an advanced stop line (a green box) to allow cyclists to wait ahead of other vehicles at the traffic lights.
2:13pm Monday 11th February 2008
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CommentPosted by: Darran beal, jericho on 4:07am Wed 13 Feb 08
James you wrote that Mr Ashworth had a faulty mirror and that was the reason that he didn,t see mr fok. Ashworth denied this, and because he was driving I think he would be the best judge of that. The real question should have been. Was Ashworth indicating that he was turning left, if so then any cyclist arriving at the lights after him and sitting on the left of him intending to turn right or to carry on ahead has to wait until his manouvre has been completed. If so a verdict of not guilty should have been returned. If Ashworth had not been indicating left and Fok was intending to proceed straight ahead then a charge of causing death through careless driving would have been appropriate and resulted in a conviction. This is the 1 fact that has not been mentioned. P.S. If all car/lory drivers held the highway code in as much respect as only a few cyclists can you imagine the carnage. Sort your own brigade out before before having your sorry little pop at the motorists
James you wrote that Mr Ashworth had a faulty mirror and that was the reason that he didn,t see mr fok. Ashworth denied this, and because he was driving I think he would be the best judge of that. The real question should have been. Was Ashworth indicating that he was turning left, if so then any cyclist arriving at the lights after him and sitting on the left of him intending to turn right or to carry on ahead has to wait until his manouvre has been completed. If so a verdict of not guilty should have been returned. If Ashworth had not been indicating left and Fok was intending to proceed straight ahead then a charge of causing death through careless driving would have been appropriate and resulted in a conviction. This is the 1 fact that has not been mentioned. P.S. If all car/lory drivers held the highway code in as much respect as only a few cyclists can you imagine the carnage. Sort your own brigade out before before having your sorry little pop at the motorists
Posted by: Tony Brett, Oxford on 9:21am Thu 14 Feb 08
Darran - as someone who regularly cycles and drive in Oxford I'll agree that there is lots of very poor cycling in Oxford but there is also lots of incredibly poor driving and the fact is that driving is far more dangerous to other road users than cycling is. How many cyclists have you heard of killed by other cyclists?
Mr Fok clearly died as a result of a tragic accident and I really don't think now is the time to start throwing insults at cyclists.
If had a pound for everytime I have been cut up by a weaving car or large vehicle with the drive using a mobile phone I'd be a rich man by now.
Darran - as someone who regularly cycles and drive in Oxford I'll agree that there is lots of very poor cycling in Oxford but there is also lots of incredibly poor driving and the fact is that driving is far more dangerous to other road users than cycling is. How many cyclists have you heard of killed by other cyclists?
Mr Fok clearly died as a result of a tragic accident and I really don't think now is the time to start throwing insults at cyclists.
If had a pound for everytime I have been cut up by a weaving car or large vehicle with the drive using a mobile phone I'd be a rich man by now.
Posted by: Andy on 11:21am Thu 14 Feb 08
Tony, If I had a pound for everytime a cyclist has gone through a red light, pulled out of a side road without looking and riding with no lights I would be a lot far richer man than you.You say its not the time to throw insults to cyclists and in the next sentence you do the same to car drivers!! The fact is Tsk Fox contributed to his death. He was supposed to be a 'bright spark' but did not have the common sense to stop behind the lorry.
Tony, If I had a pound for everytime a cyclist has gone through a red light, pulled out of a side road without looking and riding with no lights I would be a lot far richer man than you.You say its not the time to throw insults to cyclists and in the next sentence you do the same to car drivers!! The fact is Tsk Fox contributed to his death. He was supposed to be a 'bright spark' but did not have the common sense to stop behind the lorry.
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 6:20pm Thu 14 Feb 08
If i had a pound for every idiot in a car i may set up some sort of charity.
If i had a pound for every idiot in a car i may set up some sort of charity.
Posted by: darran, oxford on 10:17pm Tue 19 Feb 08
To Tony & Ison, Fact. The lorry made a lawful left turn. Two cyclists were on his inside one died the other didn't. Guess which one obeyed the highway code. If cyclists realised that they have not got a god given right to get on their bike a point A and get off at point B, without having to stop for the xmas lights that the council leave up all year round, or those broken lines at road junctions, and one way streets are just that, and not a short cut, and cycling on the pavement is not cool (not to mention telling pedestrians to F*@K off when they complain) then more of them might just make it to their destination. P.S. motorists have an identity card stuck to the front and back of their vehicles to record their offences. I just wonder how many offences would be detected and fines collected if bikes had the same. Probably enough to do away with council tax.
To Tony & Ison, Fact. The lorry made a lawful left turn. Two cyclists were on his inside one died the other didn't. Guess which one obeyed the highway code. If cyclists realised that they have not got a god given right to get on their bike a point A and get off at point B, without having to stop for the xmas lights that the council leave up all year round, or those broken lines at road junctions, and one way streets are just that, and not a short cut, and cycling on the pavement is not cool (not to mention telling pedestrians to F*@K off when they complain) then more of them might just make it to their destination. P.S. motorists have an identity card stuck to the front and back of their vehicles to record their offences. I just wonder how many offences would be detected and fines collected if bikes had the same. Probably enough to do away with council tax.
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