Drivers Ed Refresher
10-19-01 | 07:58 PM
#1
Drivers Ed Refresher
Got this from a local bicycle advocacy email list, and thought it was pretty good...
Preaching to the choir,
Roadbuzz
Think you understand the traffic laws? Read this and see what you don’t know!
** Did you know: Every DMV Drivers Manual says safe practice is:
"Adjust speed for blind hills, curves... pedestrians, bicyclists, and slow-moving vehicles.
These conditions make the posted speed limit unsafe. By law, you must drive slower.
It is your responsibility to adjust your driving to assure everyone's safety."
** Do you recall that using a motor vehicle is not a right, but a privilege; and can be revoked? In their brief history, motor vehicles have killed and injured millions of people; and continue to do so. That is why motor vehicle operators have to be licensed, trained, regulated, and insured.
** Are you aware that faster speed does not give motorists a greater right to the road? Pedestrians, bicyclists, horse-riders, and buggy drivers all have an equal right to use and be safe on public roads; even using a full lane when needed.
** Did you know that public roads were not built for cars? In fact, in this country they were first paved for bicyclists, back when cars were sputtering experiments, and the fastest police were "crack" bicyclists.
** Are you aware that predictable errors cause most crashes? Traffic laws were created to help us avoid these errors. Based on decades of scientific studies, traffic laws are the safest way known for sharing public roads.
** Do you recall that when passing pedestrians or bicyclists, traffic law says motorists must slow down, and leave a safe-space zone? Even in a crosswalk or bikelane, squeezing past frightens people. The law says:
"In passing a bicycle, the driver of a motor vehicle shall pass at a safe distance & reasonable speed."
** Did you know that traffic laws never require bicyclists to squeeze over to the right for passing cars? While bicyclists share their lane if it’s completely safe to do so, squeezing over can cause them to crash into parked car doors, slide on glass or gravel, or get squeezed between hazards. It leaves them without any safe-space zone.
** Do you recall that in most states, the law says safe practice for bicyclists is:
"ride to the right *EXCEPT* ... when passing... turning... to avoid objects, parked cars, moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or ... lanes too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to pass safely side by side within the lane."
** Are you aware that these conditions are surprisingly common when bicycling? Traffic law clearly says avoid such conditions; don’t stay right; instead, act fully and in every way as other drivers do:
"Every person riding a bicycle.. shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle. "
** Know what that means? When narrow lanes, parked cars, or other hazards lie ahead, bicyclists are safest when they politely merge left and ride near the center of a vehicle lane; just as any other driver would do. This is normal operation for all slow-moving vehicles: ride to the right when safe, use a full lane when needed. As one police chief says, "This is just common sense and standard traffic rules."
** Are you aware that bicycling is safer overall than motorcycling, horse-riding, water skiing, and swimming? It can be even safer, because predictable errors cause most car/bike crashes. Such errors are avoided by the most experienced cyclists, who bicycle daily in traffic for years without collision. Like other drivers, Bicycle Drivers ride in a straight line along with traffic, and move sideways by politely merging; exactly the same way a car changes lanes. They create a safe-space zone around the bicycle by riding about 4 ft. away from parked cars, curbs and hazards. They avoid getting squeezed in narrow lanes or when hazards are ahead by politely merging left and riding near the center of a vehicle lane. For more, please read the Bicycle Drivers Manual at www.bicyclinglife.com . Comments? Cycle-@excite.com . Thank you for your time and consideration.
(c) 2001 Lauren Cooper
Preaching to the choir,
Roadbuzz
Think you understand the traffic laws? Read this and see what you don’t know!
** Did you know: Every DMV Drivers Manual says safe practice is:
"Adjust speed for blind hills, curves... pedestrians, bicyclists, and slow-moving vehicles.
These conditions make the posted speed limit unsafe. By law, you must drive slower.
It is your responsibility to adjust your driving to assure everyone's safety."
** Do you recall that using a motor vehicle is not a right, but a privilege; and can be revoked? In their brief history, motor vehicles have killed and injured millions of people; and continue to do so. That is why motor vehicle operators have to be licensed, trained, regulated, and insured.
** Are you aware that faster speed does not give motorists a greater right to the road? Pedestrians, bicyclists, horse-riders, and buggy drivers all have an equal right to use and be safe on public roads; even using a full lane when needed.
** Did you know that public roads were not built for cars? In fact, in this country they were first paved for bicyclists, back when cars were sputtering experiments, and the fastest police were "crack" bicyclists.
** Are you aware that predictable errors cause most crashes? Traffic laws were created to help us avoid these errors. Based on decades of scientific studies, traffic laws are the safest way known for sharing public roads.
** Do you recall that when passing pedestrians or bicyclists, traffic law says motorists must slow down, and leave a safe-space zone? Even in a crosswalk or bikelane, squeezing past frightens people. The law says:
"In passing a bicycle, the driver of a motor vehicle shall pass at a safe distance & reasonable speed."
** Did you know that traffic laws never require bicyclists to squeeze over to the right for passing cars? While bicyclists share their lane if it’s completely safe to do so, squeezing over can cause them to crash into parked car doors, slide on glass or gravel, or get squeezed between hazards. It leaves them without any safe-space zone.
** Do you recall that in most states, the law says safe practice for bicyclists is:
"ride to the right *EXCEPT* ... when passing... turning... to avoid objects, parked cars, moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or ... lanes too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to pass safely side by side within the lane."
** Are you aware that these conditions are surprisingly common when bicycling? Traffic law clearly says avoid such conditions; don’t stay right; instead, act fully and in every way as other drivers do:
"Every person riding a bicycle.. shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle. "
** Know what that means? When narrow lanes, parked cars, or other hazards lie ahead, bicyclists are safest when they politely merge left and ride near the center of a vehicle lane; just as any other driver would do. This is normal operation for all slow-moving vehicles: ride to the right when safe, use a full lane when needed. As one police chief says, "This is just common sense and standard traffic rules."
** Are you aware that bicycling is safer overall than motorcycling, horse-riding, water skiing, and swimming? It can be even safer, because predictable errors cause most car/bike crashes. Such errors are avoided by the most experienced cyclists, who bicycle daily in traffic for years without collision. Like other drivers, Bicycle Drivers ride in a straight line along with traffic, and move sideways by politely merging; exactly the same way a car changes lanes. They create a safe-space zone around the bicycle by riding about 4 ft. away from parked cars, curbs and hazards. They avoid getting squeezed in narrow lanes or when hazards are ahead by politely merging left and riding near the center of a vehicle lane. For more, please read the Bicycle Drivers Manual at www.bicyclinglife.com . Comments? Cycle-@excite.com . Thank you for your time and consideration.
(c) 2001 Lauren Cooper
Last edited by roadbuzz; 10-19-01 at 08:01 PM.
