Has anyone noticed a change in the attitude of drivers over the last year?
When I’m on the bike doing lessons, whether it’s a CBT or a rider going for test, I’ve noticed that drivers will arras us by getting very close to the back of us, or pull out in front of the lead rider.
The other day I was on the road ride of a CBT with two 16 year old riders on mopeds. It was their first time on the road, and as you can imagine they were both a bit nervous.
About an hour into the ride we came across a bus stopped at a bus stop on our side of the road. I talked them through checking to see if it was clear to move out, they took the correct observations, moved position to pass it, all in all a good bit of riding.
We were all three wearing Hi-Vis jackets, marked up with the training school name on them. I could see the bus driver looking in his off-side mirror, he let the two lads pass him, then pulled out in front of me, THEN put his signal on. WHY?
This left the lads alone in front of the bus, the road was straight and no other traffic was following us. When I moved out to get a view passed the bus, and try to pass him, guess what? He closed the gap on the lads, he was about 15 to 20 feet from them. The posted limit was 40 mph, we were travelling at 30mph the max speed of the mopeds.
At 30mph according to the Highway Code, it takes an alert driver 30 feet to react BEFORE he would get to his brakes, never mind stop. What is the rider lost control and fell off? The bus driver would not even get to the brake peddle.
In this case nothing happened, the bus pulled off after about half a mile and the lads handled it well.
I rang the bus company and told them what had happened and go the usual of they would have a word with the driver etc etc.
So what’s the answer?
Well its so simple, back off, slow down a bit and relax. With a full face helmet on you don’t knows who’s riding, It could be your kid, husband, wife, brother or sister on the bike.
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