New research released by the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) has revealed that cyclists and motorcyclists are a major concern amongst British car drivers.
More than eight out of ten of UK drivers (83%) stated in a recent survey that improving drivers’ awareness of motorcyclists could be the way to avoid road near misses and potential accidents.
Further figures revealed that 52% of UK motorists have had a near miss with a cyclist and almost six in ten claimed that better enforcement of the law for cyclists would be needed to prevent these problems.
‘Sorry mate I didn’t see you’
What the poll has named ‘SMIDSY’ – ‘sorry mate I didn’t see you’- is precisely the type of road incident commonly faced by a majority of today’s UK drivers.
In the last six months, 58% of motorists were cut-up by another driver who failed to look properly and four in ten of these incidents happened in a 30 mile per hour zone.
IAM chief executive, Simon Best, said: “SMIDSY moments are happening far too often, and very few people are prepared to take responsibility for their part in them. It’s always someone else’s fault. All road users need to be more aware of who they are sharing the road with, and the risks they present.”
According to the report, a failure to look is a contributory factor in 29% of serious collisions and up to 36% of slight accidents.
Interestingly, 58% of motorists are most likely to place the blame of these near-misses onto other drivers instead of accepting responsibility themselves.
“Other road users’ intentions can often be guessed by their body language and position on the road, so drive defensively, and leave room so that if somebody does do something unexpected, you have time to deal with it,” added Best.
In order to improve road safety, the IAM recommended not cutting up a cyclist when turning left and never overtaking then turning left across their front wheel.
Likewise, it is always essential to check your mirrors before changing direction, especially in queues of traffic.
