I agree with all this, but I am a little despondent.
Three years ago last Saturday Dom Mason was killed by a truck driver, on a training ride with 19 other cyclists (most of whom have posted on this site). It could have been any one of us on that ride - if someone had missed a turn someone else would have been at the point where the truck hit Dom. The road was straight and level, and the conditions were clear. The bunch was riding safely. Still not sure why the truck driver moved across on the bunch. I doubt he meant to do it, who knows if the drugs detected in his system or his lack of sleep contributed. End result - dumb arse truck driver is in prison, a good mate and top bloke is dead, and (worst of all) Dom's kids grow up without their dad and Michelle loses her partner.
Move forward to last Thursday. The facts as reported in the media and other sources suggest a dumb-arse driver, said to be unlicensed and with a low range PCA reading, ploughs in to Graham while the driver is (allegedly) texting. Graham is killed instantly. I know Graham was a safe rider and that he took the risks associated with riding very seriously, because he had been hit before a little further north on the same road a few years earlier, but was lucky to escape with some stitches and bruises. What is the likely end result - dumb arse car driver will go to prison, another good mate and top bloke is dead, and (very sadly) Graham's three kids grow up without a Dad they worshipped and his wife loses her life partner.
Dom and Graham were good friends. It
**** me no end that they have died well before their time. Yes, I support the protests, the Amy Gillet Foundation and lobbying, but I fear that all of this well meaning activity will make no difference at reducing the deaths of cyclists. My pessimism stems from a few basic facts:
1. Cycles do not have crumple zones, seat belts and airbags - if a car or truck hits us we are going to be seriously injured or killed. The risk increases with increases when the speed differential between cyclist and motorist increases.
2. People are stupid, and moreso when they drive. They text and chat while driving, reach for things in the back seat or glove box, drive while tanked and/or stoned, speed, and make poor decisions.
3. The only way to prevent motorist-caused deaths of cyclists is to segregate cyclists from vehicles, and no level of government will fund that because, as a cynical numbers game, we are not significant enough. Politicians are more interested in funding expansions to bloody Energy Australia Stadium, or sending the Premier to fly over flooded parts of NSW, or provide busses no one catches.
What my rant says is while I hope there will bo no future deaths of cyclists because of some turnaround in motorist attitudes and skillsets, I doubt much will change.
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