Thanks to the thoughtful comments from readers on my recent post – cycling through red lights.
A few months ago, I was training when I came to a set of red lights. onto a main road. Since there was no traffic on the road I filtered left onto the road. I saw no harm in filtering left, since the road was completely clear. A while later, I noticed a car was driving slowly behind me. Then it overtook and the driver got out and shouted at me to stop. I saw no reason to stop for an angry driver; I had done nothing to inconvenience him. I just cycled past. Again the driver sped past and stopped in front of me. Again he got out of the car and angrily shouted at me to stop. I continued cycling, ignoring his remonstrations (I assume he was at the lights that I had filtered through). When I didn’t stop, he again accelerated to overtake me. But, this time he nearly cause a crash; in his haste and anger he overtook into the face of oncoming traffic which had to come to a halt (with horn blaring). For 4 times he played this game of overtaking and shouting at me to stop. Each time I completely ignored him and cycled straight on. Eventually, he realised I was not interested and so disappeared.
I have to admit I was quite shook up by the incident.
- I felt mildly guilty for going through a traffic light; but, I had not impeded anyone, nor had I put anyone in danger.
- Why did the driver get so angry?
- Anger and road rage is a really dangerous thing. Because he had lost his balance, he nearly caused an accident. Yet, the irony is that he probably didn’t break the ‘letter of the highway code’ but, his driving was dangerous and placed others in danger. This is the real problem on our roads, not being a stickler for rules and regulations
- Everyday we see driving that could easily cause accidents to other people, yet, there is no specific highway code violation. Alas, many motorists probably don’t even know they are doing the wrong thing.
- Cycling through red lights is not good. But, I was interested a UK MP (forgot her name, but was in Cycling Weekly last week) with responsibility for transport recently suggested that cyclists should be able to go left through a red light. As a reader David Williams stated, traffic lights were implemented for traffic management; therefore, what is the big crime if we filter through?
- However, I also have to say, I have seen cyclists go through traffic lights when it was quite dangerous to do so. By turning right through a red light, I have seen cars have to stop. This dangerous cycling is unacceptable, I would get annoyed if I was driving.
- I don’t want to make other road users unhappy; I have to admit after the incident I am even less willing to go through red lights, even if there is no practical reason to stop. At the same time, the driver has to accept responsibility for getting angry and driving dangerously. There was no excuse for his threatening and dangerous behaviour.
- Every day, our life is put in danger because of inconsiderate driving; yet, I just expect that and try to remain calm.
I ride to and from a major city every day, experience all the usual bad habits from drivers and cyclists, I have had more near accidents with these nobby no brain cyclists who cycle straight through a red light, than with cars or buses, i’ve collided with cyclists on 2 occasions and of course they get agressive when challenged about their brainless manouvre. what is the answer, if a cyclist thinks they can go through a red when it is clear then so should drivers of motor vehicles. I ride every day all weathers for 4 years now and have obeyed the laws of the road and because of that really have enjoyed the cycling, I dont know the answer to stopping the NOBBY NO BRAINS going through red lights but would like to assist in a way to improve cycling so it will be safer for the next generation of young cyclists, to use the roads safetly, sensibly and enjoyably.
PS: anyone who can’t look behind or indicate properly on a bicycle, should NOT go on the public highway as they are a hazzard to everyone on the road .
Thanks for comments.
It seems most cyclists have had to deal with angry motorists; the only thing to do I guess is not to exacerbate the problem.
Alas, the police wouldn’t be interested I fear….
While on a tour in Swizterland, 6 of us were spread over a mountain pass. A car with some young hoons decided to put the handbrake on locking up the wheels and skidding the car at me. They did this to each of us in turn thinking it was some sort of game.
Luckily nothing serious happened, and fortunately for the driver we never saw the car again.
It is unfortunate that these things happen, but some people change completely once inside their metal box.
Yep, research in driver behaviour has shown that being angry has the same negative effect on driving ability as two pints. Angry people should not be in control of a ton of steel that moves at high speed, especially when they think it’s acceptable to use it as a weapon.
I know that as a cyclist the behaviour of other road users can irritate you just as much as when you’re driving. Once or twice I’ve even been annoyed to the point of making a gesture of disapproval. But I’ve never seen a cyclist express “road rage” by trying to kill anyone with his vehicle or use it to force anyone off the road.
Sorry to hear that you experienced this, but don’t blame yourself. As Brett shows, it can still happen even when you’re following the letter of the law. The only thing we can do is help to change the attitudes of the majority of drivers by ensuring our behaviour is always squeaky clean – then, everyone will come to accept that threatening and aggressive behaviour on the roads is completely unacceptable.
I had a similar situation happen to my on my way to work last week. It didn’t have anything to do with filtering through a red light but I did have an angry driver feel the need to pound on his horn and yell at me.
I was riding down a “side” road that runs parallel to a main, 4-lane street. Both roads meet the same intersection, a stoplight for the main road and a stop sign for myself. I came to a stop ready to turn right and looked at both the lane turning into from the main road onto the same road I was turning on, and I checked the stoplight to see if the cars straight across had a green light. Neither was the case.
As I turned and started down the road, the light hind me clicked green and some traffic came across the main road onto the road I was on. One driver wanted to turn into a bank, but for the few seconds I was pedaling past the entrance I was blocking his ability to turn. So blast his horn, yell at me, loop around the parking lot back towards me and continue yelling. I just pretended I didn’t see him and kept going to work.
It was quite the experience for someone who is new to cycling around town!
When someone is angry like that the best thing to do is keep going as you did – you never know what they might do, regardless of the cause. Given the extreme anger/danger he caused, i’d have considered reporting him to the police later. Threatening behaviour – whatever the cause – isn’t acceptable. Sounds like dangerous driving too.