350
Cyclists don’t break traffic laws any more than drivers, says new study (cycling.today)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/fuckcars@lemmy.world
66 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/15639363

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 16 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

Not surprising that the rate of driver non-compliance was found to be 15% -- because that is the number traffic engineers shoot for. For example, when a traffic survey finds more than 15% drivers are exceeding the speed limit then the speed limit gets raised. Similarly, if enough drivers are observed running a red light, then the yellow time gets extended. Or if drivers aren't yielding at a crosswalk, then the crosswalk is removed.

By contrast, if a large number of cyclists are observed running a stop sign on a quiet street then the local police conducts a sting operation...

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Well if you almost clip me on your bike as a pedestrian because you refuse to stop at any stop signs, I'm gonna kick your rear tire. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    I find that 15% number interesting... For example, there's a highway near where I am with a 55 mph speed limit. But you'll rarely find people doing less than 60. Usually 65, with the occasional crazy person doing 80.

    But I feel like raising the speed limit would defeat the purpose. Drivers would be happy, but then they'd just go 75. If traffic engineering amounts to "More than 15% are breaking the rules and driving in an unsafe manner, let's change the rules so that's legal," it seems pretty dumb. Like, that extra speed isn't suddenly safer because the sign says something else.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent