I'll come up with a complete list of anti-motorist measures when I've
got time (because it will take a while).
But for now, I would like people (particularly Spindrift and his ilk)
to say whether they feel that each of the following events is
reasonable and necessary to achieve safer and/or less congested
roads. Each of these events is similar to at least one which has
happened in real life. Those who take exception to this post (despite
no opinions being expressed therein, so I can't imagine why, unless
they're trolling themselves of course) are encouraged to save
everybody some time and not add their less than 2 cents' worth.
1. Location: a stretch of wide, straight urban road with compulsory
cycle lanes.
Motorist A is waiting towards the middle of the road for a long line
of oncoming traffic to clear so that they can turn right. Motorist B
(with a line of cars behind) is coming up behind Motorist A and wishes
to continue past Motorist A, so that neither Motorist B nor the cars
behind are unduly delayed. There is not enough space to do this
without going into the cycle lane. Motorist B checks carefully all
around and ascertains that there are no cyclists anywhere nearby.
Motorist B briefly enters the cycle lane to get round Motorist A and
gets fined for doing so by a policeman who was observing from his car
further down the road.
2. Location: a quiet stretch of urban road with a pelican crossing.
A Pedestrian presses the button on the pelican crossing, but then
manages to complete the crossing and continue their journey before the
corresponding traffic light turns red. No other pedestrians are
nearby. A Cyclist cycles up to the crossing, observes that no
pedestrians are going to cross after carefully checking, and cycles
through the crossing while the traffic light is still red. The
Cyclist gets fined for doing so by a policeman who was observing from
his car further down the road.
3. Location: a quiet stretch of urban road with a pelican crossing.
A Pedestrian presses the button on the pelican crossing, but then
manages to complete the crossing and continue their journey before the
corresponding traffic light turns red. No other pedestrians are
nearby. A Motorist drives up to the crossing, observes that no
pedestrians are going to cross after carefully checking, and drives
through the crossing while the traffic light is still red. The
Motorist gets fined for doing so by a policeman who was observing from
his car further down the road.
4. A stretch of fairly narrow urban road with heavy traffic including
HGVs, and pavements alongside with no pedestrians nearby.
A Cyclist is finding it uncomfortable sharing the road with the heavy
traffic, and after checking carefully to ensure that there are no
pedestrians nearby, cycles on the pavement. They are fined for doing
so by a policeman who was observing from his car further down the
road.
5. Location: a stretch of urban road.
A Motorist parks with the car's bumper overhanging the beginning of a
double yellow line by 10cm. The car is not obstructing or
inconveniencing anybody. The Motorist returns to find a PCN attached
to the car.
6. Location: a stretch of rural NSL road with double white lines.
A Cyclist is cycling down the road at 15mph. A Motorist comes up
behind the Cyclist having been safely proceeding at the 60mph speed
limit, and slows down to 15mph. The Motorist could overtake the
Cyclist without crossing the double white lines, but to do so would
mean going closer to the Cyclist than would be ideal (since the
Cyclist is wobbling somewhat). After checking that there is no
oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance, the Motorist briskly
overtakes the Cyclist, briefly going around 0.5m over the double white
lines to ensure that there is ample space. The Motorist is fined by a
policeman who was observing from an unmarked car behind.
7. Location: a quiet stretch of urban road in London.
A Motorist stops for a minute on double yellow lines to read a map, so
as not to obstruct anyone's potential path or sight lines. No other
traffic is nearby throughout the time that they are stopped. A week
later they receive a CCTV PCN through the post.
8. Location: a stretch of rural road through a village with a 30mph
limit (recently reduced from 40mph). Going out of the village, all
buildings, pavements and other hazards stop 200m before the speed
limit changes from 30mph to NSL.
A Motorist drives through the village at 30mph, then begins to
accelerate gently once the last hazard is 100m behind. The Motorist
is doing 35mph as they are nearly at the NSL sign. The Motorist
receives a NIP in the post a week later as a result of a hidden
"Safety" Camera Partnership van lasering them at 35mph in the 30mph
zone.