Isle of Man looking at bringing in presumed liability

Cycle Law Scotland and the Road Share Steering group are still campaigning to introduce presumed liability. The current Scottish Elections have provided an opportunity to further educate more Politicians as to why they should seriously consider changing the burden of proof from the vulnerable to the more powerful in the event of a road traffic collision involving non motorised vulnerable road users. The education and comunication process continues and they are slowly but surely making progress. 

It is good to see the IOM pushing forward. It looks like they have the right opportunity with a new bill being passed and can seize the moment. Good luck to them. 

I hope the presumed liability law/act gets passed on the IOM, Scotland were/are going to go for it don't know whats happened there. But if it happens on the island it might then "trickle down" to the rest of the UK.

Sanderstorm wrote:

"The case for a minimum overtake distance is solid"

 

Is it? Show me the evidence. Sure it's nice in theory, but has it ever protected cyclists where it has been introduced?

If there's a minimum and a driver hits a cyclist whilst passing then the driver is presumed at fault as they must have breached the minimun distance. It has a similar effect to presumed liability.

Recently cycled in Andalucia. same experience as efail. Drivers almost universally courteous and careful to give the full 1.5 m space when overtaking.

OK, I've got no 'evidence'. I do cycle very often in Spain. Many of the main roads near me have signs up showing the safe passing distance of 1.5m and quoting it as 'article 85.4'. On the whole many of the drivers are very good towards cyclists, and this includes the huge lorries that pass me. I was recently cycling near Tarragona, and was incredibly impressed with the standard of driving in relation to cyclists. Of course, you still get the occasional idiot, but I would like to think that as there is a law it helps, even if only a little.

Problem on IOM is that many roads outside the towns effectively have unrestricted speed limits and some drivers treat it like a race track and appear to resent anyone on the road that prevents them from driving full-bore, particularly on the Mountain Road. Got 'buzzed' a few times cycling there a few years ago.

"The case for a minimum overtake distance is solid"

Is it? Show me the evidence. Sure it's nice in theory, but has it ever protected cyclists where it has been introduced?

Great news. I hope the amendment passes and encourages it's wider adoption. Making the larger road user responsible unless they can prove otherwise is logical and reasonable. 

Of course it won't be accepted easily by some groups and parts of the press but the situation is getting worse. I've had two near misses today in the car with on coming traffic refusing to wait to pass parked cars. Some motorists have little regard for other drivers - let alone cyclists and that has to change.