Traffic problems

There are a number of categories here: cyclists, normal cars, taxis, buses....

The official Highway code site, Highway code consultation, for cyclists.

Cycling

If cyclists wish to be respected on the road, they should respect the road, the rules of the road & other road users. They should avoid cycling between traffic if the only result is to progress a few car-lengths and then to hold up the faster traffic behind them.

Cyclists are not mind-readers, we cannot communicate by telepathy (as far as I know). If indeed all road users could communicate by telepathy, then perhaps co-ordination of an overtaking manouvre on a tight road could be possible without killing anyone. However, if I am a cyclist, on a narrow road, just too narrow for a safe uncoordinated overtaking manouvre, then I shall position my bike so to prevent the temptation of a vehicle behind me attempting to overtake.
On a double-lane road, I feel it is my (and other cyclists' and slow traffic's) obligation to keep to the leftmost lane. However, if the leftmost lane is blocked, there is no other option than to use the one remaining lane - this then places pressure on the cyclist to keep dangerously close to the (often illegally) parked cars. Thankfully I've only twice had people open their doors on me resulting in only minor injury. There is then the pressure to move back into the "parking" lane whenever there is a gap of a certain size. This is where discretion is required - there may be a conflict between the pressure to move out of the way and the desire not to get stuck behind parked vehicles. This can seem even more unfair if the blockages are caused illegally - by vehicles parked on the clearway.

Driving

Why do people not indicate anymore? "Mirror, Signal, (then) Manouvre"
An excuse I'm often hearing is that "there's no-one around to signal to" - as if it takes effort to signal and furthermore, it's even more important if the case is that they can't see anyone to signal to rather than what they perseive to be the case.
Should professional drivers (those who drive as a major part of their job) be held to higher standards?

(Urban) Clearways

Why are these not enforced? I spoke to some traffic wardens and during the operating times of the clearway, they have to give vehicles 5 minutes grace. Hence, the clearways run from (in the morning) 8:05 to 9:25. The clearways are being erroded away enough without the forced discretion. I have received a parking ticket for something I should have known better about. I did not like it, however, there was no arguing it. Parking in a clearway is antisocial and slows down traffic - even when it has been mandated the road should be clear - causing bottlenecks and dangerous situations for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.
What are the rules governing cycle lanes?

Traffic magic wand

Should professional drivers not be held to a higher standard than the rest of us? As I understand it, English Law provides for this - accountancy advice from an accountant is is held recognised & enforced at a higher level than accountacy advice from (say) a plumber. Everyone should take care and obey the rules of the road. However, as a start (from the current position), enforcement agencies should have less tolerance for professional drivers. I use this term loosely to describe those that use the road for work - taxi drivers, delivery men, bus drivers and other operators of public service (in a broad sense) vehicles. In this category, I would include council workers driving council vehicles. This could be a start - that all council workers, while at work should be bound to drive within the rules - this includes mirror, signal then manouevring, stopping correctly at red lights, not parking yellow lines etc etc....
Also, drivers with DLA priveldges should not abuse them as there is the impression of this. Abuses of the DLA scheme are punishable, but is this enforced? Should DLA vehicles not have a permenant notice - on the registration plates or tax-disk-holder? - rather than popping the blue "sticker" in the window when using the park anywhere priviledge.

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