Wrong to apportion blame for fatal accident
Were I the person who opened the off-side door of the car into the path of a cyclist without first checking to ensure that it was safe to do so, my conscience would be somewhat relieved on reading Councillor Braithwaite s letter (Sadness at cycle death, H
Were I the person who opened the off-side door of the car into the path of a cyclist without first checking to ensure that it was safe to do so, my conscience would be somewhat relieved on reading Councillor Braithwaite's letter (Sadness at cycle death, H&H February 11).
In effect, he is partially blaming the cyclist who died later for riding too close to the car in question - yet another example of victim-blaming.
Of course, he is right in advising cyclists to ride in a manner that may go some way to compensating for the danger to which they are exposed by the life-threatening and careless actions of vehicle occupants.
But think of that advice in relation to cyclists when riding down narrow streets: to provide his recommended metre clearance, cyclists would have to keep to the centre of the road, thereby exposing themselves to oncoming traffic - in addition to getting stressfully hooted at from behind!
You may also want to watch:
In any case, failure to ride in a manner that ensures such a clearance does not seem to me to justify an implied accusation of 'contributory negligence' on the part of the cyclist. Can a burglar be partially exonerated for his crime on the grounds that the householder had not made his home 'burglar-proof'?
Dr Mayer Hillman
Most Read
- 1 Nazanin may become 'bargaining chip' in Iran nuclear deal, warns husband
- 2 What's next? Covid-19 and the future of Hampstead Village
- 3 Vivianne Miedema voted Women's Super League's greatest ever player
- 4 Arsenal boss Arteta faces injury crisis decisions
- 5 Highgate's Food Bank Aid's year of giving - and a search for a bigger home
- 6 For Nazanin's sake, hostage-taking must be a nuclear deal issue
- 7 Camden's Levertons to arrange the funeral of Prince Philip on April 17
- 8 Tulip Siddiq MP: 'Nurseries are at the brink of collapse'
- 9 Crackdown on 'blue badge' disability parking fraud in Haringey
- 10 Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: Wait for second verdict could last 'until Easter'