Greg, you have brought the human element to this debate. If every person on a bike and every driver of a car looked into the eyes of each other they would see a person, one who has much the same dreams and aspirations as them and suddenly they become somebody not just a motorist or cyclist. How often is it that we see someone across a room and either like or dislike them based on their look, body language or dress? Once we meet them our impressions are often changed. Generalisations are a curse and an impediment us all.
I have not met the young woman who crashed into us, but she wrote a heartfelt apology, explained her situation and revealed a small part of her life, she is not the evil motorist many some “cyclists” would like to portray her as; she’s a good person who simply made a mistake, one I’m sure she has learned from and hopefully one she has passed onto her friends.
It’s not the law that needs changing it’s our attitudes and the way we dehumanise people we don’t know. What we need to do to stop this senseless carnage is think about what we are doing and realise that our actions could kill one of our loved ones not a stranger on a bike or in a car or riding a motorcycle. It’s simple!!think before you act, understand the risks and act accordingly.
Opening a car door? look, look look then open
Turning out of a side street? look, look, look then turn
Driving down the road? keep left
Riding more than two abreast? call forward and police your group
Tight roadways? call forward for single file
Think about your situation and act accordingly. Peer pressure on both sides of this argument will bring about the changes we need to protect the one’s we love. That’s the New Zealand I once lived in.