All cyclists fear a close pass, but should they be more fearful of the drivers of certain cars?
The answer could be yes, according to a new survey of 2,000 drivers in the UK. Conducted by Scrap Car Comparison, the survey tested drivers on how well they know the rules of the road when it comes to cyclists, as well as their attitudes towards bike riders. The survey also asked them how much distance they leave when overtaking a cyclist.
The survey scored drivers with a ‘cycling negativity’ score out of 100, with the owners of two car brands scoring significantly worse than others.
According to the survey, Mazda drivers are the least friendly to cyclists. They scored 83.3 in the survey, while Mercedes drivers were bumper-to-bumper with 83.
Mazda drivers are also said to have the worst knowledge score, of 18/25, and the lowest score on attitude towards cyclists, at 20/25.
“Owners of Mazda cars were revealed as being highly frustrated by cyclists, with a poor attitude towards them, with many reporting that they leave less than the prescribed 1.5-metre gap when overtaking.
“Other car brands cyclists may need to watch out for include owners of German manufacturers Mercedes, BMW and Audi, whom all lack knowledge of key car and cyclist road rules,” the survey says.
At the other end of the scale, the survey says Suzuki drivers scored the lowest negativity score, of 59.
“The best brand at leaving the correct overtaking space, Suzuki drivers also have the best knowledge of the road rules and have a more positive attitude towards cyclists than many others,” according to the survey, which was conducted last month.
Regardless of brand, Scrap Car Comparison’s survey says many drivers surveyed were incorrect on Highway Code rules related to cyclists.
It says 50 per cent of respondents believe that cyclists aren’t allowed to take up a full lane on the road and 77 per cent feel cyclists must use a cycle lane if one is available.
“[C]yclists can exercise their judgement on whether to use a cycle lane or not and are equally able to take up a full lane of a road, especially on quiet roads or streets, to make themselves more visible,” Scrap Car Comparison says.
The Highway Code changed in 2022 “to enhance safety for all road users [and] particularly those most at risk”.
The updated code included amendments that could benefit cyclists, such as a hierarchy designed to protect vulnerable road users, and amendments to rules regarding riding two abreast.
Despite this, Scrap Car Comparison says 53 per cent of respondents believe cyclists must always ride in single file.
The confusion around shared road rules “can manifest in negative emotions”, according to Scrap Car Comparison. One in three respondents “feel cyclists shouldn’t have equal rights on the road”.
74 per cent of drivers admitted they feel frustrated when sharing the road with a cyclist and 75 per cent said driving with a cyclist nearby makes them feel nervous.
Matt Clamp, customer service manager at Scrap Car Comparison, says: “Drivers can often get frustrated with cyclists, as it can feel that you’re being slowed down or have pressure from drivers behind you to overtake them quickly.
“However, all drivers need to remember that cyclists have the right to use the road as much as car owners, and that a small inconvenience timewise is much better than causing a crash or creating danger to other road users out of frustration."
The survey also examined which UK cities are the most and least friendly towards cyclists.
It concluded Sheffield was the least friendly: “Across the board, drivers in Sheffield have a generally negative attitude towards cyclists, paired with poor understanding of the Highway Code and insufficient overtaking distances, which leads to a troubling 93 points out of 100 on the negativity scale.”
Other cities that are less friendly to cyclists include Newcastle, Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester.
Meanwhile, Belfast is said to be the most friendly towards cyclists, scoring 56 points out of 100.
Wherever you cycle and whichever cars you see out on the road, it’s best to remember some basic strategies for staying safe while cycling in traffic.
