Drivers should let cyclists overtake them on UK roads according to Channel 4 and BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine.
Vine believes traffic speeds in urban areas have slowed down so much that some cyclists are now travelling faster than vehicles.
The 58-year-old has a passion for cycling, so much so he shares his experiences in the saddle with nearly 800,000 online followers through regular tweets and clips filmed through a helmet camera.
These clips have included swerving motorists and the abuse he faces while on the road and travelling to his jobs at the BBC and Channel 5 in London.
Why can't London drivers overtake with the same grace and consideration that this one in Devon just gave me? pic.twitter.com/eI4Rlq5g1y
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) August 26, 2023
Motorists should let cyclists overtake says Jeremy Vine
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Vine said he believes urban drivers who see a cyclist in their rear-view mirror, should let them overtake.
He also suggested that more properly segregated lanes could help reduce accidents.
Vine said: "I do think, firstly, we shouldn’t allow any overtaking of bicycles in big cities. That’s one step.
“And I’m starting to think I want cars to pull over if they see me behind them because they know I’m faster.”
Vine added the reality was, that being behind the wheel of a car could mean drivers were moving at seven miles an hour in traffic, meaning cyclists were going quicker a fact he said motorists just "can't accept".
Shaggy reveals his connection to the royal family on ITV's Lorraine
According to transport software and data firm Basemap (through The Sunday Times) the average speed of traffic in Britain’s biggest cities - London, Birmingham and Manchester - slowed by up to 2mph between 2019 and 2022 to just 22.6mph.
In Wales, the default national speed limit on residential roads is set to be reduced from 30mph to 20mph in September.
They will become the first country in the world, and the first nation in the UK to do so.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel