Stormswift wrote:I am well familliar with what the law says...however something tells me that many of cyclists are not, at least not with the part that reminds them not to impede traffic.
At what point is someone considered "impeding traffic"? Is it just because they're not going as fast as you'd like them to go? Are they impeding traffic because they're not going the 40mph speed LIMIT. Which is exactly what it is, a LIMIT, or a MAXIMUM safely allowed to travel at, by law. Cyclists ARE traffic.
If you're driving at night, there is no reason why you can't be in control of your vehicle, with a legal headlight configuration, and safely avoid hazards that come your way. If you rear-end and kill a cyclist, no matter if you were speeding or not, it's YOUR fault. The driver did the striking and failed to control their vehicle.
Should we also lawfully mandate that all bears, deer, squirrels, and raccoons who cross the road wear reflective vests as well? And while we're at it, we can cite them all for "impeding traffic" as well.
If you're avoiding routes at night because of a few random cyclists, or blaming a whole group of people because you're unable to maintain a safe speed in relation to changing road conditions, then maybe you're not capable of and shouldn't be driving at night in the first place.
EDIT: This is not a personal attack on you Stormswift, so please don't take it that way. It is a rebuttal to a common misunderstanding that too many drivers think and treat cyclists like third class citizens because they're not driving a motor vehicle.
Often whenever a bicycle related thread appears on MB, it starts a slew of debate back and forth and generalization about cyclists, the law, and their rights. I'll admit that there are idiots and jackasses in all forms of transportation. In cars, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, boaters, etc. Anyone who's rode mass transit more then once probably had some A$$hole blocking the door to get into a train, while everyone else is trying to get out. Then there are pilots who fall asleep and overshoot their destination, or take a chance on a risky takeoff. There was the Metro operator who was texting a few years back, while at the console and missed a stop signal, striking another train and killing several riders. It's idiocy across the board. We do need to remember that we share a common bond with cyclists and pedestrians, whether we like to admit it or not. We get shit on by drivers, run off the road, cut off in traffic and told "I didn't see you", and even get the shaft by transportation planners who often ignore or half-ass their design to accommodate to anything except cars and SUVs. It's time to stop hating so much on cyclists and start to realize that they struggle with very similar issues as we do. Take it easy and don't be such an aggressive driver, give them plenty of passing space, and just practice patience. They have just as much right to the roadway as everyone else.
Now, back to the OP. Nice digs, I'm a big fan of reflective stuff!