Highway Code change brings danger for all

I WAS concerned to read that a cyclist had been attacked by a van driver on the A4 recently (Newbury Weekly News, March 31), especially as the cyclist was a council official. Although I am all for ‘getting on your bike’ and saving the environment, I am worried that some of our roads are not fit for the changes in the Highway Code. I frequently drive along the B4009 from Hermitage to Newbury. Stretches of that road are narrow with bends and twists all the way, but they have a 50mph speed limit. Therefore, motorists are quite within the law to travel up to that speed.

Several times I have driven round a bend (not even at 50mph) and been confronted by cyclists, often riding two abreast. Both road users would be travelling within the law.

So what happens if there is a collision?

Cyclists do not, as a rule, have insurance, so if there is damage to vehicle, cycle or indeed human, who is responsible?

There are roads which are perfectly safe for motorists and cyclists (and horse riders), but some are an accident waiting to happen. Motorists are legally obliged to take out insurance. They also pay road tax.

With the introduction of the changes to the Highway Code there will be many more road accidents.

Can somebody tell me how cases where both motorist and rider (be it cyclist or horse rider) are travelling within the law, and neither are legally at fault, how will claims be met? I can see that motor insurance will rise steeply.

In my opinion, our roads should be made safer, and designated in the Highway Code as suitable for cycling and horse riding instead of blanket rules for all roads.

Yes, we should all get on our bikes, or walk more often, but for me it is fraught with danger on many roads, and we can never rely on every user exercising common sense and caution.

VAL POUNDS

Hermitage