One fifth (20%) of cyclists and drivers experience fear for their own safety while using UK roads, a social study carried out by Cycleplan has found.

The cycling insurer analysed more than 500,000 social media posts from both cyclists and drivers to identify what each considers to be the other's worst road behaviour.

It says further inspection of the language used in each post has provided in with insight in to the emotional state of today’s road users. 

 

Cyclists vs. drivers: Top five worst behaviours

Top five worst driver behaviours, according to cyclists:

 

Top five worst cyclist behaviours, according to motorists:
  1. Speeding drivers (51,146 posts)
  1. Not wearing high visibility gear (44,115)

 
  1. Bad drivers (47,262)
  1. Wearing headphones whilst riding (42,287)
  1. Hit and run (34,352 posts)
  1. Bad cyclists (41,237)

 
  1. Parking in a cycling lane / stopping in a cycling box (26,533 posts)
  1. Undertaking / overtaking on the wrong side of the road (23,801)
  1. Driving too close (20,759 posts)
  1. Jumping red lights (8,480)

 

 

According to cyclists, speeding drivers cause the most concern for their overall safety, with more than 51,000 posts (10%) on this issue.

This road behaviour almost certainly has a direct correlation to hit and run incidents, cited as the third worst behaviour among drivers by cyclists.

Cycleplan says the biggest frustration for drivers is not aimed towards cyclists jumping red lights as you might anticipate, but at the lack of appropriate high-visibility clothing and equipment employed.

More than a quarter of drivers posts (27.5%) cite this as a key frustration while sharing the roads. This is closely followed by an annoyance at cyclists wearing headphones (26%).

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