As many have said, there isn't one answer to this. But ultimately, while there are traffic calming measures that can be built, points applied, speed limits reduced, cycle lanes segregated, bollards to prevent rampant pavement parking erected; while cars dominate public space (and right now the vast majority of space is dedicated to them), there is no possible safety. Cars come with a death toll that can not be fully designed or enforced away. We need measures that restrict car use, and make it the more expensive and least convenient option, and keep them away from public spaces as much as reasonably possible. This requires a fundamental reworking of infrastructure, as for example a number of European cities that were built around cars, and now are built around active travel and public transport, have done.
Hard to pick a single answer. I've gone for "reckless driving" since it's the most general way to describe the near-anarchy we have on the roads, and there's no distinction to be made between "driving recklessly" and speeding, being distracted, or being drunk. All of these mean you are more dangerous to everyone around you and they should be much more strictly policed than they actually are. The general standard of driving is extremely poor.
Illegal/dangerous parking is also absolutely endemic in the city and it's rare to see any enforcement. It's become a complete free-for-all: on junctions, on pavements, on corners, on fully segregated cycle paths, in pedestrianised areas, blocking dropped kerbs, etc. There's nowhere drivers won't park if they can get there without damaging their vehicle.
I would be interested to hear more about this issue, can you please email RoadSafety@glasgow.gov.uk with more details and I will raise it at our next road safety partnership meeting. Are you stationary when the car is overtaking or is it on approach to the lights/junction?
Dangerous driving is on top of the list and this includes a few of your suggestions (speeding, reckless driving behaviour, distracted driving and drunk driving).
There is a new classic driving move that I have observed many times over the past few months: drivers speeding to overtake a car/cyclist that has rightfully stopped at the red light in front of them. I have experienced it as the driver/cyclist of that car/bike that had stopped, as a pedestrian about to cross and as a cyclist waiting to be able to turn right at the light. This used to happen at quiet times, but I now see it more and more at peak traffic time. The last time as a cyclist was really scary.
Vehicles parked badly on double yellow lines and around corners in narrow roads also represent a risk for pedestrians who then become invisible when trying to cross, and cyclists and drivers who cannot see incoming traffic and have to turn much wider then their lane to get around the parked vehicles.
When on our bikes (either
me with the kids on my bike or me with my 6 year old cycling along side me) have been put at risk on a number of occasions due to drivers making illegal turns (eg turning right when the road does not allow it and driving across a cycle lane) or lorry drivers not checking for cyclists and pulling out from a parked position while we are passing. We have also been subjected to aggressive driving (passing us when there isn’t enough space and even on one occasion intentionally reversing towards us to push us off the road). Car driver behaviour towards cyclists has definitely been the biggest hazard for us.
I also agree with other comments that the enforcement of the traffic regulation is too poor. Main concerns are speeding and parking. Would ideally like to the city's parking scheme widened. In my street in Shawlands cars often tripple park in junctions, on double yellows, blocking views for other road users and often making it impossible to cross the road for pedestrians. I dread for the moment when fire engines or other large emergency vehicles need to get through...
Thank you, sadly road deaths in the city increased this year from a 13 year downward trend. Our Road Safety engineers attend the site of every fatal collision with Police Scotland to review the circumstances, including any road design or other factors within our responsibility as a local authority. There are many contributory factors in serious and fatal collisions and these are fully investigated by Police Scotland. We regularly review all collisions in the city using our Key Collision system which allows us to identify any areas of concern through the study of police crash data.
All of the above. Many pedestrian cross dont give enough time for familes and old people to cross, and at some location cars get a full two cycles of Green lights before pedestrians get a green light, pedestrians should never have to wait several minuetes to cross. Speed limit should be 20MPH max across city of glasgow region. Rat runs through pedestrian areas should be closed such as Otago Street and over hill head from great george to gibson street, you could close these roads to through traffic without effecting local people.
As many have said, there isn't one answer to this. But ultimately, while there are traffic calming measures that can be built, points applied, speed limits reduced, cycle lanes segregated, bollards to prevent rampant pavement parking erected; while cars dominate public space (and right now the vast majority of space is dedicated to them), there is no possible safety. Cars come with a death toll that can not be fully designed or enforced away. We need measures that restrict car use, and make it the more expensive and least convenient option, and keep them away from public spaces as much as reasonably possible. This requires a fundamental reworking of infrastructure, as for example a number of European cities that were built around cars, and now are built around active travel and public transport, have done.
Hard to pick a single answer. I've gone for "reckless driving" since it's the most general way to describe the near-anarchy we have on the roads, and there's no distinction to be made between "driving recklessly" and speeding, being distracted, or being drunk. All of these mean you are more dangerous to everyone around you and they should be much more strictly policed than they actually are. The general standard of driving is extremely poor.
Illegal/dangerous parking is also absolutely endemic in the city and it's rare to see any enforcement. It's become a complete free-for-all: on junctions, on pavements, on corners, on fully segregated cycle paths, in pedestrianised areas, blocking dropped kerbs, etc. There's nowhere drivers won't park if they can get there without damaging their vehicle.
All road faults, including potholes, can be logged on the Glasgow City Council website at https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=22815 or through the MyGlasgow app, if you have a smartphone.
I would be interested to hear more about this issue, can you please email RoadSafety@glasgow.gov.uk with more details and I will raise it at our next road safety partnership meeting. Are you stationary when the car is overtaking or is it on approach to the lights/junction?
lack of courtesy and lack of appreciation of other road users.
Dangerous driving is on top of the list and this includes a few of your suggestions (speeding, reckless driving behaviour, distracted driving and drunk driving).
There is a new classic driving move that I have observed many times over the past few months: drivers speeding to overtake a car/cyclist that has rightfully stopped at the red light in front of them. I have experienced it as the driver/cyclist of that car/bike that had stopped, as a pedestrian about to cross and as a cyclist waiting to be able to turn right at the light. This used to happen at quiet times, but I now see it more and more at peak traffic time. The last time as a cyclist was really scary.
Vehicles parked badly on double yellow lines and around corners in narrow roads also represent a risk for pedestrians who then become invisible when trying to cross, and cyclists and drivers who cannot see incoming traffic and have to turn much wider then their lane to get around the parked vehicles.
When on our bikes (either
me with the kids on my bike or me with my 6 year old cycling along side me) have been put at risk on a number of occasions due to drivers making illegal turns (eg turning right when the road does not allow it and driving across a cycle lane) or lorry drivers not checking for cyclists and pulling out from a parked position while we are passing. We have also been subjected to aggressive driving (passing us when there isn’t enough space and even on one occasion intentionally reversing towards us to push us off the road). Car driver behaviour towards cyclists has definitely been the biggest hazard for us.
I also agree with other comments that the enforcement of the traffic regulation is too poor. Main concerns are speeding and parking. Would ideally like to the city's parking scheme widened. In my street in Shawlands cars often tripple park in junctions, on double yellows, blocking views for other road users and often making it impossible to cross the road for pedestrians. I dread for the moment when fire engines or other large emergency vehicles need to get through...
Thank you, sadly road deaths in the city increased this year from a 13 year downward trend. Our Road Safety engineers attend the site of every fatal collision with Police Scotland to review the circumstances, including any road design or other factors within our responsibility as a local authority. There are many contributory factors in serious and fatal collisions and these are fully investigated by Police Scotland. We regularly review all collisions in the city using our Key Collision system which allows us to identify any areas of concern through the study of police crash data.
All of the above. Many pedestrian cross dont give enough time for familes and old people to cross, and at some location cars get a full two cycles of Green lights before pedestrians get a green light, pedestrians should never have to wait several minuetes to cross. Speed limit should be 20MPH max across city of glasgow region. Rat runs through pedestrian areas should be closed such as Otago Street and over hill head from great george to gibson street, you could close these roads to through traffic without effecting local people.