On Thu, 12 Jan 2006, Martin Underwood wrote:

Tom Anderson wrote in
:

If there is a cycle lane to the left of the leftmost normal lane,
though, then yes, of course the cyclist has priority over the turning
motorist, regardless of whether the motorist is indicating. Something
that drivers along Torrington Place could do with reminding of.

I don't know about "of course". I don't think it's at all obvious.

Okay, that's interesting. I think the first rule of the road i ever
learned was that at a junction, vehicles not turning off have priority
over those which are.

I'd have expected the cars that were indicating to have priority over
everything that was planning to pass them, whether or not it's in a
different lane, and whether or not it's bikes in a bike lane or buses in
a bus lane. Evidently not. It's a case of which rule ("traffic in a
separate lane" versus "overtaking cars that are indicating") over-rides
the other: I reasoned things the wrong way round.

Is there an 'overtaking cars that are indicating' rule? The only thing i
can find in the HC is rule 143, clause 8 [1]:

143: DO NOT overtake where you might come into conflict with other road
users. For example

[...]
* when a vehicle is indicating right, even if you believe the signal
should have been cancelled. Do not take a risk; wait for the signal to be
cancelled.

That explicitly mentions indicating right - it doesn't prohibit overtaking
a vehicle indicating left, as in this case. Although 139.7 [2] says:

139: Overtake only when it is safe to do so. You should
[...]
* only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to
turn right, and there is room to do so

Which does cover this case, and is even stronger than an 'overtaking cars
that are indicating' rule - you can't overtake even if they aren't
indicating.

However ...

I'll have to see if the Highway Code mentions this situation explicitly.

Rule 159 [3], in the section 'Turning left':

159: When turning

* keep as close to the left as is safe and practical
* give way to any vehicles using a bus lane, cycle lane or tramway
from either direction.

That second clause is the bunny, i think.

Rule 158 sort of retroactively (proactively?) clarifies this:

158: Use your mirrors and give a left-turn signal well before you turn
left. Do not overtake just before you turn left and watch out for traffic
coming up on your left before you make the turn, especially if driving a
large vehicle. Cyclists and motorcyclists in particular may be hidden from
your view.

[image showing vehicle cutting in on cyclists]
[image showing vehicle giving a cyclist space on the road]

Do not cut in on cyclists

I think those two rules pretty definitely cover the situation that
involves a cycle lane.

Whatever the HC says, I'll check for cyclists over my left shoulder even
more than I already do when I'm turning left.

Very prudent!

tom

[1] http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/15.htm#143
[2] http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/15.htm#139
[3] http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/16.htm#159

--
Only men's minds could have mapped into abstraction such a territory