Why do cyclists ride in the middle of the road?
Many collisions can be prevented by riding in the centre of your lane: known as the “Primary Position”, and described in the Highway Code’s Rule 72. This graphic shows how to avoid four common types of car-versus-bike collision:
- Close Pass
- Left Hook
- Right Cross
- SMIDSY
All of these collisions are the motorists’ fault, and it’s the cyclist who’ll get hurt.
A cyclist’s road position can help other motorists to see you, can improve your own sightlines, and can give you space to move into when things go wrong.