Two new online tools, which will help get potholes fixed and off-road trails cleared of obstructions, have been launched by CTC – the Uk’s national Cyclist’s organisation.

Using the new system at www.fillthathole.org.uk cyclists (and other road users) can zoom into any road in the UK, mark the location of the defect, and let the authority know about it, which then has a duty to take action. It takes no longer than two minutes to use, and it is possible to include photos, measurements and other useful information, which other people will be able to see.

A similar facility at www.clearthatrail.org.uk allows cyclists to report off-road obstructions. CTC director Kevin Mayne said: “Potholes and other road defects are more than just a nuisance; they’re a danger to cyclists. They’re responsible for 12 per cent of compensation claims by CTC members, and local councils have a duty to fix them. Repoting problems like this can be a chore, but our online facility has made it quick and easy”.

The websites also allow other cyclists to see what has been reported, and if a problem is ignored and someone subsequently crashes, it will be possible to show that the council knew about it. Mean while, CTC will be working with local authorities to help them meet their duty to keep the roads and trails well maintained.

I’ve been saying it for years, and now it seems that it takes a University study to validate what I’ve always known. Putting the indicator lights inside the front headlight assembly is potentially dangerous because the visibility of the indicator can be adversely affected by the much brighter headlight bulb.

I am grateful to the Driving Instructors Association for allowing us to reproduce this article from the May/June edition of “driving magazine”

Paul Burchell. BADDIA.

The Positioning of indicator lights on a car can have a dramatic impact on their overall effectiveness, according to a new study.

Research carried out by the school of Psychology at the University of Wales suggests that indicators situated inside the headlights are more difficult to read than those outside and can affect crucial reaction times determining the extent to which other road users are aware if a car altering direction.

At present, car manufacturers have the creative freedom to position indicator lights as they deem fit, but concerns are mounting over the safety risk posed by the indicators located on the inside.

Researcher Andrew Bayliss said: “The study shows that this design feature could reduce safety. Designers obviously want to create good looking cars, but this should not be done at the expense of compromising safety. The position of lights on the car should be guided by safety considerations, not aesthetics.”

Ford recently altered the design of this popular Focus to have indicators on the outside of its headlights.

Paul Wilson of Ford UK said: “Moving the position of indicator lights in the Focus model has been through a number of design changes and the indicator lights started outside the headlights, were then moved outside. We follow strict safety regulations with all the designs for our cars.”