I wasn’t surprised to read that a group of Ceredigion cyclists has dubbed Ceredigion’s drivers worse than anywhere else. Their evidence is of course anecdotal. I too cycle on Ceredigion’s narrow lanes and also walk a lot. I’ve made certain observations on driver behaviour over the years. I’ve not collected statistics but I think that observations made by the cyclists and myself are valuable.

I have classified drivers into four different categories. Many drivers will fit more than one profile. Hopefully you’ll recognise yourself if you fall into category two to four and will think carefully about your own behaviour. If all drivers belonged in category one, we wouldn’t have a problem on our roads and I wouldn’t be writing about it. Here goes.

Considerate drivers: they wait behind a cyclist or pedestrian until it’s safe to overtake; they drive at a reasonable speed, stick to 20mph where stipulated; acknowledge you, showing respect.

Ditherers: they stay in the centre of a lane, expect a cyclist or pedestrian to move over for them, even into a ditch; they expect buses to squeeze through narrow gaps while they themselves sit looking nervously to see if their car will be scratched; they don’t know the width of their own car so can’t parallel-park, holding up traffic while they to-and-fro many times.

Selfish risk-takers: they’re constantly impatient, don’t give cyclists or pedestrians any space, don’t slow down, overtake dangerously; they drive too close to the car in front; they don’t stick to speed limits; they’re on their mobile phone; they drink-drive or drug-drive; they park illegally, on pavements, in bus stops, on corners.

Show-offs: they think they’re Lewis Hamilton; they have noisy exhausts, music blaring, take corners too fast, accelerate rapidly and brake sharply.

The Welsh Government created a hierarchy of road users in their Sustainable Transport Strategy published in March 2021. The top of the hierarchy is walking and cycling followed by public transport, then ultra-low emissions vehicles and lastly other private motor vehicles. The Strategy’s main aim, laudable and necessary, is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The second aim, reducing accidents and making walking and cycling more attractive was to be achieved through the 20mph speed limit in built-up zones. Guardian journalist Will Hayward in an excellent article on the effects of this policy explains why we ended up with a ‘war’ over it and argues that it was poorly implemented. But the evidence is overwhelming that the 20mph zones are quieter, pedestrians more relaxed and accidents fewer. As he says: “On roads affected by the change there were 10 fewer deaths compared with the previous period, saving £24m. In just nine months there has been a total saving of £45.5m – not even counting the long-term savings to the NHS from people taking up cycling or walking instead of driving.” It will take a shift in attitudes to achieve a paradise for pedestrians and cyclists, a recognition that cars are not the top of the hierarchy any longer.

While we wait, can all road users, drivers but cyclists too, please stick to the rules in the Highway Code, showing respect to other users in our shared spaces. Most importantly, drivers need to remember that pedestrians and cyclists come off worse in a collision. If all drivers were to embrace the new rules, by giving cyclists and pedestrians priority at junctions, drive according to road conditions, meaning slowly along narrow lanes, and stick to 20mph where it’s introduced, many more people will wish to walk or cycle, reducing emissions even more. When you get behind the wheel, try to become my category one driver.