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From The Times
July 6, 2006

Evidence shows white van man really does cut things too fine

By Ben Webster

Drivers of white Transit-sized vehicles pass cyclists on average 10cm (4in) closer than cars, leaving a smaller safety margin in case the rider wobbles.

Using a special bike fitted with a video camera and an ultrasonic distance sensor, Ian Walker, of the University of Bath, cycled more than 186 miles in Bristol and Salisbury.

He was overtaken by 2,500 vehicles, and each time the sensors recorded the type of vehicle and the distance at which it passed the bike.

In total, about 200 of these were white light goods vehicles, which had an average passing distance of 1.26 metres.

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But the drivers of 200 black cars which overtook Dr Walker — chosen for comparison because there was a similar number as white vans — allowed an extra 10cm, or a total of 1.36 metres.

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