Hi,
I think that Bull bars are now banned
And rightly so as said they just crush bones on low impact.
My poke at 4X4's saying I owned one too (tounge in cheek
) / or my apparent (I dont really notice 4X4's being any worse) support for them because I own one does not have any bearing on my opinion of the vehicles that are most at fault of being discourteous, as honest as I can be, in the same way as I respect that your personal experience or opinion based on facts / statistics that 4x4's are proportionally worse drivers for safety of cyclist or just that they are worse proportionally, may be based on where you live.
As I DO HAVE problems with horses where I live, but I do live in a place where most want to retire so the problems might just be exasperated by the fact that those who can afford to live here also can afford to have a horse too, along with 4x4's and a trailer to put it in.
There's a gulf between me an the well off where I live as far as we are without industry here, but its a warm less populated next to the sea so attracts the rich retired lot who extend their wealth to their familys, wealth without sweat you would think would highlight a type of vehicle that gives me more grief.
But I cant say that a specific type of vehicle comes to mind or stands out, my 4x4 looks like a car / people carrier and I do own a camper, I have been tooted at going up hill by a camper whilst on bike because I was too slow and they thought I should just not be there, I admit that when you are trying to overtake up hill in a camper its lack of car performance does frustrate me and I itch to overtake a cyclist but am patient enough to wait till its safe, so I understand the camper drivers frustration but should not take it out on the vunerable cyclist.
As a 4x4 owner and a camper too but as a motorcyclist for many years I do drive different than the expected standrd today as I always stop (or am ready to) at junctions, and I do use hand brake at junction even when stopping momentarily.
Driving a motorcycle all year round educates you quickly what not to do, but car drivers are different, they think not of moderating speed in the wet, a motorcycle would need to or fall of.
I have had a 4x4 point his vehicle at me twice in rage but this does not make me think that all the other near misses were more likely 4x4's.
Or that campers in general are worse too.
I do agree that it is my gut instinct that 4x4 and suv drivers are probably maybe worse proportionately, but how do we prove that, all the money on cycling safety seems to be directed at segregating cyclist and training cyclist which will not affect cylist safety on roads at all.