Nearly a Donor

My mate was following me the other day and this happened. This was a close call and another inch I would have been a donor if he would have clipped me with his mirror I would have probably fell in front of the oncoming car. He was revving his van behind all the time. You cannot go more to the middle as the cars coming from the opposite direction sometimes take the bend wide.

 

Makes you laugh that when he got past me the lights were red in front of him so he had to stop. Just an everyday incident caught on camera. At least if I had died and he done a runner we would have video evidence. I think I will have to buy a camera for when I’m following my mate just in case he becomes a donor.

 

Kev's near death experience - YouTube

Edited February 29, 201214 yr by donkeydoo

Can you get his number off the film?

He should be arrested.

A thoughtless lunatic, clearly one of those who doesn't think bikes should be on the road. It couldn't be said to be careless, it was dangerous driving by any standard.

If you cant get the number you should be able to trace it from the logo on the offside door panel, that will probably come out better if you examine the film frame by frame. Not sure what the rules are in the uk, in Spain you have to give a minimum of 1.5 metres clearance to cyclists, if you dont have that clearance you cant over/undertake legally. Idiots over here still ignore the rules but on the whole its not too bad. A very close shave. Glad youre ok.

Blimey - stupidly dangerous

 

Glad you are ok

 

if you are able to upload or otherwise get a copy of the full-res clip to me (just the bit with the van in) then I'd be happy to assit in identifying the plate and logo/business

 

I've got a few tricks up my sleeve in this area

Thanks for your comments. Close call eh.

 

Spitburner I wouldn’t know about the minimum clearance distance on undertaking or overtaking in the UK but perhaps someone can enlighten us.

 

KirstinS I know it’s a Swindon Council Services Van from the logo anyway PM with your email address then I can send the Hi Res clip a bit more cropped. I expect the police have tools for this if I was killed.

 

If I manage to get the Registration then what options are available? Anyone know?

If I manage to get the Registration then what options are available? Anyone know?

 

I think you should take yourself off to the local nick and show (then give) them the video. The recent jailing of that Bristol bus driver should spur plod into investigating this. You could also send it to the Times for their bike safely campaign - especially if you don't hear from plod pretty sharpish.

 

Local plod to me weren't too interested in a cyclist being thumped by a car driver until the video went viral - then they were forced to take action.

 

This was so dangerous an act I wouldn't let the pillock get away with it.

 

- Brian.

Show it to the traffic division of your local police and ask them what they can do, they will advise whether he has committed an offence and what options are available. Its probably the only way you will get anywhere without involving any cost to your self. I am still amazed that you were not sucked in and knocked off!

 

People need to take action to make motorists sit up and take notice.

I would suggest that the minimum you should do would be to report the driver to his employer . That way , he will be disciplined , and will make him and his fellow drivers think twice next time .

Just showed it to my missus and all she was interested in was the life insurance and am I all paid up LOL. Just noticed the big artic coming up behind the car on the opposite side. Now if it was a bit later? perhaps I am more than lucky?

I had something like this last week but did not have a camera. I'd be interested to know how the police react.

 

My incident was on the inside lane of a two lane roundabout. I was heading round to take the third exit (3 o'clock, assuming I was entering at 6 o'clock) and he overtook me in the same lane to head off at the second exit. In doing

so he forced me out into the outer lane to avoid colliding with him and

I had to show to almost a stop in the roundabout. I was not in the right frame of mind to get his number plate.

 

I have a friend in the police who says that just reporting it without evidence or a witness won't go anywhere, and she's going to find out if video would help. If it would I think I'll get one.

 

So it will be interesting and useful to see how they react to your video.

--

 

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Must have been pretty close to your mate too. That's nearly two donor's then.

 

Glad you are both okay.

This is in no way meant to be funny, but that almost an undertaking manoeuvre in every sense of the word.

 

I do hope that driver gets what he deserves.

love the whispered "idiot" .... great camera work! .. imagine what it'll be like in the future when we can have multiple cameras built into our bikes. You'd have a front, rear, left side, right side as well as your helmut cam... can't wait ...

Edited February 29, 201214 yr by kitchenman

Not sure what the rules are in the uk, in Spain you have to give a minimum of 1.5 metres clearance to cyclists,

 

Over here, typically, we have only the recommendation of the Highway Code, which unfortunately is very badly drafted. The recommendation is that overtaking vehicles should afford a cyclist the same clearance as they would to another car, and this is accompanied by an illustration clearly showing that the intention is that the cyclist be treated as an obstruction 2 meters or so wide.

 

Unfortunately, discussions on other forums have shown that many people interpret it as "miss the cyclist by a wing-mirror's width, the same as you do when passing another car" ...

I was following kev and yeah the driver of the van got very close to me too but I thought he was going to take kev (donkeydoo) out. It was a very close call. Thats why I bought the cam .. Something happens every week.

The camera is a HDmax btw and that was filmed in 720p@60fps I think.

 

Riche

Hi

 

I've PM'd you my email address, if you chuck over the clip I'll see what I can do to assist over the weekend (wont get time till then I'm afraid)

 

cheers

Kirstin

quick update. My lad who knows a copper has showed him the clip said I should report him for dangerous driving. He said the problem is if you get the Reg etc who was driving at the time as it is a commercial/business vehicle. Lets see if I can get a reg from kirstin and go from there. I told my mate (Rich) next time follow the vehicle in question and make sure you get the Reg LOL. He was nearly hit too.

Glad your ok,after hitting the deck slipping on oil at about 8mph it hurts....but would he could have done dosen't bear thinking about. They should be prosecuted.

We have started the ball rolling and sent the footage to swindon council. No reply yet. Keep you posted.

We have started the ball rolling and sent the footage to swindon council. No reply yet. Keep you posted.

 

I would also send it you your local tv news, bbc and itv and push it, they might do a spot on it especially after the article on the bus driver incident (sea other posts) The local tv companies are always on the lookout for good a good story and this has great quality video...... It will not do you any harm and will only make the council sit up and deal with it once its in the public domain. You should also tag the video and release it up on to youtube as an open video.

I have made the video open last Thursday so anyone can view it.

 

Just to be clear this is NOT Swindon Council per-say its Swindon Commercial Services (SCS) BUT they are in bed with the council big time.. I actually thought it was part of the council but I am not sure.

BTW

The Times have a thing going on with cycle safety atm after a researcher or report was killed on a bike in London maybe its worth sending them the utube link and see if the want to develop the story? JUst a thought..

 

Riche

Back to the Cider now....

Sorry but I must say.... yes it was a dangerous undertake but having watched this video my observations are that, 1, you were riding in the middle of the road preventing the van from overtaking earlier, 2 you don't appear to have a mirror fitted and never looked behind or signalled your intention to turn, had the road been clear for the van to overtake who would have been to blame if you had turned with no look and no signal.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=inconsiderate%20cycling&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CC8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legislation.gov.uk%2Fukpga%2F1988%2F52%2Fsection%2F29&ei=4KJST-voNsrH0QWyg_HaCw&usg=AFQjCNHIKybw2ckPod3jk6Kh2eA9WS8A9A

Edited March 3, 201214 yr by johnc461165

Sorry but I must say.... yes it was a dangerous undertake but having watched this video my observations are that, 1, you were riding in the middle of the road preventing the van from overtaking earlier, 2 you don't appear to have a mirror fitted and never looked behind or signalled your intention to turn, had the road been clear for the van to overtake who would have been to blame if you had turned with no look and no signal.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=inconsiderate%20cycling&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CC8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legislation.gov.uk%2Fukpga%2F1988%2F52%2Fsection%2F29&ei=4KJST-voNsrH0QWyg_HaCw&usg=AFQjCNHIKybw2ckPod3jk6Kh2eA9WS8A9A

 

Well that obviously gives the van driver every right to barge his way through ..

sorry your wrong.

We moved into the middle of the road at the ballard where no vehicles can overtake us. The reason why we move into the middle of the road there is because its too dangerous futher down to try and manouver to the middle of the road, we know this because we have cycled this route for the last 5 years or more.. By moving into the middle of the road its is a clear indication of our intent to turn right.

I am not sure where you think we were cycling without due care and attention..

 

I guess everyone is entitled to their oppinion.

 

Riche

I agreed in my post that it was a dangerous undertake, so no it doesn't give the van driver the right to barge through. Without a signal, moving into the middle of the road is not a clear indication of your intent to turn, and how anyone can execute a turn without looking behind to check for any vehicle passing them is dicing with death.

Edited March 4, 201214 yr by johnc461165