This is why I (a cyclist) hate some motorists UPDATE DEC'12

A

a11y

Lifer
Central Scotland
CAUTION: video sound probably NSFW :D

EDIT (FEB 2012): SORRY FOLKS, I'VE BEEN GIVEN ADVICE THAT IF THIS IS LIKELY TO END IN CHARGES AND/OR COURT PROCEEDINGS THEN I'M BEST NOT TO SHOUT ABOUT THE VIDEO TOO MUCH. I'VE ADJUSTED THE PRIVACY SETTINGS ON YOU-TUBE...

EDIT (DEC 2012): VIDEO REINSTATED! Was due to be in court tomorrow but the accused changed his plea to GUILTY yesterday - justice :)

[youtube]x8g1iH7I5mc?t=2m30s[/youtube]
(skip to 2m45s onwards)

Version of events - I've written this more for my records than anything else:
- downhill single-carriageway, 30mph limit
- travelling approx 20-25mph
- dry road surface, daylight, approx 0degC but no ice/frost
- front and rear flashing LEDs, fluoro yellow rucsac cover, bright jacket, etc
- queuing traffic ahead in far left lane (road splits into 3 for roundabout: left lane for left-only, middle lane for ahead-only, right lane for ahead and turning right.
- approx 150-200m from roundabout, check over my shoulder twice before positioning myself in centre of lane in preparation for using middle lane to go straight on
- hear car accelerate and I'm aware he's planning on overtaking me using opposite carriageway
- car actually passes me too closely, swerves in front of me too closely, and brakes sharply
- I was already covering the brakes and had moved slightly back to my left to maintain a gap
- I brake and swerve to his right (no space to the left, end up alongside driver still both moving forward approx 5-10mph
- driver yells abuse, I yell back (this is really the only thing I could/should've avoided doing but adrenaline was flowing)
- driver deliberately turns his steering wheel to the right directing his car into me
- handlebar/bar-end strikes side of car and wing mirror, causing me to fall to the right (onto other carriageway)
- car doesn't slow or stop
- following 2 cars both pull over and give me their details, stating they saw the car deliberately swerve into me
- I flagged down a random police van that passed by approx 60sec after incident - statement given

Could've been a lot worse - no apparent injury to me, wish I could say the same for the bike. So far I've found:
- snapped mech hanger (luckily replaceable)
- badly scuffed and possibly bent rear mech
- torn saddle
- scraped barends
- scraped pedals
- hole in my jacket elbow
- dented/knackered helmet (although I don't remember hitting my head hard at all)

Arrived at work in the back of a police van to much hilarity among my colleagues :lol:. I've already spoken to CTC for advice and will be chasing this idiot for the damage caused to my bike/clothing. I don't think I'm injured (unless anything develops later today) so don't feel any reason for injury claim, although my work colleagues say I should. Strange that my helmet is cracked as I really didn't think I hit my head that forcefully.
 
Make a note of everything in case you forget/concussed - might be worth going to GP to be checked out

Hope you are OK
 
Madness. I dont understand why some drivers do that.

Cyclists have as much right to the road as a car. They aren't allowed on paths. Although when I cycle there is no way I will cross some junctions/roundabouts I will go to the pedestrian crossing instead. Deliberately to avoid idiots like that and lorries.

It just bemuses me, what does that driver gain apart from stress and anger, at someone he didn't need to.

Hope that he's caught and suitably fined, maybe punished by being forced to cycle everywhere and see how he likes it :)
 
Confused me a little with the date/timestamp on the vid for a moment...

Glad you're ok, and kudos for not going for the injury claim... can see why your colleagues say go for it, but at the end of the day that's why we app pay through the nose for insurance.

Anyway, that's by the by, the main thing is you are ok (luckily). I see almost as many bad cyclists as bad motorists around here, but this was clearly a case of a dangerous driver who should not be allowed on the road. It's one thing having a bit of road rage (not that he had reason to in this case) but you just can't have a car vs cyclist war whatever the reason.

Let us know how it goes.
 
f**k!

glad you're ok, that was some seriously stupid driving by that car. overtake then brake, unbelievable.
 
Omg... What a d1ck... hope you're ok.

Agree while road rage maybe common cant have car vs bike.... As that wont end well.

Only consolation is that hopefully you also dinted his car in the process.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Yeah I'm fine, just very hacked off with the damage to my bike. I need it back on the road ASAP so will be out of pocket until I recover the costs from this idiot. Hopefully a very clear-cut case given the witnesses and my camera evidence. And hopefully he's got insurance otherwise it's going to have to be a claim directly against the motorist.

At least the registration was clearly recorded by my camera, me personally, and independently by one of the witnesses.
 
Ally - firstly, I'm glad you're ok, that could have been awful.

Good news that you have crystal clear identification on his numberplate.

A driver knows that driving a car into a cyclist stands a very high chance of causing the death of that cyclist.
He has fallen so grossly below the standard of care owed by motorists to other road users that he faces jail time.
He willingly digressed from his current path to intentionally collide with you, knowing that to do so would endanger your life.


In ALL sincerity - and as a legal professional - if I were the CPS lawyer working this, I would be seeking to charge him with attempted murder first.
Really. :|


If you aren't injured, that's great - but this driver needs to be made an example of, and your video should to made viral on the web. Don't worry about deformation/slander - the evidence, however someone chooses to perceive it, is in the video. He has no excuses.

Perhaps post your text above on the youtube page to accompany the video and link it on Facebook... The video is video and is fact.
If the police don't to follow it up, you need to destroy this guy on the web.

There was a case recently where a cyclist was verbally abused and threatened after a van driver nearly knocked HIM off his bike. He had a video too - CPS only agreed to do anything once the public pressured them into it.

Si
 
gannet said:
makes me think about getting a camera myself - which camera do you use?
Click to expand...
I'll post up a link at lunch - basically one of those tenner cameras from ebay. In all honesty the quality isn't good enough to make out details, especially in the dark (it's hopeless). I'm considering either a Go Pro Hero or Contour Roam as a replacement but both of those are £160+.

It's one of those cameras I've posted on the forum about before if you have a search, should be some details/links/videos.
 
Psy said:
Ally - firstly, I'm glad you're ok, that could have been awful.

Good news that you have crystal clear identification on his numberplate.

In all sincerity, and as a legal professional, I would be advise you to push the CPS to prosecute him with attempted murder. :|

If you aren't injured, that's great - but this driver needs to be made an example of, and your video needs to be made viral on the web. Don't worry about deformation/slander - the evidence is in the video. He has no excuses.

Post your text above on the youtube page to accompany the video and link it on Facebook.
If the police don't to follow it up, you need to destroy this guy on the web.

There was a case recently where a cyclist was verbally abused and threatened after a van driver nearly knocked HIM off his bike. He had a video too - CPS only agreed to do anything once the public pressured them into it.

Si
Click to expand...
Not sure about the murder thing! I don't want to be seen as a hysterical cyclist and potentially weaken my case, but I certainly want him charged to the full extent of what would reasonably stick. Good idea about posting the text and linking to Facebook, although I think I'll deactivate my Youtube comments first.
 
a11y said:
Not sure about the murder thing! I don't want to be seen as a hysterical cyclist and potentially weaken my case, but I certainly want him charged to the full extent of what would reasonably stick. Good idea about posting the text and linking to Facebook, although I think I'll deactivate my Youtube comments first.
Click to expand...

I've edited my text a bit there, sounded a bit dramatic.
But, you've got to start high as any court case on this matter would be looking at the driver's thoughts at the time, what you were doing and what the potential outcomes were.

Chances are, it would end up as a charge of Dangerous Driving, but I would say that's too low, as he KNOWINGLY moved into space where you were - there was no question that he risked hitting you.

Again, I really think this is attrocious.
I understand you not wanting to claim for injury etc, I think that's overdone these days, but damage to your possessions and the fact that he is still out there at risk to other lives, makes it your duty as a cyclist and victim to pursue this.

Happy to help with any advice etc.
S
 
Psy said:
a11y said:
Not sure about the murder thing! I don't want to be seen as a hysterical cyclist and potentially weaken my case, but I certainly want him charged to the full extent of what would reasonably stick. Good idea about posting the text and linking to Facebook, although I think I'll deactivate my Youtube comments first.
Click to expand...

I've edited my text a bit there, sounded a bit dramatic.
But, you've got to start high as any court case on this matter would be looking at the driver's thoughts at the time, what you were doing and what the potential outcomes were.

Chances are, it would end up as a charge of Dangerous Driving, but I would say that's too low, as he KNOWINGLY moved into space where you were - there was no question that he risked hitting you.

Again, I really think this is attrocious.
I understand you not wanting to claim for injury etc, I think that's overdone these days, but damage to your possessions and the fact that he is still out there at risk to other lives, makes it your duty as a cyclist and victim to pursue this.

Happy to help with any advice etc.
S
Click to expand...
Thanks, I might take you up on that :thumbsup:
 
WOW...good to hear you were not seriously injured and hopefully the justice system will deal severely with this A-hole...
 
Really glad you're OK mate and hope the bike gets fixed soonest.

That guy is a complete w@nker and deserves whatever the police throw at him.

Good luck wiping the floor with him - he's gonna feel a major cnut when he sees this LMAO!!!. :thumbsup:

Hopefully dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident should get him a healthy fine and a decent collection of points to add to the ones he's almost certainly already got!
 
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