Close pass

[ScotiaLass]

The other day on my ride home I had a close encounter with a refuse truck.
As I was approaching a set of width reducing bollards, I heard a heavy vehicle coming up behind me.
I also heard him revving but thought he'd wait for me to get through.
He didn't.
He squeezed past me, within a few inches, and almost had me off the bike!

I got home (I was about 10 mins from home at this point) and phoned the council to report the matter.

Today I had a phone call from the manager of the transport section of the council.
She confirmed that the vehicle I had reported had been where and when I said it had (GPS tracking), and said it had been within the speed limit.
She was very sympathetic and told me that driver was going to be spoken to this afternoon and if appropriate, would be sent on a training course for awareness (or something like that!).

 

[welsh dragon]

At least its better than nothing I suppose.

 

[Arch]

I hope some good comes of it.

I reported a bus driver once for cutting us up in our work vehicle (a small slow electric truck), and shooting through a red light in the process. I got a letter that said more or less what you were told, but somehow the tone didn't give me any confidence that much would happen.

 

[Markymark]

Would being in primary have helped?

 

[SteCenturion]

It does happen @Arch, although not guaranteed, (I work in public transport industry).

More likely a driver to be reprimanded or sent on a course or even issued a verbal or written warning if it is a larger company with stringent policy than a small venture (some fly by night outfits out there).

Don't give up hope anyone, like crime, if not reported, there's no chance of improvements.

 

[the_mikey]

Refuse trucks around here (South Gloucestershire) are festooned with CCTV, it help improve driver behaviour allegedly and reduces the insurance bill. I wonder if the same thing is done in other areas?

 

[ScotiaLass]

Would being in primary have helped?

Yes.
In hindsight I should have moved over, but I'm not a confident road rider and I heard him coming up fast behind me.
Despite having a florescent orange jacket on I wasn't confident he'd seen me either.
Before I had a chance to move (which seemed like a split second) he was passing me.

 

[Arch]

It does happen @Arch, although not guaranteed, (I work in public transport industry).

More likely a driver to be reprimanded or sent on a course or even issued a verbal or written warning if it is a larger company with stringent policy than a small venture (some fly by night outfits out there).

Don't give up hope anyone, like crime, if not reported, there's no chance of improvements.

Yes, I am probably being over-pessimistic. It is hard to deduce tone from a letter.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Well done SL. Hope the driver is suitably chastened

 

[Markymark]

It's worth getting into primary well in advance if any pinch points after a quick shoulder check.

All that aside no excuse for what he did.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Sorry to hear that, @ScotiaLass . Let's hope the truck driver is actually contrite and will try not to do that again.

 

[ScotiaLass]

It's worth getting into primary well in advance if any pinch points after a quick shoulder check.

All that aside no excuse for what he did.

Lesson learned for me.
It's such a fast road (although the limit is 40mph - reduced from 50mph last year), I really worry as the drivers seem to pass close whether you're in the gutter or in the middle of the road!

 

[Crackle]

Scary with such a big truck. I did that at a pinch point, with a bin wagon, took primary and he zoomed past on the other side of the island on the wrong side of the road, giving me a grin and a thumbs up.

 

[ScotiaLass]

Scary with such a big truck. I did that at a pinch point, with a bin wagon, took primary and he zoomed past on the other side of the island on the wrong side of the road, giving me a grin and a thumbs up.

Yeah, I've seen cars do that on that road

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Had similar a few days ago, could not believe a car wanted to pass me round a bent in a left turning filter lane!
I could see him approaching from behind, going faster instead of slowing down.
Did not let him, was in primary, stayed there, he would have had to run me over