Do you fear the repercussions of a complaint?

[jarlrmai]

Working drivers NEED to keep that clean license.

The camera helps avoid repurcussions with reported commercial/council drivers, if the driver realises that the next time he does something he is on camera he is less likely to do it.

I worry more about local private cars that get a shout/exasperated hand gestures, they don't know they are on camera.

I have to say that I have more problems with cars than most commercial drivers, who generally drive pretty well apart from the odd bus driver.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

No, I fear if I do not complain the driver will continue to drive dangerously and some poor cyclist will not be so lucky.

The driver will probably not even remember the incident let alone what the cyclist looks like.

^These

 

[subaqua]

it works in the positive if you complain. I made a complaint about a BT van driver and close passing and he now passes me with a very wide berth. He also gives other cyclists plenty of room too so its not that he recognises who made the complaint , just that one did so all need to be treated with respect. BT were really open and gave regular communication - top marks

 

[SquareDaff]

As subaqua says! I've made 3 complaints in 3 years about extremely close passes. Each time the company has replied cordially and addressed the issue. Then when I've seen vehicles from the same company later there's appeared to be an improvement re: the way they treat cyclists.

I think as long as you don't rant and rave then you'll always get a good response.

I balance things out by also emailing companies where I get really good treatment too. Suspect I might be in the minority there though!

 

[dodd82]

Thanks for the input.

Is the opinion generally that video evidence helps with a complaint?

If so, do you go ahead and upload the video evidence onto Youtube, or would that also be seen as confrontational, if the company haven't had a chance to reply?

 

[chqshaitan]

personally i wouldnt put anything that you are submitting to a company regarding an employees driving capability onto youtube until at least it has been dealt with by the company.

That way you can mention in the notes how the company dealt with the complaint, be it in a good or bad way. This way if the company dealt positively with it, they get some well deserved PR, if they dealt badly, the same goes

this is just opinion though

 

[BSRU]

I normally complain first without making the video public.

 

[Hip Priest]

I can see where you're coming from. I've never reported a driver, but I remember being worried on Matt's behalf when he reported that taxi-driver / stalker. He got a result in the end though.

 

[Pale Rider]

Complaining directly to the driver's employer is reasonable.

Putting it on YouTube only serves to raise the temperature.

But I would consider it as a last resort if I felt the complaint was not being taken seriously.

 

[jarlrmai]

Unlisted YouTube is often the easiest way to get the employer to see the video, otherwise it's dropbox or something with a huge file and they may not have a media player etc etc.

 

[classic33]

What do you do when you make a complaint & the response from the company is just to move the driver elsewhere. Sometimes all the drivers in the area of the incident.
You may get new drivers who have not been warned about why the other drivers were moved & continue to to drive in the same manner as those who they've replaced. It addresses the issue, but simply moves it elsewhere.

Best result, to date with regards what I would consider dangerous driving of a very low professional standard was sorted out not by mamagement of the company involved, but by other drivers of the company involved. They had a "quiet word" with the driver involved. Incident involved an artic where the driver purposly moved out onto/into the wrong lane, because I'd passed him whilst stationary, in two lanes of traffic approaching a set of lights. Clipped by the drivers door which he opened as he passed me.

Other than that going to the owner of the company can also help. Junction 26/A58 Chain Bar roundabout, West bound. Left hooked by a driver for whom I wasn't going fast enough. Having passed me, he opened the door jumped out & came running at me. Only the fact that the vehichle he was driving was now passing through a fence stopped him. Knew where the owner lived, so reported it on my way home that night, having made a slight detour to do so.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

The driver will probably not even remember the incident let alone what the cyclist looks like.

Yes, unfortunately, too many motorists have trouble seeing cyclists in the first place, so I can't imagine they'd be very good at remembering their faces, bike brands, etc.

 

[sabian92]

Thanks for the input.

Is the opinion generally that video evidence helps with a complaint?

If so, do you go ahead and upload the video evidence onto Youtube, or would that also be seen as confrontational, if the company haven't had a chance to reply?

What i've done in the past is uploaded it unlisted, emailed them to see what their initial response is and then if it's good, I'll tell them it's on Youtube, here's the link but I won't make it public. If 2 weeks goes by with no response, they get another email saying that because they've ignored me then it's going public, and they have no legal standing to make me take it down.

I started doing that after a company who i called and asked for their email address (so I know it was right) ignored me FOUR times over 6 weeks. They eventually got a very snotty email telling them that because they'd ignored me I'd put it on YouTube for the world to see.

I later found out that the company had previously had some problems with safety at work - one of their mechanics was working on a truck with an under-cab engine and the cab fell on top of him and killed him. Obviously not the most caring of employers...

 

[dodd82]

Have to say, I've never uploaded anything to Youtube so not sure how this listing thing works.

Is it fairly self explanatory?

 

[sabian92]

Have to say, I've never uploaded anything to Youtube so not sure how this listing thing works.

Is it fairly self explanatory?

Pretty much, it's an option when you upload.