Does a camera on his helmet equal a chip on shoulder?

[classic33]

Can the same be said for all those that use cameras? Often just in case anything should happen?

A chip on the shoulder!

"A TRUCK driver who drove too close to a cyclist has escaped a fine in a court decision that exposed flaws in controversial new motoring laws.

Warwick Fribance was convicted but spared a $341 penalty when his defence successfully argued he was “caught out by technicalities of law’’.

The 67-year-old was reported to police by an irate cyclist who filmed the defendant’s truck passing him on a two-lane Sunshine Coast hinterland road at 7.55am on July 4 this year.

The video evidence showed no contact between the parties and the heavy vehicle to be narrowly in breach of the 1.5m gap limit, introduced in April."


"Outside court, Mr Fribance said the law was ridiculous.

He said he had been the victim of a cyclist with “a camera on his helmet and a big chip on his shoulder’’.

“I would have had to drive over double white lines to be within the law. Technically I’m guilty but it’s wrong,’’ he said.

“At least I don’t have to pay the $341 fine (given by police), only a $107.10 offender’s levy.’’

Mr Fribance, who retired from driving trucks after the incident, vented his anger at cyclists.

“It’s a war out there. It’s us against them,’’ he said."

 

[Accy cyclist]

“It’s a war out there. It’s us against them,’’ he said."

Talk about over reacting... the big wuss!

 

[slowmotion]

Some serial helmet cam posters on YouTube do seem bonkers. I'm sure that some of the others are lovely. I'm not voting. I'll just wait and join the winning team at the last minute.

 

[Crankarm]

“It’s a war out there. It’s us against them,’’ he said."

Said the Big Bully driving a huge tipper truck from the Might is Right School of Driving. Why not just ride over the cyclist as that is what he intended and almost did. Had he waited just a couple of hundred metres not even that then the double white lines would have gone and he could have seen if the way was clear to pass at a wider spacing. What a knuckle dragging t0$$er.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

“I would have had to drive over double white lines to be within the law" - that's absolute bollocks: what about the 3rd option, which is to wait until it's safe to overtake, then overtake? About what I expect from the Courier Mail, though.
It really makes me angry when Australian motorists insist that a cyclist is somehow "forcing" them to cross the double white lines.

 

[the_mikey]

It's wrong to assume a camera user has a 'chip on their shoulder', it doesn't automatically mean anything.

 

[mrvandango]

It's the same here though.. several lorries go past me on a daily basis that haven't gone over the white line (solid or not), thus blowing me all over the place.

I agree with Victor.. there appears to be no 'slow down and wait' option for some, just to save literally seconds on a journey.

 

[snorri]

This is another excerpt from the Australian media proving that a long journey taken by you or your long distant fore bears can have an effect on your attitude to other road users.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

In any case, the chip is on my head, because that's where my camera's mounted!

 

[Mr_Kipling]

I use a camera whenever I am cycling. I mainly have it on my handlebars tho. Could the same question be asked about drivers with dash cams?

 

[Turdus philomelos]

I hold my hands up in saying I don't have a driving licence though I did ride a motorbike in my youth.

On my daily cycle commute I am amazed at how many drivers don't seem to know what their gear stick is for, ( this is not a euphemism and crosses all genders).

They come up behind, slow down to my speed on a blind corner, then decide, "hang on, am no waiting" and try and pick away in their top gear to try and pass, then find they don't have enough oomph to pass before they hit an on coming vehicle so swerve in towards me. The worst culprit/encounter was with a driver of a Sky van with Team sky emblazoned on it.

No, I don't think wearing a camera is a chip on the shoulder but I don't wear a camera as I cant afford a decent one so hoping Santa might take pity

 

[mjr]

It's not chips on shoulders, it's fear of worsening drivers and lack of faith in the police. I've used a handlebar camera since Avon and Somerset police refused to act on a road rage attack because no witnesses came forwards.

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

I voted no. I've used headcams on my commute for years, purely to give me another set of eyes in the event of an accident. If anything, I feel my cycling has improved because of them. If I'm in an accident, and it's not my fault, I don't want to be seen to have jumped a red light (for example) five minutes before as it will be used against me.

 

[Steady]

No, but there is increasingly growing evidence on YouTube of cyclists who use helmet cameras that live in a fantasy world (or they're doing it for profit just like a lot of car dash cameras are). They are doing the reputation of cyclists no favours at all, nor are they helping to encourage cycliing. The influx of what these people consider 'incidents' to me looks like it only diminishes the evidence that a cycle cam can provide as the reputation is already tarred any time "I've got you on camera" is uttered.

What the truck driver said however, is just wrong and good old denial in force, he's just a victim of believing 'some laws are more law than others'

 

[glenn forger]

I voted no. I've used headcams on my commute for years, purely to give me another set of eyes in the event of an accident. If anything, I feel my cycling has improved because of them. If I'm in an accident, and it's not my fault, I don't want to be seen to have jumped a red light (for example) five minutes before as it will be used against me.

Like this one:

http://road.cc/content/news/134042-...lice-aussie-cyclist-who-hit-car-was-not-wrong

Now, following a RTC it's not unusual for a driver to pretend they are not in the wrong, it's human nature, depressing, but not surprising. In this case the driver offered the cops bare faced lies to evade responsibility for a moment's in attention that could have killed the rider. Without the helmet cam footage, who knows what would have happened.