first incident involving a car!

[Kiwiavenger]

Just cycling down hanham high street toward's a roundabout, slightly downhill and single lane. Nothing coming the other way so I move left slightly to give the car infringes and behind plenty of room, about 5 ft from the roundabout the car infront suddenly indicates left and turns infront of me. I slam on but hit straight into the side of the car!!

He did stop but didnt give me an of his details but I got his reg. Didnt feel too bad until I got back to the car and sat down! My hip hurts like mad and ive got a bit of a cut on my elbow. Luckily there was a grass area just over the pavement so managed to ditch into there. Now I remember why I hate commuting down church ordain rush hour! Even with hi vis, 2 front flashers his first words where "i heard something and thought id dropped something unroll I saw a flash of yellow in my mirrors"

 

[fossyant]

Had the car over taken you just before, or had you been following it ? You've got to be very careful for late or non indication - indicators are an optional extra on most cars

Bad luck. If the car had overtaken then indicated left and turned leaving you no room, this is a classic left hook.

If you'd been following it down the road, then it suddenly turned, then I am afraid, you were too close.

 

[steve52]

straight down to the nearst claim r us type place for u, he either had no insurance, or did if he did claim and take there offer, he has comited an offence by not giveing u his details, and has behave like an ass

 

[fossyant]

straight down to the nearst claim r us type place for u, he either had no insurance, or did if he did claim and take there offer, he has comited an offence by not giveing u his details, and has behave like an ass

Hold on, see my post above. We do not know who is at fault !

 

[cloggsy]

Hold on, see my post above. We do not know who is at fault !

Really?

about 5 ft from the roundabout the car in front suddenly indicates left and turns infront of me. I slam on but hit straight into the side of the car!!

I would say the car driver...

I would report this to the Police; he should have given you his details!

 

[Jezston]

Assuming the car was in front you need to report the incident to the police. Call up your local station, ask to speak to a traffic officer (at least ask and try not to get fobbed off - a non-traffic officer will likely be disinterested). Do it NOW. No, not at lunchtime, NOW.

Did the driver REFUSE to give details? Sounds likely he had something to hide then e.g. no insurance or license. Report this to the officer with the license plate and description of the driver and they will likely be very interested. Make sure you are clear and concise and consistent about what occurred.

At the very least an officer should pay them a visit and get their insurance details so you can get your bike and yourself sorted out - if it emerges they shouldn't have been on the road in the first place then things get interesting.

 

[BSRU]

It is normally assumed that the rear vehicle in this sort of scenario is at fault for being too close to the vehicle in front.

 

[EthelF]

@ Kiwiavenger
Sorry to hear about the crash, hope you make a swift revovery.

For the record, irrespective of who was or was not to blame, the driver had to give you his and the vehicle owner's name and address, or failing that he has to report it to the police within 24 hours (Highway Code rule 286/RTA 1988 Section 170).
Also, as there was an injury, he has to report to police anyway within 24 hours and provide indurance details within 7 days (HC 287/RTA 170).
So I think it is worth your while reporting the incident to the police anyway if you want to pursue this. Whether they will/can do much is another question of course.

Safe cycling!
DJ

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

Can you be a little clearer about the events?

For example did the car overtake and then decide to turn left or were you just close behind and about to follow it over the RAB? Did the driver refuse to give details or after stopping and checking if you were ok did he just carry on with his journey? Were there two lanes? If there were did the car change lanes? Who’s fault do you think it was?



From what you’ve written it sounds like you were following a car too close and left yourself no time/distance to react. Sorry, but if anything it sounds like the error was on your part.

 

[benb]

More details please, so we can all blame/exonerate you!

 

[Matthew_T]

Take my advice and stay well away from going up the inside of people. They have a tendancy not to indicate.

 

[Kiwiavenger]

To be fair I knew my tyres are shite in the wet, he was infront of me but I moved left of him cause of the roundabout to give other cars room. No more damage to me than a bruised hip and ego, and no damage to his car. Just need to true my back wheel and check the deraliers and then I'll be back on it!

More annoyed with myself really, the guy was fine, he stopped and was ok, to be fair I should have given him my details just in case but hey ho.

I work in motor claims so know the slightly idiotic tendencies of a lot of drivers (our customers are of a certain age) so should really always second guess drivers lol.

 

[BSRU]

I moved left of him cause of the roundabout to give other cars room

Glad you and the bike are ok but this statement is a little confusing.

 

[Hip Priest]

If you're about to enter a roundabout then it'd be better to be in primary. That way you'll avoid incidents with the drivers fore and aft. If you stay in the gutter, you're begging to be left-hooked. There is a time and place to give drivers room to overtake, and it isn't on the entrance to a roundabout.

 

[vickster]

Presumably cars turning right?

Unfortunately, it does sound like you were at fault (it's not always the motorist), yes the driver should perhaps have indicated (especially if there were other cars on the roundabout) but you should have been going slowly enough to pre-empt any muppetry/forgetfulness.
They were in the left hand lane I assume if there is more than one (this isn't a left only lane is it, in which case, technically you don't have to indicate IIRC)

Also, sounds like it's time for new tyres and a brake check

Heal fast...arnica is great for bruises

If you were going straight on there is no need to move left, primary is perfectly acceptable