Hit and Run foiled...

[BenM]

in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a Bus driver and another motorist prevent a driver, who hit a cyclist, from escaping the scene... Link to the article I read.... cctv below...



I wonder if the same would/could happen in this country?

 

[Simba]

I doubt it, we are just road fodder.

 

[ComedyPilot]

I would like to hope so. But given the fact that we have loads of hit & run incidents in this country, and few (if any) reported 'foiled' incidents, this means we seem to be behind the yanks in looking after vulnerable road users (shudder)

 

[hotfuzzrj]

[quote="Police on the scene within 1 minute! If that had been the UK they would of needed to wake one of the lazy lumps up first and by the time they got to the station and had a cup of coffee - may be two hours before arriving on scene? and then they would probably be more interested in the welfare of the drivers wing mirror (see mickle).[/quote]

CHEEEEEEEEEEERS.....

 

[MontyVeda]

[QUOTE 1800805, member: 9609"]
Police on the scene within 1 minute! If that had been the UK Planet User9609 they would of needed to wake one of the lazy lumps up first and by the time they got to the station and had a cup of coffee - may be two hours before arriving on scene? and then they would probably be more interested in the welfare of the drivers wing mirror (see mickle).[/quote]

fixed that for you.

 

[jdtate101]

[QUOTE 1800805, member: 9609"]Police on the scene within 1 minute! If that had been the UK they would of needed to wake one of the lazy lumps up first and by the time they got to the station and had a cup of coffee - may be two hours before arriving on scene?.[/quote]

Not true. When I was knocked down 2 weeks ago, the police arrived within 2mins of being called and were excellent. They were defiantly on my side, were harsh on the driver and looked after me and my bike until the ambulance arrived. Some people may have had a bad experience with the police, but not all of them are useless. I would say most of them I've met are hard working, decent and fair, so don't tar them all with the same brush.

 

[Boris Bajic]

An appropriate, prompt and proportianate action by the bus driver. From the cyclist, the request (see article) for the second driver to get the plate rather than render first aid was a good response after such an incident.

To answer the OP's question: Yes, it could have happened here or in any of many countries. It didn't, but it could. I'm not sure that location is significant.

An interesting point to me is the legislation (mentioned in the article) requiring drivers to give cyclists four feet of room when passing them. I don't get massively upset by most close passes, but something like that wouldn't hurt in the UK.

As a UK cyclist and motorist for many decades and as someone who has had much reason to be grateful to our emergency services, I am amused by some of the glum responses to this thread.

We are not just road fodder Simba. That is approaching Marvin the Android in terms of absolutely failing to see that the glass is four-fifths full.

As to the grumbling from other contributors about the British Police... I must be a very lucky man. I've only ever known them to be prompt, courteous, professional, thoughtful and (when necessary) really rather brave.

A fabulous story about the bus driver in the OP.

 

[mr_cellophane]

Great law there

§ 3303. Overtaking vehicle on the left.

(a) General rule.--The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to the limitations, exceptions and special rules stated in this chapter:​

(3) The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking a pedalcycle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left of the pedalcycle within not less than four feet at a careful and prudent reduced speed.​

​

 

[ManiaMuse]

Great law there

​

That law apparently went into effect the day before this hit and run took place.

 

[davefb]

fwiw, ex colleague who's now a driving instructor, saw a car hit a motorcyclist on a junction.. she didn't stop, so he drove off after her.. when he got to her house she claimed she was going to go back anyway ( which is wierd, apparently the 'chase' involved going down a no entry and through some red lights :-/ )..
so yeah, people will "do something" ..

 

[lulubel]

I would certainly have done the same if I'd seen something like that when I was driving buses.

 

[gambatte]

I had a similar incident. I was in the house, about to go out when I heard a 'BANG'. Didn't think owt about it. Couple of minutes later I'm. heading out, passed a house on the corner thats got its boundary wall all over the floor and a car being 'bounced' off where the wall used to be. Soon as he was off the wall, he shot off. Thing was I was straight behind him...
Followed him for about half a mile where he turned into what I knew was a close.
Turned round and went back
When i got there, plod had just turned up and were going into the house.
Apparantly this guy was a road rager. He'd been hassling a car for a mile or two before he got to our estate and then tried to overtake the car infront as it was turning left into the same junction he wanted.....
He'd been too fast, clipped the kerb and ended up through the wall.
I mentioned to plod I'd seen where he'd gone, they hopped in the car and gave them a lift. He was easy enough to trace. He must have smashed his radiator as there was water into the close and onto his drive.
Apparantly he was a known drink driver, banned and head been boozing in the next village...

 

[downfader]

My Uncle and Aunt once helped out when they witnessed a hit and run on an elderly man out riding. They were in the car following a driver waiting to pull on to a roundabout, old boy on the rab already going around and another driver shot through one of the junctions without stopping.

Smash. Up like a coin.

IIRC car in front stops, Uncle said he leaned out the window that he'd give chase and missus on the phone already to plod. Followed the idiot to his house and told him they'd been relaying messages to the Police so he had a choice - stay and wait or go back.

Guy decided to go back. Never got charged as far as I'm aware.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Nice to see results like this. It's rare when everything comes together like that.