Bazzer
Setting the controls for the heart of the sun.
- Location
- On the edge of reality
Travelling home from work before Christmas this happened. (Contains swearing).
The driver failed to stop despite hitting me on the hip and handlebar with the nearside wing mirror. Cheshire police were contacted and sent the full footage the same night. The following day the police told me they were treating it as fail to stop pedal cycle collision and the footage would be sent to the investigating officer. A day later I was contacted by the investigating officer and asked whether I was wearing a helmet and what injuries I had (hip bruising). The PC was also told I had traced the car's insurer and was going to write to them asking if the driver had reported the incident.
Not having heard anything further, ten days later I contacted the investigating officer who told me that as I had the car registration number and insurer, it would be for the insurance companies to establish blame and the police would be taking no further action. This came as a surprise to me, as firstly I thought driving offences were separate from blame. For example a car can skid on black ice causing damage to another car and whilst there may be blame, there is not necessarily an offence. And secondly I know from personal experience that Cheshire police have prosecuted car drivers for close passes which were not this close.
So after a couple of rather cross emails, the investigating PC met with me on the 20th. It seemed to me he hadn't even reviewed the footage. For example asking to see the footage on my computer and he and his colleague wincing when I'm hit. Then asking for the footage to be provided on a memory stick. (Even though the full footage had been sent the night of the incident).
The PC told me that because neither I was injured nor my bike damaged, (that will teach me not to go down!), no action would be taken on the failure to stop. After discussion it was clear the best I could hope for was an offence for the close overtake. So it was agreed if the driver admitted the offence they would pay to go on a driving course. If they didn't admit, papers would go to the CPS.
A couple of days ago, I was told the driver had admitted the offence and was "happy to go on a driving awareness course." Tonight I have been told [the] application for a DAC course for the driver has been declined due to evidence and not in the public interest to prosecute. Also the time elapsed since the initial incident.
There will be no further police involvement in this incident.
I've stirred it up with the driver's insurance company as I was told between Christmas and the New Year by the company the driver hadn't reported the incident, but I'm feeling pretty peed off with the police. I'm thinking of making a complaint to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire. As per the title is my annoyance justified, or just too close to it?
The driver failed to stop despite hitting me on the hip and handlebar with the nearside wing mirror. Cheshire police were contacted and sent the full footage the same night. The following day the police told me they were treating it as fail to stop pedal cycle collision and the footage would be sent to the investigating officer. A day later I was contacted by the investigating officer and asked whether I was wearing a helmet and what injuries I had (hip bruising). The PC was also told I had traced the car's insurer and was going to write to them asking if the driver had reported the incident.
Not having heard anything further, ten days later I contacted the investigating officer who told me that as I had the car registration number and insurer, it would be for the insurance companies to establish blame and the police would be taking no further action. This came as a surprise to me, as firstly I thought driving offences were separate from blame. For example a car can skid on black ice causing damage to another car and whilst there may be blame, there is not necessarily an offence. And secondly I know from personal experience that Cheshire police have prosecuted car drivers for close passes which were not this close.
So after a couple of rather cross emails, the investigating PC met with me on the 20th. It seemed to me he hadn't even reviewed the footage. For example asking to see the footage on my computer and he and his colleague wincing when I'm hit. Then asking for the footage to be provided on a memory stick. (Even though the full footage had been sent the night of the incident).
The PC told me that because neither I was injured nor my bike damaged, (that will teach me not to go down!), no action would be taken on the failure to stop. After discussion it was clear the best I could hope for was an offence for the close overtake. So it was agreed if the driver admitted the offence they would pay to go on a driving course. If they didn't admit, papers would go to the CPS.
A couple of days ago, I was told the driver had admitted the offence and was "happy to go on a driving awareness course." Tonight I have been told [the] application for a DAC course for the driver has been declined due to evidence and not in the public interest to prosecute. Also the time elapsed since the initial incident.
There will be no further police involvement in this incident.
I've stirred it up with the driver's insurance company as I was told between Christmas and the New Year by the company the driver hadn't reported the incident, but I'm feeling pretty peed off with the police. I'm thinking of making a complaint to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire. As per the title is my annoyance justified, or just too close to it?