Nasty incident a couple of weeks ago

[benb]

Met the very nice and helpful chap from the Met who is dealing with it.
He seems keen to progress it, both for the driving and the assault, but that decision lies further up than him, but fingers crossed.

I'll won't upload the footage until it's all over, which might be months.

 

[glenn forger]

Just before I moved to Leytonstone a gentleman was killed by a vegetable thrown from a car.

 

[4F]

Hope you get a good result benb. In my time I have had AA batteries, fireworks and footballs thrown at me all in the same pikey street and so I created a Strava segment called Missile alley in their honour, scumbags.

 

[Dmcd33]

Had two incidents in the past 2 1/2 years that were almost identical to yours on an otherwise uneventful commute. The second one led me to getting a headcam (I was always previously reluctant) and now feel I have a bit more piece of mind. It's small and looks like a light.

I've never had anything thrown at me, but it's common that people use their cars as a way of intimidating me or trying to bully me out of the way. The other one i've noticed is the window washer comes on when I get a bit closer? They always, always, always end up at a red light after their little outburst (horn, close pass)

Good luck and I hope you get a good outcome. The driver, at the very least, should get a notice on his licence which will cost him a few quid when getting his insurance renewal?

 

[benb]

TBH, it's the aggressive driving and tailgating that bothers me more than the assault (although that is also completely unacceptable)

 

[benb]

Police have declined to prosecute. They say it is simply a matter of opinion as to whether he was driving dangerously close behind me, and the driver claimed in interview that he wasn't beeping aggressively.
Feel utterly let down and very angry.

That route is now basically off limits to me, as they will think they can behave like that with no consequences, and I don't ever want to encounter them again.

Will upload footage later.

 

[ianrauk]

how very disappointing

 

[Markymark]

Police have declined to prosecute. They say it is simply a matter of opinion as to whether he was driving dangerously close behind me, and the driver claimed in interview that he wasn't beeping aggressively.

What about the part he threw a can at you? Surely that's assault irrespective of the driving?

 

[Origamist]

Unfortunately, bullying and intimidation is generally left unpunished on the roads (and it's not only cyclists who are the victims). Ben's case is just another example. However, if the camera caught the can being thrown at you, I am surprised that this element of the incident did not lead to further police/CPS action.

 

[benb]

What about the part he threw a can at you? Surely that's assault irrespective of the driving?

That was the passenger, who the driver declined to identify. They are going ahead with that, but I didn't get the impression they were going to expend much in the way of resources to find him.

 

[glenn forger]

Disappointing. Get his name? That could go on the clip.

 

[benb]

Disappointing. Get his name? That could go on the clip.

No. Do the police have to tell me his name if I ask?

 

[glenn forger]

Dunno, sorry. DVLA would give you the registered keeper. Post the clip?

 

[Nigeyy]

Sorry to hear that.

 

[Sods_Laur]

Police have declined to prosecute. They say it is simply a matter of opinion as to whether he was driving dangerously close behind me, and the driver claimed in interview that he wasn't beeping aggressively.

I'm confused about the ' not beeping aggressively ' - he didn't have a legitimate reason to sound his horn or it would be on the video, so how is it anything less than aggressive?

Disappointed but unsurprised by the police attitude. I have had it myself but no camera footage. Is it worth writing to the chief maybe?