Nearly killed by a bus.

[aJohnson]

Do you think you actions will make that particular driver treat cyclists in general with more or less consideration?

Do you think that if Ant would have walked away he would have treated cyclists any different?

Some drivers need a smack to teach them, others learn by just being shouted at. Some even learn from just being told that it's dangerous.

 

[purplepolly]

others learn by just being shouted at

I was going past one at a timed stop in a layby last week, with me in primary so he could see me, when he started to pull out. I shouted about using mirrors, he stopped, and then overtook me on the other side of the road.

 

[swee'pea99]

Write to the MD. Google for details if necessary. Go to the top, every time.

 

[PK99]

Do you think that if Ant would have walked away he would have treated cyclists any different?

Some drivers need a smack to teach them, others learn by just being shouted at. Some even learn from just being told that it's dangerous.

I despair at the negative stereotyping that clearly underlies you post.

We are taking attitude change, and positive attitude change is not going to be achieved by aggressive confrontation - all that ever does is reinforce and entrench the pre-existing attitude.

 

[aJohnson]

I doubt the driver nearly ran someone over due to them being a cyclist, he probably nearly ran over them because he thought he was in the right and gave enough room.

Would you rather him continue to think he was in the right and next time end up actually hitting a cyclist?

No violence isn't the way, but sometimes it gets through to people.

 

[PK99]

No violence isn't the way, but sometimes it gets through to people.

i'll remember that next time i am faced with a cyclist on the pavement or cutting across me on a pedestrian crossing!

 

[aJohnson]

i'll remember that next time i am faced with a cyclist on the pavement or cutting across me on a pedestrian crossing!

"Some drivers need a smack to teach them, others learn by just being shouted at. Some even learn from just being told that it's dangerous."

 

[Nipper]

Would no one advise reporting the bus driver to the police?

 

[XmisterIS]

I'm not sure there'd be a lot the police could do.

Anyway, the spot where it happened is on a route that I travel frequently at about the same time of day, so perhaps a formal letter + a bollocking given to the driver will be enough to make sure he doesn't do it again.

After all, two letters about the same driver wouldn't be welcomed by First!

 

[Typo]

He will be interviewed by London United’s Accident Prevention Manager and reminded of courtesy to other road users.

So they call it "courtesy" not to KSI other road users? I got a similar email, but saying:-

I've contacted xxx, who operate route nn for us. They were also concerned about this and will remind all drivers that they must drive safely and within the law. More importantly, they will interview the driver in question about his conduct, and follow this up with appropriate action in line with their internal disciplinary procedures.

At the time I was reasonably mollified, but if they're just following up with form letters, what are the chances of anything changing?

More optimistically, might H&S actually help us here - maybe e.g. they're under a legal obligation to record incidents reported & their reaction to them? Anyone know?

 

[BentMikey]

Form letters don't mean that they didn't actually do something about the problem. Given how much bus drivers in London have improved in the last 5 or 6 years, I'm pretty sure that action is taken. I can't blame them for using form letters to save money.

 

[ron4322]

I expect that companies will treat complaints seriously. If they receive a complaint about a driver who then denies any wrongdoing, I doubt that they would or even could do anything. However, if they get more complaints about the same driver, then I expect that they would. Also, the threat of being reported again might concentrate the mind of the driver.

Finally, if a driver who had been reported went on to cause a serious accident and it was then found out that his employers had failed to act on a previous warning, then I think the bad publicity alone would seriously damage the company. As a result, I think companies will always treat complaints seriously - they can't afford to not do.

 

[PK99]

Finally, if a driver who had been reported went on to cause a serious accident and it was then found out that his employers had failed to act on a previous warning, then I think the bad publicity alone would seriously damage the company. As a result, I think companies will always treat complaints seriously - they can't afford to not do.

.... and the threat of corporate manslaughter looms large. A complaint about a driver must be recorded, even if rejected - if not acted upon and the driver kills by similar behaviour then the managers and company could find themselves liable.

it is always important to report grossly dangerous or overtly aggressive driving by bus/hgv drivers. Equally it is important to be temperate, factual, controlled and non emotional when making the complaint: irrational rants are quite correctly consigned to the loony bin.

 

[downfader]

IMO this needs to be reported to the Bus company, however as previously stated there is no way for anyone other than the bus company to know what has happened.

I would personally add the info to the CTC's smidsy site as its a campaign tool. They will be working with the Police and MPs to hopefully build up a better picture

 

[XmisterIS]

What do you guys think of this:

Dear Sir,

On 31/10/09 at approx. 3:50pm, while cycling from East to West along Marine Parade West in the region of Drake Road in Lee-on-Solent, I was dangerously overtaken by a First Choice bus with registration **** ***. (I don't want to put the reg up here, it's between me and the bus company)

The overtake was dangerous for the following reasons:

a) The driver gave me approximately three inches clearance.

The driver began to pull back in towards the kerb when I was level with the back wheel of the bus. Had I not braked as hard as I could and steered into the kerb, I would have been hit by the back wheel and may have been dragged underneath the vehicle.

I was clearly visible in a bright yellow jacket, on a clear road in good light and fine weather.

I was riding no more than eighteen inches from the gutter, that being my normal riding position so as not to cause an obstruction to following traffic.

This is the first time that I have experienced a frightening manoeuvre by a First Choice bus driver. I feel that you should be informed due to the potentially fatal consequences had I been dragged under the bus.

Yours Faithfully,

XmisterIS (obviously, I won't actually sign it "XmisterIS"!).