Official Closest pass video

[magnatom]

Looks like Primary didn't succeed in discouraging an overtake and instead led to a possible nasty situation.

It would have done, had I been in a strong enough primary.

 

[cheadle hulme]

I'm with Lee on this one. I would have been aware of the skoda and been more secondary to allow him to pass safely before moving out after hime but in advance of the width restriction.

Unless you're doing 30 yourself, I don't see the need to assume a primary postion that early.

Having said that, it does not excuse his driving. Very poor indeed.

If you were aware and had time to palm his window, would your efforts not be better placed swerving into the safety zone you had already created? That would be my instinct if I thought I was about to be clipped.

 

[tdr1nka]

imo I don't it would have, if you would have been more over to the right. The driver could have tried to undertake you.

Damnned if he did, damnned if he didn't?

 

[magnatom]

I think the problem is two-fold (excepting the driver of course). That road has a wide section followed by a pinch point that comes quite quickly after the roundabout, and this makes primary to control following traffic difficult, yet makes it necessary if you don't want to get stuck at the pinch point trying to renegotiate back into the flow. Secondly, Magnatom left the door half open instead of fully closing it.

I'm sure there must have been some feeling that this driver was going to be impatient, and that might have been enough to make me slow and go left into the recess on exit from the roundabout. A driver with that level of impatience will not usually take long to pass. I don't think it would have been good practice to exit the roundabout close to the curb like Lee suggested.

I agree it has to be primary here. The main reason for this is that I cannot be sure what the speed of the following car is, especially as it is accelerating away from a roundabout. So if I take secondary and continue at the speed that I was progressing (a reasonable speed) then it could be possible that the car would start to overtake at the pinch point, by which point I would be starting to move out.

Of course I could slow down, but I would have to do that in an area of road that is not used, often has muck etc in it and more importantly on this occasion would be at higher risk of having the black ice on it that Lee is so good at spotting! (. So I completely disagree with those who say secondary is ok here.

I hear what you are saying about sensing the car, and I usually do (my previous video at this point is a good example of this where I managed to hold the van back). I really thought the door was closed and in 99.9% of situations it would have been. However, this idiot went through a crazy gap which resulted in me being able to hit the car, and the car in the opposite lane hitting it's horn.

I really love the fact that people say they would have been aware of the car better than I would. Maybe you would, maybe you wouldn't, but how can you possibly be sure about that from the video!? It was quite noise at the time, bus etc, I was concentrating on other things as well (i.e the state of the road etc).

Also swee'pea99, seriously, do you think this is a reasonable attitude to take? (i'm sure you don't) I can guarantee you that I would not take this attitude in that situation! What you have to remember is that (as I have already stated) there is ample opportunity to overtake 10-15 seconds further on. So what is the rush??!

cheadle hulme, hitting the car with my hand was my instinct. I didn't think about doing it, it just happened. Anyway, remember the temp at this point was about -3C so swerving quickly might not have been the best option.

 

[BentMikey]

Actually, watching it again I'm shading towards Lee's position. I'm not so sure primary is necessary here any more, although it's hard to tell from the video camera as I've not seen it in person.

 

[magnatom]

Damnned if he did, damnned if he didn't?

You don't know how true that is! I've found that over the last couple of years, that no matter what I do, someone will find fault. If I take strong primary I get pelters for that. If I take secondary I get pelters for that. There is no right and wrong in situations like this, only opinions. What gets my goat a little is that it always ends up an armchair discussion on my cycling (I would have done it better etc) when the matter of the fact is that, I was where I was and the following car has to deal with that appropriately. He didn't (in a big way) and yet I get the pelters!



He ho. I'm used to it, and it takes a lot more to get me annoyed these days than it used to. Discussion is good anyway, even if it is mostly critical of me!

Either I put up, or shut up, and anyone who knows me, knows that I am not one to shut up! (Actually that should be my sig line!!!)

 

[wafflycat]

I think the problem is two-fold (excepting the driver of course). That road has a wide section followed by a pinch point that comes quite quickly after the roundabout, and this makes primary to control following traffic difficult, yet makes it necessary if you don't want to get stuck at the pinch point trying to renegotiate back into the flow. Secondly, Magnatom left the door half open instead of fully closing it.

I'm sure there must have been some feeling that this driver was going to be impatient, and that might have been enough to make me slow and go left into the recess on exit from the roundabout. A driver with that level of impatience will not usually take long to pass. I don't think it would have been good practice to exit the roundabout close to the curb like Lee suggested.

Plus magnatom, if cycling any closer to the kerb, would very soon have been in the door zone of the cars parked ahead. The fault is entirely with the driver of the car.

Edit: Because no matter where on the road magnatom was positioned, any following car should only be overtaking *when it is safe to do so* and it clearly wasn't - apart from magnatom, there was oncoming traffic. The driver is at fault. Period.

 

[hackbike 666]

However much you like it motorists will sometimes do a stupid overtake and if they are going to take stupid risks of which they do then you can only be aware and take evasive and preventative action.

 

[wafflycat]

Entirely with the driver??

Yes.

 

[magnatom]

I'll humour you lee...

Would you not check over your shoulder though?

I do at 45 seconds and 47 seconds. Once every two seconds. Not bad really.

Not really, imo the road is so wide you can be a good 3-4 feet from the kerb, hardly in the gutter.

Read my post. That part of the road isn't used. -3C. Go figure.

Did you check behind you at all from the moment you eneterd the road to the point of the overtake?

41 seconds, 45 seconds and 47 seconds. Can you not see my head move? Remember, my eyes can move independent of my head as well and so can see further behind me than the camera. Eyes are amazing aren't they!

No need, look over your shoulder

41 seconds, 45 seconds and 47 seconds.


I thank you!

 

[Crackle]

Oooh good one Maggers. This one's got legs. I shall follow this thread with interest. I think Lee's up at the minute but Waffly might have tipped things back to you.....

 

[magnatom]

Even though mag was in the middle of the road when there was no need?

Yes! That's the way it works Lee. Have you passed your driving test?

 

[magnatom]

Oooh good one Maggers. This one's got legs. I shall follow this thread with interest. I think Lee's up at the minute but Waffly might have tipped things back to you.....

I think my 16:35 reply swung me a majority!

 

[cheadle hulme]

I really love the fact that people say they would have been aware of the car better than I would. Maybe you would, maybe you wouldn't, but how can you possibly be sure about that from the video!? It was quite noise at the time, bus etc, I was concentrating on other things as well (i.e the state of the road etc).

I have a much derided mirror when commuting. Coming off a r/b and approaching a pinch point I would make sure I was 100% aware of what was behind me. Makes it much easier to adopt secondary, then pull out behind the car once it passes. Smooth and avoids any unnecessary "friction". I take your point about road conditions though.

Fair play to you for posting and inviting debate!

 

[magnatom]

How comes you didn't adjust your line in respect of the taxi then?

Wait a minute, do you agree that you could possibly have been wrong then Lee? Maybe your viewing skills weren't as good as you make out!

I must admit I can't remember, and the video doesn't show it, but it is certainly possible that I changes my riding line. I probably did. My memory and the video is not conclusive on this, so we will never know.

Now will you answer, have you passed your driving test, and if so, who has the onus of safety in an overtake situation?