Police let down

[benb]

What do you think the Police should do with you?

What do you mean?

 

[jarlrmai]

It just astonishes me that a bit of swearing is always used to erase the evidence of dangerous driving.

So "you swearing" leads to a "threatening confrontation by them" is a defence.
But "being dangerously closely passed by them" is not a defence for "you swearing."

 

[benb]

It just astonishes me that a bit of swearing is always used to erase the evidence of dangerous driving.

So "you swearing" leads to a "threatening confrontation by them" is a defence.
But "being dangerously closely passed by them" is not a defence for "you swearing."

To be fair, the officer didn't say that the swearing had anything to do with their decision to not progress the dangerous overtake.
The decision to not progress the abusive behaviour was a completely different unit.

 

[mjr]

I agree that there should be some leniency towards the distance that vehicles pass each other due to the safety aspects of cycling, but would you rather have an articulated truck pass you at 1.5m at 56mph or Mondeo-man pass you at 1m doing 30mph ??

Neither, thanks.

For the record, I had a bus brush my arm yesterday as it passed me

I hope you've reported the nobber to the police and the traffic commissioner, in the hope he can be stopped before he gets even closer and gently taps someone under the wheels.

 

[Gert Lush]

How about driving without due care and attention? How can he concentrate on where he's going when arguing with you?

 

[jonny jeez]

Why should bad language by either party cancel out the separate offence of the close pass?

Fair question. I suspect because its contentious that the separate offence took place.

 

[GilesM]

To be fair to the Police, in the video it's hard to tell that the guy gets dangerously close, I would just let Karma sort this one out, I have a feeling this particular driver isn't the luckiest man on the planet.

 

[hatler]

That's piss-poor behaviour from the driver and hugely disappointing from the MP, but no real surprises there. It almost makes me want to live in the West Midlands.

 

[Joffey]

Actually I said "thank you" if you're talking about the bit where he said "You're not a car" and then I said "I know I'm not a car, thank you". Like I said, I don't care much about the lack of progress on the public order offence, but I'd point out there is a big difference between an angry response at being endangered and what he did.

But "not that close" really? Have another look at the stills at the end of the video. He was less than 50cm away.

I had a similar problem with a video - they don't seem 'that' close but from the camera we can't see how wide your ass / shoulders are to judge that he was 50cm away from you. I really do sympathise, it happens to me quite often.

 

[jarlrmai]

Wide angle lenses exaggerate distances however most action cams have them.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Wide angle lenses exaggerate distances however most action cams have them.

Yes if eventually the close pass rule is introduced then everybody will have to swap them for a side mounted one with a range finder type of makes on, much like they have on reversing cameras.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Yes if eventually the close pass rule is introduced then everybody will have to swap them for a side mounted one with a range finder type of makes on, much like they have on reversing cameras.

I'd have my doubts if they're as reliable as the parking sensors on the cars I have driven

 

[jarlrmai]

I bought a cheap laser distance finder, but as it shoots a red visible light laser I can't use it on my bike (might blind a road user,) handy for DIY though.

there are plans for an IR Arduino one which would be a cool project or you could make a LIDAR.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I'd have my doubts if they're as reliable as the parking sensors on the cars I have driven

Yes But! When the object enters the red zone you are supposed to stop, not carry on to see how accurate they are

 

[ianrauk]

Yeah, I'm really going to try not to react angrily in future, but it's really hard when someone has just nearly wiped you out, and the adrenaline is going.

Sometimes it just cant be helped Ben. I would have done the same as you, no doubt.