Rammed From Behind

[BSRU]

Had a run in with a private hire mini-bus driver this morning.

He decided to squeeze his way past, passing me very closely despite the road being completely clear just after the parked car where it happened.
Caught up with him at the next set of lights, waved at him as he pulled away and it seemed to bring the red mist down on him. He slams on his brakes, wheel spins it in reverse and decides to follow me. Deciding I did not want this nut case behind me on the road, I pull over in a bus stop siding and he just drives straight into me, although at a slow speed but definitely deliberately.
He then jumps out going on about how I'd given him the w@nker sign, which I didn't he then gets back into his mini-bus and drives off.

I called the Police, whilst on the phone he drives past a realises I might be reporting him, so he turns around again, gets out of his mini-bus giving loads of mouth trying to blame me for everything. Goes on about the w@nker hand gesture, again I state I did not, then he states it was my fault he hit me with his mini-bus as I stopped to quickly in the lay by.

Whilst talking to the Police, I tell the driver the Police are on their way to talk with us both, he decides not to hang around and drives off.

About 10 minutes later a Police car arrives and he took some details but I was disappointed with his response, I told him about a witness who told me they were willing to talk to the Police about it but he seemed uninterested. He made the right noises about being completely unacceptable and dangerous but stated he would just have a word with the driver, a slap on the wrist as he couldn't do much more.
If that's all they do to him I will be complaining to the IPCC immediately.

I will also complain to his employer as the private mini-bus was being used by the Wiltshire Ambulance service and to the council licensing authority, although probably will do know good.

Obviously he will get displayed on YouTube as the road rage driver he is, in full 1080p HD.

 

[StuartG]

Over reaction is, as you have observed, a real road hazard. All the more reason not to give the sign. Glad you didn't but I see it nowadays seemingly more times than a left or right hand signal.

IMHO any cyclists who does that to a motorist, however justified, is not doing the rest of us a favour. It just winds them up more against us and leads to leaping to wrong conclusions as in your case.

Pity there wasn't a riot going on at the time or he would be in custody

 

[BSRU]

Over reaction is, as you have observed, a real road hazard. All the more reason not to give the sign. Glad you didn't but I see it nowadays seemingly more times than a left or right hand signal.

IMHO any cyclists who does that to a motorist, however justified, is not doing the rest of us a favour. It just winds them up more against us and leads to leaping to wrong conclusions as in your case.

Pity there wasn't a riot going on at the time or he would be in custody

He tried to use it as an excuse for ramming me despite the fact I didn't give that sign, he obviously saw what he wanted to see.

Just watched the rear camera footage, it quite clearly shows I am in the bus lay-by riding slowly then stopped with the mini-bus far enough behind to stop easily but he chose not to.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

So, he has admitted on video that he hit you, yet has left the scene of the incident without exchanging details. Isn't that a hit-and-run?

I also think the police could act under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002, given your description of the rear camera evidence. At the very least, that should be a formal warning that the vehicle will be seized should there be another incident of this nature.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

So, he has admitted on video that he hit you, yet has left the scene of the incident without exchanging details. Isn't that a hit-and-run?

If details were not exchanged then yes I believe so.

 

[Wankelschrauben]

The police don't give a sh!* about us, had that have been two cars involved in the minor collision they'd have been obtaining details, giving producers, making you do breath tests and looking for prosecution.

As soon as a cyclist is involved the police litterally couldn't care less.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

The police don't give a sh!* about us, had that have been two cars involved in the minor collision they'd have been obtaining details, giving producers, making you do breath tests and looking for prosecution.

As soon as a cyclist is involved the police litterally couldn't care less.

It does seem that way I would be tempted to send a letter to the Chief Constable or Superintendent asking what the policy of the Police is in these matters. If no satisfactory reply is give talk to the press. In the current climate I am sure they would love such a story.

 

[BSRU]

So, he has admitted on video that he hit you, yet has left the scene of the incident without exchanging details. Isn't that a hit-and-run?

I also think the police could act under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002, given your description of the rear camera evidence. At the very least, that should be a formal warning that the vehicle will be seized should there be another incident of this nature.

When he returned while I was talking to the Police he gave his name and address which I repeated to the Police, I did not write it down as I was busy at the time and after that he drove off despite being told the Police were on their way to talk to him.

I will have watch the video later to find out what he actually admitted to on camera, I recall he just went on about the non-existant w@nker gesture and I think he stated I stopped too quickly, although that may have been the second visit, after the camera had been turned off.

 

[BSRU]

It does seem that way I would be tempted to send a letter to the Chief Constable or Superintendent asking what the policy of the Police is in these matters. If no satisfactory reply is give talk to the press. In the current climate I am sure they would love such a story.

I will be making lots of noise if he ends up with just a telling off for being a naughty boy.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I will be making lots of noise if he ends up with just a telling off for being a naughty boy.

Good for you.

 

[Jezston]

The police don't give a sh!* about us, had that have been two cars involved in the minor collision they'd have been obtaining details, giving producers, making you do breath tests and looking for prosecution.

As soon as a cyclist is involved the police litterally couldn't care less.

It happens too often but it isn't always the case.

It certainly shouldn't be a reason to stop trying.

 

[BSRU]

According to the Wiltshire Police's own website, drivers will be breathalysed after a reported collision and drivers should not leave the scene if details have not been exchanged, which they were not, and drivers should not leave the scene unless authorised by the Police, the driver went off even though he knew the Police were on their way to talk to him.

Unfortunately, I think the comments about "it's just a cyclist" seem to be ringing true, how can a slap on the wrist be suitable response for someone using their mini-bus to ram a cyclist.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

According to the Wiltshire Police's own website, drivers will be breathalysed after a reported collision and drivers should not leave the scene if details have not been exchanged, which they were not, and drivers should not leave the scene unless authorised by the Police, the driver went off even though he knew the Police were on their way to talk to him.

Unfortunately, I think the comments about "it's just a cyclist" seem to be ringing true, how can a slap on the wrist be suitable response for someone using their mini-bus to ram a cyclist.

Can we see the videos ASAP?

 

[gaz]

I presume it wasn't a traffic officer. Non traffic police have no intrest in this sort of thing and it is shown by what they say.

 

[BSRU]

Can we see the videos ASAP?

Unfortunately, my "super" work PC cannot handle HD video, it will have to wait until I can use my pc at home.