Shocking truck driving in Smithfield this a.m. - trying to trace the victim

[EthelF]

Morning all,
I witnessed an absolute shocker this morning on West Smithfield as a construction 8 wheeler barged a cyclist aside while overtaking at a pinch point. Fortunately the cyclist was sufficiently aware to pull up sharply. To say he was not a happy bunny would be an understatement - he caught up with the driver & gave him a piece of his mind.
I told the rider I imagined I'd probably caught the incident on my helmet cam, but he wasn't interested, saying that the police never help cyclists anyway.

I'm posting this in the slim hope that the victim may visit this forum, or one of his friends or colleagues to whom he recounted his near miss does. This driver has got to be reported, and I will do so myself, but if the victim wants to do so I will gladly back him up both with a statement and video evidence.

 

[Arjimlad]

Good for you. Cameras are as useful to others as they can be to you, at times like this.

 

[Leedsbusdriver]

Tipper drivers don't have the best reputation do they.Is it because they are paid by the load and not by the hour?.I have seen some patient driving from the odd tipper driver but IME it's the exception rather than the rule.

 

[akb]

So.....wheres the vid?

 

[Crackedheadset]

Tipper drivers don't have the best reputation do they.Is it because they are paid by the load and not by the hour?.I have seen some patient driving from the odd tipper driver but IME it's the exception rather than the rule.

No

 

[Leedsbusdriver]

No

In my job,experience has taught me it's better to have these wagons in front of me rather than filling my mirrors inches from my rear.Articulated lorry drivers OTOH are far superior drivers,but that's just my opinion.(Sorry to hi-jack the thread)

 

[EthelF]

So.....wheres the vid?

Currently on the sd card in my phone - I don't have editing software to trim the irrelevant 12 minutes before the incident. And as my laptop has given up the ghost I don't know when I will be abke to do so.
Also I am not in the habit of posting vids on youtube for general consumption, I prefer just to supply them to relevant parties (police, employer, etc) on the rare occasions when I think it necessary.

 

[growingvegetables]

Good for you. Cameras are as useful to others as they can be to you, at times like this.

+1

 

[BSRU]

Currently on the sd card in my phone - I don't have editing software to trim the irrelevant 12 minutes before the incident. And as my laptop has given up the ghost I don't know when I will be abke to do so.
Also I am not in the habit of posting vids on youtube for general consumption, I prefer just to supply them to relevant parties (police, employer, etc) on the rare occasions when I think it necessary.

You can mark any YouTube video as unlisted or private and restrict who can view it.

 

[BentMikey]

That is one I would put up on YouTube. It sounds like both cyclist and lorry driver were very lucky that the cyclist avoided his bad overtake. It's one I'd want to Roadsafe and report to the company, because a driver like that will likely do that again to another cyclist, and might perhaps seriously injure or kill someone in the near future. Could you live with yourself thinking about the possibility?

Please, please please take some action over this.

 

[EthelF]

Don't worry BM, I have every intention of reporting it to the police and to Southwark Metals, whose livery graced the truck in question, for the very reasons you have cited. The guy was a) dangerous and b) unrepentent and yes, c) lucky that the cyclist had his wits about him as he swerved to the left yet avoided hitting the parked car there.
I have reviewed the video on my phone so far, it's not great as I am some way behind, and dip my head (Why?!) at just the wrong moment so the camera misses part of the incident. If you don't know what you are looking for it looks harmless enough. But I remember thinking "f*** that was close" at the time, and still do so every time I watch it.
The good news is I got a clear shot of the driver's face so identification should not be that hard. Bad news is I failed to call out the reg number (Doh!) and I can't see it clearly on the small screen. I'm hoping I can see it on the vid on the big screen at home. Just have to make sure my wife doesn't see the vid or she will padlock together all my bikes and throw the key in the local pond!

 

[Globalti]

Where is Smithfield? Is it in Scotland?

 

[GlasgowGaryH]

Tipper drivers don't have the best reputation do they.Is it because they are paid by the load and not by the hour?.I have seen some patient driving from the odd tipper driver but IME it's the exception rather than the rule.

For skip and tipper drivers I think they are the taxi drivers of the HGV world

 

[mr_cellophane]

Where is Smithfield? Is it in Scotland?

Someone who eats cow pie should know Smithfield Meat Market in London.