Terrible driving - so who do I call?

[hydridmatt]

A Quick Question

I was cycling to work this morning on a tight country road which is used as a rat run (B5358 to Macclesfield). There was slow/static traffic on the other side, but a United Utilities tanker (PN09 JRZ for what its worth) overtook me where there was absolutely no space - I was actually forced off the road onto the verge.

My question is, who at UU do I contact? I have video but it is way too big to send. And what part of the law covers dangerously close overtakes? Should I even bother to contact the police?

 

[jonny jeez]

A Quick Question

I was cycling to work this morning on a tight country road which is used as a rat run (B5358 to Macclesfield). There was slow/static traffic on the other side, but a United Utilities tanker (PN09 JRZ for what its worth) overtook me where there was absolutely no space - I was actually forced off the road onto the verge.

My question is, who at UU do I contact? I have video but it is way too big to send. And what part of the law covers dangerously close overtakes? Should I even bother to contact the police?

Open a you tube account, upload the video on there, no need to send it to anyone

Then write to the CEO, MD or HR Director and complain, in very objective terms, give a reference to the You tube link.

Then call your wife and kids/loved ones and tell them how much you love them and cant wait to see the tonight )

Then call the police and ask to make an "allegation of dangerouds driving" all very straight forward with them, they do it all day , every day

 

[hydridmatt]

I don't really care about sharing my experiences or shaming companies (Magnatom et al do enough for the rest of us). The video in this instance is nothing more than evidence; I just want to know who within the corporate structure of United Utilities will be best to contact to get action against a driver who almost left my 14 week old baby without a father.

 

[jonny jeez]

I don't really care about sharing my experiences or shaming companies (Magnatom et al do enough for the rest of us). The video in this instance is nothing more than evidence; I just want to know who within the corporate structure of United Utilities will be best to contact to get action against a driver who almost left my 14 week old baby without a father.

Granted, and I share your views on endless posting (see my own channel) I delete just about all the footage of my rides as soon as I reach my destination and hardly ever post about bad driving. But You-tube is an internationally accepted means of viewing footage. Once its job is done, delet it.

also, they will not be "shamed" as no one will see it exept for them..and maybe 20 other people who spend there days surfing for vid's like that.

still.

My advice stands, contact the MD, CEO OR HR Director, dont take short cuts via a lower manager.

Others suggest contacting the Transport manager, but I feel this is a diversion.

why not write to the top and cc all the others.

Good luck, that sounds very nasty, glad you are okay

..dont forget that call home!!

 

[benborp]

There is also an option on Youtube to post videos so that they can only be viewed by people that you invite to do so. Useful in situations like this where you have a specific reason for sharing the footage with a particular party.

 

[jonny jeez]

There is also an option on Youtube to post videos so that they can only be viewed by people that you invite to do so. Useful in situations like this where you have a specific reason for sharing the footage with a particular party.

good point, I hadnt thought of that.

 

[fossyant]

Bonis Hall Lane....know it well............

There is a UU depot in Adlington

 

[swee'pea99]

I don't really care about sharing my experiences or shaming companies You should. (Magnatom et al do enough for the rest of us They don't). The video in this instance is nothing more than evidence; I just want to know who within the corporate structure of United Utilities will be best to contact to get action against a driver who almost left my 14 week old baby without a father.

No offense, but the more we let it happen, the more it will happen. The more we do to prevent it happening, the less it will happen. Over to you...

Glad you're ok.

 

[BentMikey]

I really think you should consider posting it on youtube. That way it has a big chance of improving matters for other cyclists, much more so than just complaining about it. By making the behaviour public, you're doing a world of campaigning good. You're making sure both the company and the driver concerned know that there are consequences to bad driving, you'll have an effect on everyone that driver tells, and on every other driver that views that clip.

 

[magnatom]

To be fair to hydridmatt I can understand a reluctance to post on youtube, especially considering some of the flak that you need to put up with.

I think the suggestion of putting it on youtube and setting it for friends only is a good one. You can then suggest to someone at the company that they should join youtube so you can let them see it.

One thing that might be worth considering, is to let a couple of decent folk on here have a look at it (and I don't necessarily mean me!). It is often worth getting another's perspective on it which often prepares you for any questions/points etc that the company you are complaining to might make.

Just a thought.

 

[BentMikey]

As an aside, it's often painful to get your own riding criticised, but it's also the fastest way to learn from your own mistakes. I feel very happy with the flow of video talk on commuting - it's like a pressure cooker of learning to cycle well, condensing down the experience of many to improve yourself.

That said, I think if we have any concern at all for other cyclists and road users, it's our civic duty to maximise the impact of consequences for bad driving in a way that persuades that driver and other drivers to avoid such behaviour. That's why I will always make footage public, and I usually won't delete the footage after the issue has been resolved. I might take the company name off if they dealt well and professionally with the incident, as in the case of the removals lorry incident I had.

 

[hydridmatt]

Thanks for everyone's thoughts - it is useful to hear other perspectives. I have been thinking about it and I am minded to post it - as SP99 says, the more we let it happen. From a practical point, which software do you use? And can you edit out the audio - I said some things in the moment that I wouldn't repeat in front of a docker...

From a riding POV, I am very annoyed with myself, because I usually ride that part of the road in primary, but as the truck had seen me (and there was palpably no room – the truck itself was as wide as the lane!), I sought out the better road surface and drifted into a weak secondary. Lesson learned.

Does anyone know if United Utilities has a dedicated transport manager, responsible for driver behaviour? I suspect going to the MD will just vanish into a massive inbox black hole…

 

[siadwell]

Does anyone know if United Utilities has a dedicated transport manager, responsible for driver behaviour? I suspect going to the MD will just vanish into a massive inbox black hole…

I suspect you're right.

I had a Google and found some planning applications from a few years ago giving the address below, but no named individual.

TRANSPORT SERVICES, HARTINGTON ROAD, PRESTON PR1 8LE

Also found an interesting case study giving a different address and an org chart! http://www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com/casestudies/uu.aspx

 

[jonny jeez]

From a practical point, which software do you use? And can you edit out the audio - I said some things in the moment that I wouldn't repeat in front of a docker...

…

Standard windows movie maker (ships with MS office ....start button- all programs- MS office) does the trick, you can edit, slow down and remove offensive audio.

works just fine for me

 

[PK99]

Then write to the CEO, MD or HR Director and complain, in very objective terms, give a reference to the You tube link.

When trying to get the attention of such people, find out their name and correct office address and mark the envelope "personal and in confidence"