Terrible driving - so who do I call?

[Tinuts]

The Police are not charged with prosecuting the case, that's the job of the CPS. The Police investigate the evidence and present their findings to the CPS, who will then decide if a prosecution is worth pursuing. In this case the Police have declined to carry out their investigation.

I had the same nonsense from the Police with a close overtake I reported. I seem to recall the same "insufficient evidence" phrase being bandied about - despite the video making it quite clear that the driver overtook me unacceptably closely in the face of overtaking traffic. I would have thought that it comes down to very simple mathematics: distance from central white lines to roadside minus width of vehicle = amount of distance left for cyclist. Met Police seemed unable to work this one out for themselves.

In my instance they declined to forward evidence to the CPS. Part of this was down to their own admitted incompetence in dealing within the specified time frame, the other part was because they decided that the CPS wouldn't take action.

I find this persistent reluctance of Police to take close overtakes seriously a right PITA. I feel that if the will were there they could actually start prosecuting people for driving without due care or attention or even careless driving but they just won't do it.

I've said it before and I'll say it again:

We need a specified legal minimum distance for overtaking.

The OP's video is yet more evidence that the time for such a pice of legislation is well overdue.

 

[hydridmatt]

you had two spots you could pull into to allow the pass before the overtake

A number of people – on here, on Youtube and in person – have asked me why I didn’t ease in and let them past. One reason is that there isn’t really space for a tanker to overtake safely anywhere on that road if there is traffic in the other lane (a car maybe, which is I usually do at the point of the junction, though sometimes, if I let one past they will all stream through, even beyond the point that it is safe).

I have also been asked why I don’t stop and wait until all traffic is gone. Put simply it’s because, as this is quite a twisty country road, I want people behind me who know I am there. If there is nothing stuck behind me, I risk a car coming round a bend at 60mph (the limit on the road; far too fast but a regular sight) to find me doing 15-20mph; a car or string of cars removes the risk.

 

[BSRU]

Well, my non-collision video (oil tanker incident) has resulted in a driver being charged with careless driving, so the sgt is talking the proverbial wee. They just can be bothered (or more generously, are too busy).

I agree but I was not going to say to his face, "you're talking sh1te".

I do not agree with their policy because they are basically allowing a lawless road user culture to develop as people realise, they only going to be prosecuted if the Police see them and their not going to be caught because there are no traffic Police on the roads.

I will wait until after the election then contact the new MP with a link to all the YouTube videos I have done.

 

[BentMikey]

Matt, I see you have a few troll posts on your video. I suggest you block and delete them. It's up to you of course, but I wouldn't want to give their ignorant views any publicity.

 

[classic33]

ALL 43 police forces are signed up to this bit:
http://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/section-item.asp?sid=2&iid=6488

Try and point it out to them.

As far as overtaking is concerned, I'll stand corrected if wrong. But it is the person doing the overtaking that has to decide whether or not its safe to overtake. NOT the person being overtaken. Also ensuring that they are overtaking in a safe manner.

A cyclist has as much right as anyone else to be on the road.

PS Contact details of any use?

 

[Amanda P]

As far as overtaking is concerned, I'll stand corrected if wrong. But it is the person doing the overtaking that has to decide whether or not its safe to overtake. NOT the person being overtaken

The overtaker has a responsibility to overtake safely and with care, it's true. But you don't have to allow an overtake if you don't think it's safe.

Cyclecraft:

"The primary riding position should therefore be your normal riding position when you can keep up with traffic, when you need to emphasise your presence to traffic ahead, or when you need to prevent following drivers from passing you dangerously."

 

[Origamist]

The overtaker has a responsibility to overtake safely and with care, it's true. But you don't have to allow an overtake if you don't think it's safe.

Cyclecraft:

"The primary riding position should therefore be your normal riding position when you can keep up with traffic, when you need to emphasise your presence to traffic ahead, or when you need to prevent following drivers from passing you dangerously."

With two lanes of traffic it is difficult to prevent dangerous overtakes - all you can do by taking the centre of the lane is try to inhibit or hinder drivers' from making poor decisions that affect your safety.