Was I in the wrong?

[CopperBrompton]

It looks to me like he waited until he could see the flashing lights behind him, by which point he'd passed the gap behind you.

I think he should have pulled in as a precautionary measure when he heard the siren getting closer, but then I think you should have done the same, so call it 50/50.

 

[gaz]

It looks to me like he waited until he could see the flashing lights behind him, by which point he'd passed the gap behind you.

I think he should have pulled in as a precautionary measure when he heard the siren getting closer, but then I think you should have done the same, so call it 50/50.

Can't disagree with that.

 

[style over speed]

I think you've every right to be pissed off with that van... I'm fed up too with being barged out of the way by inconsiderate van drivers hurrying to sit at the next red light.

 

[MacB]

When I'm driving the variety of reactions from drivers to sirens can be comical, it's only happened to me a couple of times on the bike. I follow the same procedure, get out the way as fast as safely possible. In a car that's pulling over and on the bike hoping onto the pavement/verge.

I think your vid is an example of van and cyclist trying to do the right thing but continue making progress at the same time...my verdict....70/30 cyclist/van.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

The van driver may well have been aware that you were there (he should have been, but then he *should* have seen the blues flashing in his mirror if he'd used it and thus been able to pull in safely behind you) and only pulled over slightly... but on a bike you have no idea. Sounding the airzound was a reasonable reaction IMO, if he was aware then no harm done, if he wasn't then it was a necessity to make him aware.

Yes Gaz *could* have braked harder to allow him room to move fully into his lane, but there's no legal requirement to do so and there was a huge gap behind him. IMO pulling alongside a cyclist and indicating to move over into a non-existant space (well, one that's not big enough for the vehicle you are driving) is just bullying behaviour - Police car or no Police car.

 

[hackbike 666]

How about just predicting what he's going to do instead of getting upset when he actually does it?

 

[gaz]

How about just predicting what he's going to do instead of getting upset when he actually does it?

That's what I aim to improve on.

 

[hackbike 666]

That's what I aim to improve on.

Ahhh easy for me to say that yes...but I remember the days when I used to rant at almost every motorist for the slightest little thing.

 

[magnatom]

That's what I aim to improve on.

That's what I am sure we can all improve on.

It is always easy to do that from the computer screen.....

 

[GrasB]

After seeing the rear cam footage I'd say 6 of 1 & half a dozen of the other. The van was further forward than I thought & wouldn't have been properly sighted of the police car, though he should have been able to see the direction & gauged the distance behind him. Either or both of you could have reacted earlier to the emergency vehicle & thus not generated the situation where the van needed to impede on your road space to get out of the way.

In short, I don't think either party was in the wrong in this instance, just as neither of you were right. I do understand your reaction being a vulnerable road user, you have no idea if the van driver knew you were there or not as he encroached on your road space.

 

[gaz]

After seeing the rear cam footage I'd say 6 of 1 & half a dozen of the other. The van was further forward than I thought & wouldn't have been properly sighted of the police car, though he should have been able to see the direction & gauged the distance behind him. Either or both of you could have reacted earlier to the emergency vehicle & thus not generated the situation where the van needed to impede on your road space to get out of the way.

In short, I don't think either party was in the wrong in this instance, just as neither of you were right. I do understand your reaction being a vulnerable road user, you have no idea if the van driver knew you were there or not as he encroached on your road space.

Thanks, i think you summed it up very well

 

[jonny jeez]

New video with rear view[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsCDRyhBWiE[/media]


And now? To me it looks like he could have given me more time, if he had pulled in front and indicated i would have pulled back and let him in, but i was given no time to react, especially as i know a pot hole is coming up that i want to avoid, and it spans a vast majority of the lane.

This is of course, a month after this happened
[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsufxpay0S8[/media]

imo, In the first vid (Sirens) you are very much in the wrong (which is rare for me to say Gaz, I am actually surprised.) You should have stopped or moved in, like the rest of the traffic, as soon as you heard the siren, if only for your own safety.

You then compound this by sounding off your airzound (which is really ott and just adds to the confusion of the moment for all of the other road users as they try to figure out where the new sound is coming from ...and why).

Well done for posting and being prepared to take the critisism tho, its good to see you take a balanced view of your skills which, by the way I think are excellent...usually

 

[gaz]

Well done for posting and being prepared to take the critisism tho, its good to see you take a balanced view of your skills which, by the way I think are excellent...usually

haha thanks, I'm by no means perfect. And as i've said many times, and i will continue to say, my camera is as much a learning tool for my self as it is for potential evidence.

 

[buggi]

can't see the film but can imagine the scenario. van drivers fault. if he drove into another vehicle while getting out of the way of the police it would be his fault. you are another vehicle. you both should maybe have been paying more attention but ultimately, he's the one at fault if he pulls into you.

 

[Archie]

I'd have been off the road as soon as I heard the siren coming from behind.

Absolutely, totally, without doubt a 100% most definite +1 to that. What I do too, and being in a right turn lane recently when a cop car came from behind was an uncomfortable moment.

You then compound this by sounding off your airzound (which is really ott and just adds to the confusion of the moment for all of the other road users as they try to figure out where the new sound is coming from ...and why).

Hmmm, not sure I'd agree with that as the HC advises use of the horn to warn other users of your presence. Whatever went on before it seems pretty legit to me as Gaz was looking at a van moving toward him.