Was I in the wrong?

[BentMikey]

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.

This is the bit that so many on here are seemingly forgetting. His fault. I can't imagine why anyone would want to blame gaz for beeping - that's perfect use of the horn.

 

[PK99]

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=6zpmFfrKKhg

I've been getting some comments saying I should have moved over or expected it due to the police car. But for me, because he passed me with his indicator on and pulled in on me before he had finished passing then he is in the wrong. Police car or not, I was forced to slow down because he didn't want to pull in behind.

Yay or nay?

If i were driving a car and being overtaken and heard an emergency siren behind, I would slow down to allow the over taking driver to pull in.

 

[zimzum42]

This is the bit that so many on here are seemingly forgetting. His fault. I can't imagine why anyone would want to blame gaz for beeping - that's perfect use of the horn.

It's not perfect use of the horn.

Traffic is moving slowly, and Gaz is in no danger of being crushed or even hit.

He doesn't 'bib' the horn, he gives it a long blast, accompanied by some gesticulating and shouting, which can only be interpreted as agressive.

And there is a police car coming, so adding a horn into the already confusing situation is not a good idea, unless, as usual, we're just coming from the 'all drivers are idiots' standpoint and heading towards the 'only cyclists should be allowed on the roads' argument...

 

[BentMikey]

You have no idea whether he was in any danger of being knocked off by that van. You've no idea whether the horn stopped the van from driving into Gaz, or whether the driver even knew gaz was there. And I'm not surprised gaz got cross, what that driver did was wrong and scary.

The irony of this coming from Mr Whistle himself....

 

[zimzum42]

Mr. Whistle?????

???????

And come on, we've all watched the video, Gaz is in no danger at all. At very worst he might have had to brake and let the guy move in front of him, but we all know that's impossible for some riders, even when there's a police car coming...

 

[BentMikey]

You only "know" that because you've seen into the "future" of the incident. You couldn't have known any of that experiencing it for yourself.

 

[gaz]

Mr. Whistle?????

???????

And come on, we've all watched the video, Gaz is in no danger at all. At very worst he might have had to brake and let the guy move in front of him, but we all know that's impossible for some riders, even when there's a police car coming...

I hope your not trying to imply that I didn't brake to let him in. If so, I suggest you watch it again and watch the distance between the lorry infront of me increase as soon as I see his indicator.

The reason for my lengthy use of horn is down to me not knowing how far he is going to pull into my lane. In the end it wasn't so bad and I had room to the left. But how can you know that when he is passing you with his indicator on?

 

[zimzum42]

yes, you did brake, I just think your use f the horn comes across as being agressive rather than an 'I'm here' toot... Sorry...

 

[zimzum42]

and am still none the wiser as to why I'm 'Mr. Whistle' - LOL

Am off to Decathlon now, maybe I'll buy a whistle!!!!

 

[tongskie01]

van's fault...big gap behind you. the bus slowed down already allowing a big space for van to pull over......he did wait till he sees the police car from behind before making a desperate move to cut in.... since you you kept moving forward theres even a bigger gap if he'd slowed down. just poor judgement in part of the van driver.

 

[magnatom]

I've just had a thought. I think I know why the van driver did what he did.

You're before the junction, and you both hear the siren behind you as you set off. The van driver has to continue as the emergency vehicle will probably be in his lane. He knows he will have to pull over. However, to his left is a cyclist and he is about to cross a hatched junction. What if the emergency vehicle wants to turn left at the junction? Best to get over the junction and pull in there, don't want to block it. Oh wait a minute the cyclist is still here....

Just trying to think from the van drivers perspective.

 

[gaz]

I've just had a thought. I think I know why the van driver did what he did.

You're before the junction, and you both hear the siren behind you as you set off. The van driver has to continue as the emergency vehicle will probably be in his lane. He knows he will have to pull over. However, to his left is a cyclist and he is about to cross a hatched junction. What if the emergency vehicle wants to turn left at the junction? Best to get over the junction and pull in there, don't want to block it. Oh wait a minute the cyclist is still here....

Just trying to think from the van drivers perspective.

Nice try, but the junction on the left is a one way road. Police car would never go down there.
The problem is before the junction it's a 4 lane road and it splits at the junction. The police car was in the far right lane and it would have looked like it wasn't going to affect us, that is until last min the police car changed lanes and came towards us

 

[magnatom]

Nice try, but the junction on the left is a one way road. Police car would never go down there.
The problem is before the junction it's a 4 lane road and it splits at the junction. The police car was in the far right lane and it would have looked like it wasn't going to affect us, that is until last min the police car changed lanes and came towards us

LOL! I'm not trying to get at you, just trying to analyse the situation. Anyway, it could have been as simple as

'oh, oh, a police car is coming, I'd better not stop in the hatch, the police might see that and forget about the emergency and do me, guvnor..'

 

[jonny jeez]

The reason for my lengthy use of horn is down to me not knowing how far he is going to pull into my lane.

No it wasnt.

Its clear that the reason for the lengthy use of the horn was that you were angry (the shouting and gesticulations that accompanied provide sufficient evidence of your state of mind at that particular moment).

I'm not suggesting you shouldn’t have been angry, but as Zim says, it wasn't a "bip" of the horn to let the driver know where you were.

Incidentally, If i had an air zound and was in that position, I would have done exactly the same as you, but I'd like to think I wouldn’t then try to cover it as some higher function of road awareness.

you were just angry...simple as, nothing wrong with a bit of angry now and again.