Well honestly, this is too much

[BentMikey]

Well, as a user I don't really care about their business, but in any case there is no charge for the service. If they get a bit of click revenue, then that's fine by me.

LOLOL! I don't think BrumJim was referring to you MGC. I assumed he meant the ambulance driver in the OP's post.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

LOLOL! I don't think BrumJim was referring to you MGC. I assumed he meant the ambulance driver in the OP's post.

Duh! This Interweb thingy is making me paranoid!

 

[benb]

I've been in contact with the G4S co-ordinator here at the hospital, and sent them this email, hope it's OK.
I did think about holding back the video until the driver had been spoken to, as I thought it might be amusing if he denied it. But I then thought it was best just to give them all the info and see how they dealt with it.

Dear Emma

As per my earlier email, here are the details of the incident.

- 6th April 2011 approx 17:15
- Location on the A24 between Wickham Avenue and Sparrow Farm Road, here: http://goo.gl/maps/PeTZ
- Ambulance reg YY05 KYW

I was approaching the traffic lights, and became aware of the vehicle trying to pass very close on my right. They then pulled in even closer, to well within arms reach, causing me to brake hard and swerve into the gutter.

Even at the slow speeds we were travelling at, it was a dangerous manoeuver, and one that falls far short of the standards I expect from a fellow road user, let alone a professional driver.

What the driver should have done is stay behind me until we were through the lights and it was safe to overtake.

As it happens, I do have video footage of the incident, here:
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC7mLfv7soY

Apologies in advance for the rude words!

Please let me know what you intend to do, and whether you need any more information.

Rgds,
Ben

 

[Adasta]

You spelt manoeuvre in the American fashion which is surely punishable in some way!

 

[benb]

You spelt manoeuvre in the American fashion which is surely punishable in some way!

Bloody hell! I am sorry. In my defence, it was my spell check, and for some odd reason I assumed it would be set to UK.
I will go and conduct some corporeal mortification as penance.

 

[benb]

OK, so I hadn't heard anything. I reminded her today, and got this email back.

Once again thank you for contacting me in relation to this incident. I have raised it with my contract manager, who has spoken to the driver involved
Although he felt he had given you reasonable space, he wishes to pass on his apologies for any distress caused to you at the time.
He has also stated that he will take more care when approaching cyclists in the future.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention
Kind regards

Firstly, it's a bit odd that she either spoke to the driver on the same day I reminded her, or she had been sitting on this response for several days.
It really feels like a total fob off, and I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't speak to the driver at all.
I note that the driver apologises for the distress, not for putting me in a dangerous position.

Should I do anything further, and if so what?

 

[Spork]

TBH I'd leave it at that. Short of getting you both face to face and have him grovel apologies, that's as much as you'll get. Not sure if she's sat on the reply or only just round to it, but it could be a number of things, such as driver on holiday, waiting for the contract's manager to get back to her.... I often have to chase up responses at work as there's are other things people are doing, it's not instant.

It is good to see it was followed up and you were not just fobbed off. Of course they wont say sorry for putting you in a dangerous position as they could open up a can of worms with liability if you decide to take it further. It's corporate talk to say sorry, but leave them in a safe position.

For all you know the driver night have laughed at the talking to, or been mortified at his actions.

 

[As Easy As Riding A Bike]

OK, so I hadn't heard anything. I reminded her today, and got this email back.



Firstly, it's a bit odd that she either spoke to the driver on the same day I reminded her, or she had been sitting on this response for several days.
It really feels like a total fob off, and I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't speak to the driver at all.
I note that the driver apologises for the distress, not for putting me in a dangerous position.

Should I do anything further, and if so what?

You are right, that is a fob off.

My personal concern would be that if the driver in question feels that what is shown in the video is a 'reasonable' amount of space to give a cyclist, and that (by implication) you are just being a bit sensitive, I wonder how 'carefully' he is going to be driving around cyclists in the future.

It might be worth emphasizing that the overtake was in no way 'reasonable'.

 

[Mad at urage]

It might be worth asking "Have you actually looked at the video? Do you believe that is a "reasonable" amount of room? If so please explain how you fit that view with the HC (insert reference) or if not, what is being done to educate the driver who blatantly ignores the HC?"


Agree with WGF, if the driver thinks that is "reasonable space" then he will give all cyclists (at most) that amount of space.