When to call it a day?

[VinSumRox]

Also cycling infrastructure is really only possible in urban areas in most countries. Once you are in a rural area the most common place to cycle is country roads. Thankfully in my area they are quiet and car drivers are generally courteous.

 

[Drago]

If they build the infrastructure some twonk will use it as a car park, which brings us back to strict enforcement, which if we'd had it in the first place...

 

[DCLane]

Over the weekend I've had two very near misses, both due to drivers pulling out of junctions at speed without looking.

So ... my personal salve for this has been to purchase two decent cameras for use when out. Phone drivers also irk me in particular: I'd prefer to stop them than stop me.

 

[Rusty Nails]

I think you should change you're user name to Jack Reacher

Well if Tom Cruise can play him...

 

[Binky]

Has anyone ever heard anything back from a post to them ? Anything under 15 people dead and they are uninterested in the Midlands !

Yes. Lots of times. I've probably submitted 50+ clips and reports and always get a reply. 99% of reports are positive action taken against driver(yes really). Only a couple been deemed NFA. This though has changed, see below.

Now in Wales Operation Snap is now only taking action against drivers for close passes if there is aggrievating circumstances.
Example, car goes past really close on a straight section of road with nothing coming other way then likely deemed NFA.
If said car overtakes really close on a blind bend or something coming in opposite direction which has to swerve etc then likely action taken.
It's crap because as far as I'm concerned if a car goes past really close at speed that is really dangerous as a slight deviation from course by vehicle or cyclist could result in a collision.
This is latest email I had from a "mere" close pass recently :

Decision: No Further Action Taken

Further Comments:
Due to new forensic guidelines we are unable to measure the distance & therefore cannot say if too close

 

[bulldoze]

There are too many cameras on the streets already without everyone wearing one on their helmet surely?

 

[Binky]

There are too many cameras on the streets already without everyone wearing one on their helmet surely?

Couple of things. I don't wear a camera on my helmet. Well, not for cycling 😉.

Seriously though, any CCTV street cameras not going to be used for Operation Snap reports. Possibly if there was a fatal accident with no witnesses etc then maybe but otherwise not.

Personally I record my rides and report close overtakes etc as I'm fed up with my life being endangered by motorists when cycling.
You may choose not to, your decision.
What I find interesting is how many complain about bad drivers etc but do nothing about it. If nothing is done nothing will change.

 

[kingrollo]

Has anyone ever heard anything back from a post to them ? Anything under 15 people dead and they are uninterested in the Midlands !

Got some great results from West Midlands and West Mercia please.

One van driver who waved his mobile phone at me and then flicked the Vs was fined £600.

 

[katiewlx]

Due to new forensic guidelines we are unable to measure the distance & therefore cannot say if too close

which I think is such a cop out,no pun intented. the forensic guidelines dont have to measure the distance for close passes, because the specific distance is irrelevant to the charge of careless driving, which is what a close pass is ultimately prosecuted under. the standard simply has to be that the driving was below the standard of a careful & competent drive. therefore you dont have to measure the speed, or measure the distance, just subjectively say that driving was below the standard of a careful (emphasis on the careful) and competent driver.

simply driving without reasonable consideration for other road users, ie as a cyclist you simply felt threatened by the drivers overtaking style alone, actually should be enough to secure a conviction of careless driving.

so by sticking hurdles like that in the way theyre simply trying to kick the close pass can into the long grass, probably because the amount of reports have massively increased, theyre worried about the increase of court time, or some no win no fee lawyer getting some mass turnover of existing convictions, and youll probably find alot in the force dont think its real policing work anyway, so dont feel its worth the effort.

 

[Gwylan]

Today the same car passed me, twice, at speed, close. Then cut infront of me.
This along a nice piece of road, not wide but with a 50 limit and a fair share of hazards.
After the first incident she was pulled into a lay-by and gazing at her lap. I hoped she was asking for forgiveness but was not optimistic.

A couple of minutes later I got buzzed again, by the same car. Exactly the same, close overtake and cut in.
I'm not proud of what I shouted after her, but she was already too far away to hear me.

 

[bulldoze]

All of this will be a thing of the past in the next 7-8 years. V2X technology or something similar will undoubtedly be a thing for all new vehicles by then.

Bicycles will then be a protected species for a couple of years until held up and frustrated drivers simply get out and punch them.

It'll happen

 

[Binky]

which I think is such a cop out,no pun intented. the forensic guidelines dont have to measure the distance for close passes, because the specific distance is irrelevant to the charge of careless driving, which is what a close pass is ultimately prosecuted under. the standard simply has to be that the driving was below the standard of a careful & competent drive. therefore you dont have to measure the speed, or measure the distance, just subjectively say that driving was below the standard of a careful (emphasis on the careful) and competent driver.

simply driving without reasonable consideration for other road users, ie as a cyclist you simply felt threatened by the drivers overtaking style alone, actually should be enough to secure a conviction of careless driving.

so by sticking hurdles like that in the way theyre simply trying to kick the close pass can into the long grass, probably because the amount of reports have massively increased, theyre worried about the increase of court time, or some no win no fee lawyer getting some mass turnover of existing convictions, and youll probably find alot in the force dont think its real policing work anyway, so dont feel its worth the effort.

Absolutely however I have spoken to the police about this, I was invited to ring Carmarthen police station and speak to the officer in charge of Op Snap in South Wales and this is exactly what I was told. He completely sympathised with me/cyclists but said that is now guidelines they have to work with. Crazy but true.

I still continue to report close passes anyway.

 

[Punkawallah]

Absolutely however I have spoken to the police about this, I was invited to ring Carmarthen police station and speak to the officer in charge of Op Snap in South Wales and this is exactly what I was told. He completely sympathised with me/cyclists but said that is now guidelines they have to work with. Crazy but true.

I still continue to report close passes anyway.

‘Ich haber nur befehle befolgt’.