Near miss, worth reporting?
Discussion
Just had a bit of a near miss on my way home, with a car swinging right across a lane, a bus lane and a cycle lane into a junction without indicating, nearly taking me out in the process. It was very close and was only because I braked heavily and dived out of the way that we didn't make contact.
I got a good look at driver, young chap, old Corolla, and did follow him down the side street he turned into with a view to giving him a polite reminder to use his eyes and at least signal in future, but he saw me following and floored it (20mph zone). I did get the registration number though, is it worth reporting? Or should I just write it off as a lucky miss?
I got a good look at driver, young chap, old Corolla, and did follow him down the side street he turned into with a view to giving him a polite reminder to use his eyes and at least signal in future, but he saw me following and floored it (20mph zone). I did get the registration number though, is it worth reporting? Or should I just write it off as a lucky miss?
Only time I've reported something like that was when I caught up with the driver because they got stuck in traffic, and as I caught up, the troll hag leant out the window and started screaming how next time she'd f*cking get me. On the basis it was a road I used regularly, I figured it was better the police knew of the incident in case ever made good on her threat.
I sometimes gripe to bus companies etc about aggressive driving, but mainly for catharsis as I am fairly certain they do nothing.
I sometimes gripe to bus companies etc about aggressive driving, but mainly for catharsis as I am fairly certain they do nothing.
Accelebrate said:
I didn't bother in the end.
I've been forced onto the pavement enough times by buses and clipped a couple of cars that have dived blindly into cycle lanes but this was thankfully the first time I've had an accelerating car almost T-bone me. Not a nice feeling.
Yeah - scary stuff. After 1600 miles of commuting I had my first massive moment on Monday. I was going at 18mph, he overtook me at about 19mph and promptly turned left on me. Cue massive braking and a sudden forced left turn. I had a railing on the left and the prospect of going under his wheels on the right. Eventually came to a halt on the other side of the junction and promptly nearly got hit by a motorbike coming the other way.I've been forced onto the pavement enough times by buses and clipped a couple of cars that have dived blindly into cycle lanes but this was thankfully the first time I've had an accelerating car almost T-bone me. Not a nice feeling.
To the credit of the driver he was mortified and highly apologetic. I think he'll engage his brain next time.....
Yesterday a female did exactly the same thing to me on the same left turn, albeit it much lower speed. Again, she was mortified.
It just rammmed home to me that serious injury is a blink of an eye away.....there but for the grace of God, etc.
I've never bothered reporting anyone, though, even when they've been aggressive to me.
Although I did find last summer that a mountain bike makes a great front wheel-shaped dent in a Saab Convertible door skin when said Convertible pulled across three lanes of traffic in a suicide manoeouvre.........no damage to me or the bike a few hundred pounds to Mr Saab.
A friend had a similar incident with a 3 series convertible turning left across him. His bike apparently left a rather impressive scratch and dent along the side of the car, but more amusingly the driver had the roof down and he ended up head first in the passenger foot-well. 
Thankfully no injuries and the bike was fine.
Thankfully no injuries and the bike was fine.
Accelebrate said:
A friend had a similar incident with a 3 series convertible turning left across him. His bike apparently left a rather impressive scratch and dent along the side of the car, but more amusingly the driver had the roof down and he ended up head first in the passenger foot-well.
Thankfully no injuries and the bike was fine.
Heh heh - that's an amusing image.Thankfully no injuries and the bike was fine.
Meanwhile I just keep getting brighter and brighter clothing in the hope that that will help - I'm now in hi vis yellow shirts in the summer, high vis yellow Gore Tex shell in the winter.......
I reported someone once, and it does make you feel better. It was about 15 years ago, cycling towards Wembley in Northwood. Some pondlife in one of those tiny Suzi vans (a Rascal?) scraped past me by about 2 mm, so I give him a lot of verbal, and even more at the next lights. As we set off, he closes me into the kerb, getting closer and closer, and my only way out was to crash into the kerb and collapse on the pavement.
I chased that b
d down, through the houses and across some big car park, and he ran into the back of a bakery where lots of his mates were. I'd got the reg number by this time, so phoned the boys in blue, who promised me they would go round and speak to him.
Every time I am in Northwood I fantasize about going round there and having it out with him, still!
If nothing else, it taught me to always wear a helmet, and remind yourself that there is nothing people are not capable of.
I chased that b
d down, through the houses and across some big car park, and he ran into the back of a bakery where lots of his mates were. I'd got the reg number by this time, so phoned the boys in blue, who promised me they would go round and speak to him.Every time I am in Northwood I fantasize about going round there and having it out with him, still!
If nothing else, it taught me to always wear a helmet, and remind yourself that there is nothing people are not capable of.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff