Twitter cyclists v Twitter driver video - who's right?
Discussion
From what I can see the driver probaly wasn't attempting an overtake, it was a swerve to avoid a rear-end collision.
You can see the cyclist stops pedaling just as they enter the traffic island, and are probably braking at that time too. The driver doesn't seem to react to the coasting or braking, and seems to pull right at the same time as the cyclist, which looks like an overtake but probably wasn't by choice. The cyclist swerving without looking properly compounded the situation.
You can see the cyclist stops pedaling just as they enter the traffic island, and are probably braking at that time too. The driver doesn't seem to react to the coasting or braking, and seems to pull right at the same time as the cyclist, which looks like an overtake but probably wasn't by choice. The cyclist swerving without looking properly compounded the situation.
Looks like more proof of the need for registration and training of cyclists, other road users can only do so much to avoid these idiots hurting themselves,
Sadly instead they are being encouraged to think they are invincible and if something goes wrong it will be someone else’s fault...
Sadly instead they are being encouraged to think they are invincible and if something goes wrong it will be someone else’s fault...
Edited by powerstroke on Tuesday 9th March 07:28
75% cyclist as moving like that without shoulder check is numpty land, esp presuming you can hear the allroaching car.
25% driver because charging up like that near central road furniture is a bit of a
s trick. 80% sure that if red man didn’t fall off, that’s be a pass at speed at least a metre closer than would be comfortable for high vis man. I’m also wondering how he dint notice red man bail, but video is always hard to judge vs live!
I drive and ride both so don’t have a “favourite” here..
25% driver because charging up like that near central road furniture is a bit of a
s trick. 80% sure that if red man didn’t fall off, that’s be a pass at speed at least a metre closer than would be comfortable for high vis man. I’m also wondering how he dint notice red man bail, but video is always hard to judge vs live!I drive and ride both so don’t have a “favourite” here..
Gareth79 said:
From what I can see the driver probaly wasn't attempting an overtake, it was a swerve to avoid a rear-end collision.
You can see the cyclist stops pedaling just as they enter the traffic island, and are probably braking at that time too. The driver doesn't seem to react to the coasting or braking, and seems to pull right at the same time as the cyclist, which looks like an overtake but probably wasn't by choice. The cyclist swerving without looking properly compounded the situation.
Yes that all that's happened in that video? If so, you are probably about as observant as Mr Dash cam man. You can see the cyclist stops pedaling just as they enter the traffic island, and are probably braking at that time too. The driver doesn't seem to react to the coasting or braking, and seems to pull right at the same time as the cyclist, which looks like an overtake but probably wasn't by choice. The cyclist swerving without looking properly compounded the situation.
Gareth79 said:
From what I can see the driver probaly wasn't attempting an overtake, it was a swerve to avoid a rear-end collision.
You can see the cyclist stops pedaling just as they enter the traffic island, and are probably braking at that time too. The driver doesn't seem to react to the coasting or braking, and seems to pull right at the same time as the cyclist, which looks like an overtake but probably wasn't by choice. The cyclist swerving without looking properly compounded the situation.
Yes, exactly this. If the driver had not already perceived the potential hazard and so was paying 100% attention to the hazard in front of him, then the moronic cyclist would have won his Darwin Award without any trouble at all.You can see the cyclist stops pedaling just as they enter the traffic island, and are probably braking at that time too. The driver doesn't seem to react to the coasting or braking, and seems to pull right at the same time as the cyclist, which looks like an overtake but probably wasn't by choice. The cyclist swerving without looking properly compounded the situation.
Judging by some of the replies on here I am wondering if we are all watching the same video.
Both, but motorist is more in the wrong, he was going to overtake straight after the road widened after the traffic island and as you might see there are the rubber tubes on the road for monitoring traffic speeds. So speeding is probably an issue there. If the tubes were for traffic monitoring there'd just be one I'd have thought.
He also didn't anticipate the cyclist moving to his right, it is the cyclists lane after all at that point...
The cyclist should have looked before moving but he didn't move far, if the motorist gave him adequate room it wouldn't have been an issue.
But! The cyclist, whether he was in the right or wrong would come off worst.
He also didn't anticipate the cyclist moving to his right, it is the cyclists lane after all at that point...
The cyclist should have looked before moving but he didn't move far, if the motorist gave him adequate room it wouldn't have been an issue.
But! The cyclist, whether he was in the right or wrong would come off worst.
Fairly sure there's some drunk folk in here.
He won't have noticed the bike hit the deck because he's in a soundproof box and something happening in periphery completely out of the way of him isn't likely to be the focus of his attention the same way as something directly in front of him is. In contrast, unless the cyclist has headphones on then he'll hear them hit the deck and probably the "oh fk" on the way down.
The closing speed on the cyclist; the cyclist obviously responds to the cyclist hitting the deck. In his desperation to be a "part of it" he's clearly thrown out anchor and moved over to see what's going on, oblivious to the car approaching.
In any event, the car driver has to take an element of responsibility because the cyclist ultimately is still in front of him. I don't think that particularly puts him as "more wrong" by any stretch. Doing stupid things in the middle of the road and making movements without checking or signalling your intention is everything that created this situation.
He won't have noticed the bike hit the deck because he's in a soundproof box and something happening in periphery completely out of the way of him isn't likely to be the focus of his attention the same way as something directly in front of him is. In contrast, unless the cyclist has headphones on then he'll hear them hit the deck and probably the "oh f
k" on the way down.The closing speed on the cyclist; the cyclist obviously responds to the cyclist hitting the deck. In his desperation to be a "part of it" he's clearly thrown out anchor and moved over to see what's going on, oblivious to the car approaching.
In any event, the car driver has to take an element of responsibility because the cyclist ultimately is still in front of him. I don't think that particularly puts him as "more wrong" by any stretch. Doing stupid things in the middle of the road and making movements without checking or signalling your intention is everything that created this situation.
It's pretty poor driving and cycling.
From the cyclists point of view, he shouldn't have swerved out, but equally he shouldn't have been so far to the left while going through the pinch point. Where the swerve ended up was where he should have been at that point, but if he'd maintained that distance from the kerb throughout, it would have discouraged the overtake. The swerve itself doesn't seem all that important - the road surface is wet and not particularly good, so it's expected that the cyclist may fall or need to avoid ironworks/potholes. However, no awareness of what's going on behind him - did he even know a car was there?
Nothing the driver does is particularly culpable, it's just poor driving. There seems to be little awareness of the changing hazards, which results in a situation requiring harsh braking and panicked steering. Ideally, he should have eased off before the pinch point, allowed the cyclist some room, and overtaken when safe. Unfortunately, on this occasion, the cyclist taking a tumble has distracted both from what they're doing, and resulted in a near miss. If there had been a collision, then I suspect the driver would have been found liable, but I'd be surprised if any charges followed. It's just bog standard poor driving and an accident would be seen as just one of those things with nobody really to blame.
Hopefully the driver uses the footage as an opportunity to reflect on their own driving rather than use it to look for absolution.
From the cyclists point of view, he shouldn't have swerved out, but equally he shouldn't have been so far to the left while going through the pinch point. Where the swerve ended up was where he should have been at that point, but if he'd maintained that distance from the kerb throughout, it would have discouraged the overtake. The swerve itself doesn't seem all that important - the road surface is wet and not particularly good, so it's expected that the cyclist may fall or need to avoid ironworks/potholes. However, no awareness of what's going on behind him - did he even know a car was there?
Nothing the driver does is particularly culpable, it's just poor driving. There seems to be little awareness of the changing hazards, which results in a situation requiring harsh braking and panicked steering. Ideally, he should have eased off before the pinch point, allowed the cyclist some room, and overtaken when safe. Unfortunately, on this occasion, the cyclist taking a tumble has distracted both from what they're doing, and resulted in a near miss. If there had been a collision, then I suspect the driver would have been found liable, but I'd be surprised if any charges followed. It's just bog standard poor driving and an accident would be seen as just one of those things with nobody really to blame.
Hopefully the driver uses the footage as an opportunity to reflect on their own driving rather than use it to look for absolution.
PH User said:
otolith said:
Cyclist should have already positioned his bike to make sure that morons like the guy in the car knew that they weren't overtaking him there.
Did the cyclist do anything wrong?otolith said:
PH User said:
otolith said:
Cyclist should have already positioned his bike to make sure that morons like the guy in the car knew that they weren't overtaking him there.
Did the cyclist do anything wrong?And yes I agree with your last point, the cyclist should have been riding more careful, but the driver should have also showed more care.
powerstroke said:
Looks like more proof of the need for registration and training of cyclists, other road users can only do so much to avoid these idiots hurting themselves,
Sadly instead they are being encouraged to think they are invincible and if something goes wrong it will be someone else’s fault...
Did the registration and training of the driver help in this situation?Sadly instead they are being encouraged to think they are invincible and if something goes wrong it will be someone else’s fault...
Edited by powerstroke on Tuesday 9th March 07:28
And encouraged by whom?!
echazfraz said:
Did the registration and training of the driver help in this situation?
And encouraged by whom?!
Well he managed to avoid the cyclist when he wobbled into the middle of the road, so would say yes , mind I would have hung back until there was more space before trying to pass ..And encouraged by whom?!
On the second point by the cycling lobby / groups..
Very foolish IMHO !!
PH User said:
I think the driver should have hung back a bit, but what the cyclist did was stupid.
This is what I think. If I was driving along that road with cyclists around I would hang back to let them pass through the restrictions first and then wait some time to overtake when it was clear. It seemed like the driver was accelerating towards the cyclist to time an overtake as soon as they passed the island. Driver didn't seem to notice the accident happenning either. However, the cyclist shouldn't have pulled straight across in front of the car though, that's suicidal behaviour.As it happens, both came safely to a stop without hitting each other so no harm done....
powerstroke said:
echazfraz said:
Did the registration and training of the driver help in this situation?
And encouraged by whom?!
Well he managed to avoid the cyclist when he wobbled into the middle of the road, so would say yes , mind I would have hung back until there was more space before trying to pass ..And encouraged by whom?!
On the second point by the cycling lobby / groups..
Very foolish IMHO !!
Mave said:
At the end of the day this incident is nothing to do with registration or training and everything to do with using the roads with due care and attention, which IMHO neither the cyclist or motorist did on this occasion.
Au contraire , training would diminish excuses and registration would make offences like due care and attention and jumping red lights more accountable ...
Mind banning drop handle bars and Lycra would possibly be more effective at improving the standard of cycling
Edited by powerstroke on Tuesday 9th March 18:59
Edited by powerstroke on Tuesday 9th March 19:00
powerstroke said:
Looks like more proof of the need for registration and training of cyclists, other road users can only do so much to avoid these idiots hurting themselves,
Sadly instead they are being encouraged to think they are invincible and if something goes wrong it will be someone else’s fault...
We are assuming however that the driver might have had some training. However, would he (or you) have ended up in that particular situation either on an ‘L’ test or an advanced test with a serving Police traffic officer in the passenger seat, or with a Police car directly behind? If not then why not (think about it)?Sadly instead they are being encouraged to think they are invincible and if something goes wrong it will be someone else’s fault...
Edited by powerstroke on Tuesday 9th March 07:28
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