He deliberately drove into me!
Discussion
Earlier today, I was involved in a road rage type incident...
Completing a 60km training ride with a friend, as we were riding back through my home village just yards from my house a guy drove his 4x4 into me on purpose (which took the shine off a good ride rather!). I am pleased how it turned out in a way because this could have ended up way way worse than it did.
So I'm riding through the village past the shops, my friend is following me a few bike lengths back. The parking outside the shops has the cars parked nose into the kerb in marked bays at an angle, a 4x4 starts to reverse out. He falters a little clearly having seen us coming, but decides to pull out anyway. I ride round him as does my friend.
Mr 4x4 is apparently enraged and tears off in pursuit of us and passes my friend very close, as he comes steaming round me he deliberately cuts in - his wing mirror hit my shoulder and folded in. Luckily I didn't fall off. My turn to be a bit upset and I gave chase. The 4x4 turns in at the next junction, he wants a chat.
I shakily scream at him - "who do you think you are" the adrenalin coursing through my veins due to the near death experience. He tells me that I just kept coming (presumably I was supposed to stop and let him reverse out of the parking space while he took his time), then he also expresses his surprise that I pulled out into him as he passed me.
My friend who was following saw the whole thing and pointed out that he definitely drove quite deliberately into me.
4x4 man at this point squares up to me and says "so do you want to make something of it?". I told him that I did feel he'd put my life in danger. He says "My registration number is xx xxx - so report me to the police then".
At this point we go our separate ways.
I did report it to the police over the phone... They thought about it for a bit this afternoon and someone from cid called me back to say that they didn't feel the evidence of my friend as a witness was strong enough despite him being a solicitor. The charge for dangerous driving I was hoping for isn't going to happen. I would have preferred attempted murder to be honest the way I was feeling about it to begin with!
They did say they'd send someone round to have a word with him, because this wasn't just a close pass, he deliberately collided with me which might not pan out so well another time.
Completing a 60km training ride with a friend, as we were riding back through my home village just yards from my house a guy drove his 4x4 into me on purpose (which took the shine off a good ride rather!). I am pleased how it turned out in a way because this could have ended up way way worse than it did.
So I'm riding through the village past the shops, my friend is following me a few bike lengths back. The parking outside the shops has the cars parked nose into the kerb in marked bays at an angle, a 4x4 starts to reverse out. He falters a little clearly having seen us coming, but decides to pull out anyway. I ride round him as does my friend.
Mr 4x4 is apparently enraged and tears off in pursuit of us and passes my friend very close, as he comes steaming round me he deliberately cuts in - his wing mirror hit my shoulder and folded in. Luckily I didn't fall off. My turn to be a bit upset and I gave chase. The 4x4 turns in at the next junction, he wants a chat.
I shakily scream at him - "who do you think you are" the adrenalin coursing through my veins due to the near death experience. He tells me that I just kept coming (presumably I was supposed to stop and let him reverse out of the parking space while he took his time), then he also expresses his surprise that I pulled out into him as he passed me.
My friend who was following saw the whole thing and pointed out that he definitely drove quite deliberately into me.
4x4 man at this point squares up to me and says "so do you want to make something of it?". I told him that I did feel he'd put my life in danger. He says "My registration number is xx xxx - so report me to the police then".
At this point we go our separate ways.
I did report it to the police over the phone... They thought about it for a bit this afternoon and someone from cid called me back to say that they didn't feel the evidence of my friend as a witness was strong enough despite him being a solicitor. The charge for dangerous driving I was hoping for isn't going to happen. I would have preferred attempted murder to be honest the way I was feeling about it to begin with!
They did say they'd send someone round to have a word with him, because this wasn't just a close pass, he deliberately collided with me which might not pan out so well another time.
Edited by idiotgap on Saturday 2nd May 21:24
ukbabz said:
That sounds like one of my worst nightmares. Fair play for keeping your cool, am not sure I'd have been able to do the same in the situation (although cleats do put cyclists at a disadvantage there).
I don't know how the hell the police don't consider this at least assault...
It's not really that they don't consider it serious, the cid officer I spoke to claimed to be a cyclist himself, was very sympathetic and not happy with the situation either - it's just that ultimately my version of events can't be proven.I don't know how the hell the police don't consider this at least assault...
idiotgap said:
It's not really that they don't consider it serious, the cid officer I spoke to claimed to be a cyclist himself, was very sympathetic and not happy with the situation either - it's just that ultimately my version of events can't be proven.
Yeah, I don't know the law - but it does seem interesting that no real action will be taken..Could always be vengeful and put a claim on his insurance for physio on your shoulder... ;-)
garyhun said:
Why was he enraged that you rode around him?
Were words said or hand gestures made when he reversed toward you?
I didn't really get why he was so riled by it, we just didn't yield. It wouldn't have crossed my mind to but he clearly felt as he later explained that cycles should move out of the way for cars.Were words said or hand gestures made when he reversed toward you?
Whilst clearly very shocking what has happened I read that and think for the sake of you slowing or stopping for a few seconds would have stopped the whole incident.
I know you had right of way but when I'm cycling and someone starts pulling out an alarm goes in my head that they will continue to do so, even when they eventually notice you and stop. It's a lot easier to think idiot and let them go on than potentially have an accident and all the confrontation you experienced.
But that's my view and we're all different.
I know you had right of way but when I'm cycling and someone starts pulling out an alarm goes in my head that they will continue to do so, even when they eventually notice you and stop. It's a lot easier to think idiot and let them go on than potentially have an accident and all the confrontation you experienced.
But that's my view and we're all different.
ecsrobin said:
Whilst clearly very shocking what has happened I read that and think for the sake of you slowing or stopping for a few seconds would have stopped the whole incident.
I know you had right of way but when I'm cycling and someone starts pulling out an alarm goes in my head that they will continue to do so, even when they eventually notice you and stop. It's a lot easier to think idiot and let them go on than potentially have an accident and all the confrontation you experienced.
But that's my view and we're all different.
I can accept that, if I had stopped then the incident wouldn't have happened. It's certainly going to make me think slightly differently in certain situations - better to feel bully'd than to wind up under the wheels!I know you had right of way but when I'm cycling and someone starts pulling out an alarm goes in my head that they will continue to do so, even when they eventually notice you and stop. It's a lot easier to think idiot and let them go on than potentially have an accident and all the confrontation you experienced.
But that's my view and we're all different.
ecsrobin said:
Whilst clearly very shocking what has happened I read that and think for the sake of you slowing or stopping for a few seconds would have stopped the whole incident.
I know you had right of way but when I'm cycling and someone starts pulling out an alarm goes in my head that they will continue to do so, even when they eventually notice you and stop. It's a lot easier to think idiot and let them go on than potentially have an accident and all the confrontation you experienced.
But that's my view and we're all different.
I don't really understand this. The driver of that vehicle was a selfish inconsiderate bI know you had right of way but when I'm cycling and someone starts pulling out an alarm goes in my head that they will continue to do so, even when they eventually notice you and stop. It's a lot easier to think idiot and let them go on than potentially have an accident and all the confrontation you experienced.
But that's my view and we're all different.
d just to pull out, and the stuff with the close pass on the OP's mate and then to hit him with his mirror should have him banned from driving. If I had been riding, I wouldn't have stopped for him to pull out, and I would then probably have done exactly what the OP did. The police should do more about cases like this, but if they do go and speak to him, it may be enough to stop him driving in such a psychotic manner. I'm sorry to hear this. My mother (good older cyclist!) got flipped by a wing mirror of a careless driver in Dec, unfortunately got slammed at 25mph. Bike written off(2k carbon road bike), few cracked ribs and pretty serious concussion with long standing inner ear damage which is still under investigation.
Because of the fall and countless witnesses, one if which was a police officer, he was charged with dangerous driving, though only had to attend a course. She wasn't keen, as a very forgiving lady thought that punishment isn't always necessary, though her mind changed a bit when he was convicted for multiple counts of processing and supplying paediphilic images a month later!
The fact somebody would deliberately do this unbelievable, as let's face, it you were lucky!
I guess the issue is if you've sustained no injury then there no evidence, my girlfriend is a cop and fellow cyclist, at the moment it just one word against another, who's to say what really happened.
Still I couldn't let this rest, which I know is churlish. Now I woudnt want to suggest anything criminal, but a typical 4x4 driver would be most hurt by money. I guess a puncture would be really expensive on that car? Lol
Shame you bike didn't scratch the side of his wagon.....
Because of the fall and countless witnesses, one if which was a police officer, he was charged with dangerous driving, though only had to attend a course. She wasn't keen, as a very forgiving lady thought that punishment isn't always necessary, though her mind changed a bit when he was convicted for multiple counts of processing and supplying paediphilic images a month later!
The fact somebody would deliberately do this unbelievable, as let's face, it you were lucky!
I guess the issue is if you've sustained no injury then there no evidence, my girlfriend is a cop and fellow cyclist, at the moment it just one word against another, who's to say what really happened.
Still I couldn't let this rest, which I know is churlish. Now I woudnt want to suggest anything criminal, but a typical 4x4 driver would be most hurt by money. I guess a puncture would be really expensive on that car? Lol
Shame you bike didn't scratch the side of his wagon.....
Edited by pauldavies85 on Sunday 3rd May 09:08
It's not one word against another in this case - it's two cyclists who saw entire incident.
Hitting another road user should count as "falling far below the standards expected", and the minimum should be a dangerous driving charge, preferably with a ban and mandatory retest.
THAT would hurt the 4x4 driver, legally, and might make him think twice in future.
Letting his tyres down won't accomplish anything.
Hitting another road user should count as "falling far below the standards expected", and the minimum should be a dangerous driving charge, preferably with a ban and mandatory retest.
THAT would hurt the 4x4 driver, legally, and might make him think twice in future.
Letting his tyres down won't accomplish anything.
Glad you escaped from the contact without injury.
At first I thought it odd that CID should call you back rather than Traffic (or Roads Policing, or whatever they call it nowadays). Almost as if the wrong department was dealing with it. To a DC investigating robberies and stabbings, road rage might not seem as important as it should.
Presumably though they were treating it as an assault, and the lack of an independent witness caused them to doubt that prosecution for that would be successful. I would have thought there was still a case of dangerous driving or, at the very least, careless or inconsiderate driving to answer. I wonder how one might go about getting the case referred to the appropriate police section. Perhaps a call or letter to the (uniformed) station inspector?
At first I thought it odd that CID should call you back rather than Traffic (or Roads Policing, or whatever they call it nowadays). Almost as if the wrong department was dealing with it. To a DC investigating robberies and stabbings, road rage might not seem as important as it should.
Presumably though they were treating it as an assault, and the lack of an independent witness caused them to doubt that prosecution for that would be successful. I would have thought there was still a case of dangerous driving or, at the very least, careless or inconsiderate driving to answer. I wonder how one might go about getting the case referred to the appropriate police section. Perhaps a call or letter to the (uniformed) station inspector?
How can a friend cycling with you be a reliable witness? Come on law has to have standards, otherwise everybody would be getting charged for every alleged offence no matter what the truth is.
How can you prove it was deliberate and what was the result?
I guess only something like go pro could help, and several independent witnesses. I still think it would be unlikely to successfully charge him, this isn't my opinion just how it is.
How can you prove it was deliberate and what was the result?
I guess only something like go pro could help, and several independent witnesses. I still think it would be unlikely to successfully charge him, this isn't my opinion just how it is.
I'm not saying it's right but I can see why he couldn't be prosecuted based on what your mate says, how many times do you get into it on the road with someone who's clearly in the wrong yet all of his passengers believe the driver is in the right before you know it his 4x4 was full and you're both liars.
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