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Caravan lorry close miss (YouTube user jthefishy)Video: Caravan firm "horrified" after cyclist suffers shocking near-miss
A manager at a Gloucestershire company has said he is “horrified” at a video showing one of its vehicles speeding past a cyclist on the A59 at Samlesbury, Lancashire with barely inches to spare. The company, Forest of Dean Caravans, had been alerted to the video by a Twitter user who had seen it. The cyclist involved has told road.cc he believes the close pass was not only dangerous, but also deliberate.
The video, filmed at around 7.10am on Wednesday and posted to YouTube by user jthefishy, shows just how close the flatbed lorry, carrying one caravan and towing another, came to striking the cyclist. The potential consequences of that are obvious.
It’s clear the driver of the lorry saw the cyclist – the horn was sounded loudly and at length as the vehicle came up behind the rider, alarming enough in itself.
If you watch the video at work, you may wish to turn the sound down – there’s some (understandably) strong language.
In subtitles to the YouTube video, jthefishy said: “There is plenty of space and no oncoming cars etc. Other cars and wagons give me loads of space. They use the centre of the road to give me loads of space.”
He added: “Unfortunately I cannot work out his registration or company name. If anyone can help please do.”
The vehicle was quickly identified as belonging to Forest of Dean Caravans, based in Parkend, Gloucestershire.
The cyclist added: “There is an unsuitable cycle track at the side of the road which is a shared one with no rights of way and loads of lamp posts and signs in the middle of it! That is probably why he had a problem.”
This afternoon, road.cc spoke to the cyclist, named Jon, who works near the location where the close pass took place.
He told us: “When I heard the horn, I thought it was one of my mates, but when it continued I knew it wasn’t.”
Alerted by the noise to the fact something was going on, he didn’t look over his shoulder – something that could have taken him off his line – but kept riding straight on.
As the lorry went past, Jon was getting ready to put his hand out to gesticulate – luckily, though, he didn’t do that before the caravan being towed passed him.
“I’m a big bloke,” said Jon. “If it had been someone lighter, or not so good at holding their line, it could have been fatal.”
He described the driver as a “flaming idiot,” and said “I’d like to see him get points on his licence and severely reprimanded at work.”
But he said that so long as this was an isolated incident rather than repeat behaviour, he wouldn’t want to see the driver lose his job.
“I make mistakes, everyone makes mistakes, and we need tolerance on the roads,” he went on.
“But I would like to see him get prosecuted, because it was dangerous and it was deliberate,” added Jon, who believes the driver’s action was as a result of him not using the cycle path.
Jon has contacted Lancashire Constabulary to report the incident, but hasn’t heard back from them yet.
It’s the second time he’s contacted police over video footage of bad driving, and he told us on the previous occasion they did speak to the driver involved.
Mike Stead, who is on Twitter as @tweetymike, posted a message to the social network in which he described the incident as “borderline attempted murder.”
He took it upon himself to contact Forest of Dean Caravans and spoke to its transport manager, Mark Turley, who said he was “horrified” at the footage in the video.
Mr Turley added that “disciplinary action” would be taken against the driver when he returned and that the company would co-operate in any police investigation.
The family-owned firm has said that it is preparing a statement to reassure cyclists about the action it is taking.
We asked Mike why he felt compelled to act. He told us: "Social media can be great for raising awareness, but ranting/retweeting don't change much.
“Engaging with firms, helping them understand the depth of feeling and suggesting how to progress is the way to go.
“They're more likely to follow through and change or enforce policy and practice," he added.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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127 comments
They even have this in the statistics somewhere, it being the accidents where the driver says that the cyclist swerved out, so they ran them down, of course if they had been leaving a gap then the typical 1foot swerve would not matter.
I think you mean 'misreading it'. To put it mildly. I note you got it wrong this time as well. Where did I say anything about four feet being 'sufficient'? I said it was a lot more than I currently get and would be a welcome improvement but that it _wouldn't_ be sufficient to get many people cycling who presently don't because most are more risk-averse than those like me who cycle in current conditions.
You do seem to specialise in not reading what people say, that's_exactly_ what you do, repeatedly.
I am fully aware of what you said, keep ignoring what I say though, it was clear what you said and speaks volumes about your "character". Don't bother replying as it will not be read but I know you will anyway, you just can't let it go ; )
LOL really?, really? this site really does seem to attract the low life's.
How about you let someone drive a several tonne hgv past you at the fastest speed possible with 4 feet in the worst weather conditions possible and we will see if you change your mind? ; )
*waits for the predictable reply*
Well, I sympathise with both pov on this one. Having gotten out the tape-measure I have to say I'd be overjoyed if motorists started regularly allowing 4 feet - its a _lot_ more than many of them currently do (more like 4 inches in some cases).
But the "you shouldn't be on the road" bit was unnecessarily dismissive and a trifle macho. Realistically, getting more people cycling will quite likely require a lot more than just a 4 feet clearance habit with everything else remaining the same.
Email sent to company stating my outrage, loss of sale and my hope that the police take this seriously.
Scary ... the driver deserves to lose his job. But on another note the cyclist should have been using the cycle path to the left. Fair enough that there was enough room for the lorry to overtake safely (which it didn't), but there will be occasions when this isn't the case and he would have been the one having to make a dangerous manoeuvre just because you didn't like the cycle path. If it was me, I would be avoiding mixing with traffic at every opportunity.
I don't think its as simple as sacking the driver for one instance - I know we would all like that to happen. But in this case there is Employment Law to think about.
I sincerely hope that the firm take action and introduce compulsory cyclist awareness training for all their drivers, and if the driver in question is given a final warning and training, who knows, he may become a disciple of cycle awareness.
In today's competitive world of commerce this is an opportunity for the caravan firm to take the lead and turn a really bad bit of press into a great piece of PR by leading the way in cycle awareness training for wagon drivers. In a perfect world other firms would see the positive PR lead taken by firms with cycle aware drivers and to not train your drivers would leave you alienated and at a competitive disadvantage
How about Gross Misconduct, failure to protect the health and safety of others whilst carrying out your work duties, Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.
The driver obviously new the cyclist was there as he appears to have had his hand on the horn all the time whilst over taking.
He moved out from the kerb and then back in acknowledging the presence of the cyclist, he just didn't give sufficient space as per the HC bearing in mind the road ahead was clear of oncoming vehicles.
For any reasonable person that would be adequate grounds for dismissal and refrral to the Police for further action.
Like it or not, Dean Forest Caravans are the driver's employer and they bear as much responsibility as he does for his apalling behaviour.
Employment law allows for summary termination due to gross negligence. The driver is a professional (in the loosest sense...) driver. As he cannot, and will not (intentionally) carry out is duties in a competent manner, he can be sacked.
He also breaches health and safety law, which is meant to safeguard both employees and any member of the public encountered. Again, that's gross misconduct.
If the company sacked the driver, I'm fairly sure they have a more than reasonable case to do so.
Happens all the time, whats anyone going to actually do about it?
That is scary. Oh how I hate close passes and towing caravans.
It reminded me of a nasty incident in Devon some years ago following my wife on one of their busy single lane A roads.
The car came past close like in the vid. Only I banged on the window, which probably saved my life by pushing me slightly towards the kerb, so the caravan it was towing (unbeknown to me) hit my outstretched arm and not my bike or body.
In my adrenalin rush I overtook him and forced him to stop. Although I wouldn't recommend this course of action.His passenger realised what had happened and was distraught and thus the driver was extremely sorry and I hope learned his lesson.
I will reward a company that hasn't been drawn to my attention because the driver doesn't give a shit for cyclist, not the company that near killed a cyclist. It shouldn't have happened! Other people have already said that this is how the drivers of this company behave. So why do we have to wait until it's on video for action to happen. I don't believe the owner didn't know this is how his driver behaves.
Shared use paths:
- they are often not maintained or gritted like roads are,
- they are often not wide enough to allow two bikes to pass safely,
- they are discontinuous and entrance and exit into them from the roads are often poorly executed,
- they are often shared by pedestrians wearing earphones, dressed in black, walking black labradors, at night with no lights (delete as appropriate),
- Many cyclists are travelling at a speed higher than that considered by DfT themselves to be safe for cycle paths, and the DfT themselves recommend cyclists stay on the road,
- They are often covered with random steaming piles of horse crap (round my way anyway)
Drivers of low intelligence, is any wonder why we don't use them? The same reason you wouldn't drive your beloved leased Audi A6 estate down a rutted muddy byway to get to your destination.
You have a choice, so do cyclists. F*ck off making up your own laws and stick to ones that actually exist.
Nothing will happen as many times before I suspect, as has been said above, it's easy to sound outraged in public yet do SFA after when it has all "died" down.
My opinion... the company has done nothing about it... but I hope there is a 'yet' to be added to this episode.
Echoing sentiments already shared, I am aware of businesses that will publicly cry foul in these situations, but internally celebrate a 'hilarious jape'. Not all bosses/business managers are nice people, many are anything but... I hope in this case Mt Turley is genuine and takes appropriate action
However, until the 'horrified boss' comes back with 'the driver in question is no longer part of this company' I assume that the disciplinary action is no more than being forced to buy the digestive biscuits that week.
Really hope the company make a public statement about this and something actually happens to the driver, either via the police or his employer, and I man actual action rather than a telling off.
I bought a helmet cam last month but haven't bothered using it, just fitted it to my bike as I think it's getting worse on the roads rather than better
No don't moan at them object to their next O licence renewal to the traffic commissioners. It's hard to deliver your products when you can't operate transport from your yard.
Also - its a caravan company. So I guess they have a common enemy with cyclists in the form of Jeremy Clarkson.
I don't think Clarkson hates cyclists anymore than he thinks Mexicans are lazy or lorry drivers are all rapists.
Clarkson is Basil Fawlty with cars and driving as a backdrop rather than a hotel. He's just rude to everyone. It's the gratuitous un-selfconscious totally non-PC statements that people find amusing especially in today's ever so scripted and sensitive media world.
Taking Top Gear seriously is like criticising Basil Fawlty's customer service and staff relations. It's missing the point.
Lorry drivers = Excuse to say something outrageous
Mexicans = Excuse to say something outrageous
Germans = Excuse to say something outrageous
Americans = Excuse to say something outrageous
Cyclists = Excuse to say something outrageous
the clue is that you could put anything you like on the left side of the equals sign.
the problem is that there are too many morons who DO take him seriously and will act even more stupid than normal because they think it's funny. Clarkson has to realise that he's an idiot magnet and accept some responsibility for the influence he has on said idiots
Appalling driving - but distressingly typical of what motorists get away with. But can't really fault the response from the company. A lot better than what usually happens. Feels almost churlish to say one wants to be sure its more than just words. It does _sound_ sincere though. Maybe they have cyclists in the family?
Hey, I live in Canada and this incident made me angry enough to e-mail the company.
Here's what I wrote:
After resisting it for a while I have relented and bought a helmet cam. Mrs Oozaveared thought I'd gone nuts until I showed her some you tube stuff particularly one where the driver is clearly at fault in minor but expensive (to the cyclist). bump. The story on the soundtrack is from the cyclist and he tells us that the driver denied liability, made all kinds of accusations about the cyclist racing along etc. It would have all been a he said / he said right up to the point where the cyclist sends the video to the insurance company. It shows that he is stationary waiting to turn right at a T junction into the main road when the driver of the car coming from the right along the main road turns right cuts the corner, brakes at the last second and ends up colliding.
The lesson I drew wasn't that helmet cams stop this kind of nonsense, just that some drivers are prepared to lie and lie and lie about their actions when they do make mistakes and without witnesses or other kind of proof you'll end up fighting an insurance company.
After resisting it for a while I have relented and bought a helmet cam. Mrs Oozaveared thought I'd gone nuts until I showed her some you tube stuff particularly one where the driver is clearly at fault in minor but expensive (to the cyclist). bump. The story on the soundtrack is from the cyclist and he tells us that the driver denied liability, made all kinds of accusations about the cyclist racing along etc. It would have all been a he said / he said right up to the point where the cyclist sends the video to the insurance company. It shows that he is stationary waiting to turn right at a T junction into the main road when the driver of the car coming from the right along the main road turns right cuts the corner, brakes at the last second and ends up colliding.
The lesson I drew wasn't that helmet cams stop this kind of nonsense, just that some drivers are prepared to lie and lie and lie about their actions when they do make mistakes and without witnesses or other kind of proof you'll end up fighting an insurance company.
its these punishment passes that really sh!t me up.
I can pretty take care of myself when it comes to what happening in front but the idiots behind are another thing!
been clipped by a trailer myself but it was low speed so I survived. I hope Forest of Dean Caravans have the sense to publicly repremand the driver and get the police involved.
Caravans. For adventurers! Who, er, like to drag their beige home behind them. Met one last week on the M6. Middle lane naturally, being towed by a 4x4, starting to rock violently. Scared the shit out of me and the lorry driver on the inside lane. Chose to get past it and the last I saw was it finishing it's overtaking manoeuvre and pulling in front of the lorry driver who was shaking his head from weary long term
experience.
What's wrong with a motor home with bicycles on the back?
OK keyboard / road warriors, let's actually DO SOMETHING to help this along.
Traffic prosecutions almost always require an independent witness to have any hope of success, let alone initial investigation. So we need to find the driver of the following black car (a Vauxhall?) 0710 5 May Eastbound toward Skipton on the A59 - exact location is here: http://goo.gl/maps/So6nO maybe all the northern clubs/shops could spread the word? Use Facebook / whatever?
Mind you, given there's an ANPR camera not 3 miles back (http://goo.gl/maps/j3x5X) , you'd hope Lancashire Police would have the rego sharpish.
Screenshot 2014-03-07 15.10.40.png
I am considering buying a caravan this spring as had one until 5 years ago and really miss the freedom. Guess where I was thinking of purchasing from? Not now, I think we should boycott these companies. I know they would argue that there going to take action against the driver, mmm hope it's not just PR. I think it would be better if drivers were instructed before such events. 6 inches and this guy would have been dead no ifs or buts and no bringing back to life when the company apologise. IMO put theses companies out of buisness by making these events as high profile as possible , then perhaps the companies left will give cyclists thought before incidents not after.
I suspect they will sit in the office have a laugh and then tell us he has been severely reprimanded.
Well he has just lost your company about £8000.
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