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Make the roads safer; report bad drivers says the CTC

Cycle cop road rage case an example of dangers faced every day by UK's cyclists...

Cyclists’ organisation CTC has said that the case of a teenage driver who repeatedly drove at a cyclist in an attempt to run him off the road is just one example of the dangerous driving that bike riders face on a daily basis, and has urged cyclist to continue to report bad driving.

Yesterday, we reported that 18-year-old Benjamin Harrison had received a suspended sentence after aiming his vehicle at off duty police inspector Melvin Martin as he cycled home from Burnley police station.

That story provoked a number of comments from our readers, with some expressing surprise at the leniency of the sentence, although when we contacted the Crown Prosecution Service for their view, a spokesperson told us that “sentencing is a matter for the courts and we do not comment on individual sentences.”

Debra Rolfe, campaigns co-ordinator at CTC, commented: "This may sound like a remarkable story, but actually cyclists experience aggressive and dangerous driving all too frequently. In this case, the victim just happened to be a police officer and his account was acted upon, but we hope that the police always take accounts of driving such as this very seriously indeed.”

Ms Rolfe added: “Any cyclist who has experienced bad driving can report it to CTC's Stop SMIDSY ("Sorry Mate I Didn't See You") campaign, and help CTC make a case for stopping bad driving."

 

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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3 comments

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tired old fart | 10 years ago
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the law only did anything due to it being a fucking prick in blue riding the bike normally nothing happens

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whizzkid | 12 years ago
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Even though the culprit appears to have got off lightly he may now face a lifetime of police harrasment....with a bit of luck......

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jobysp | 14 years ago
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 20

You've just reminded me I need to do something...

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