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Near Miss of the Day 101: Deliberate close pass at night

Our regular feature highlighting close passes caught on camera from around the country – today it’s London

Our latest Near Miss of the Day submission comes from a road.cc reader who regularly rides to work in London at night, setting off at 2am.

The reader who posted the footage to YouTube, Paul, told us: "I am a night commuter.

"My journey usually starts at 2am and on my way I will usually encounter some bad drivers. I get harrased everyday. And some of them are really unnecessary.

"This one was a intentionally close pass."

It happened on the A3 as Paul headed towards Wandsworth.

He continued: "I don’t usually ride on the A3 at busy times but at night there is not much traffic and my ride on it last less than five minutes.  

"I tried to stay as close as possible to the line on my left and before I reached the Tibbets Corner Bridge this driver passed very close, beeping his horn."

Paul has reported the incident to the Metropolitan Police, who have asked him to submit the footage to them.

Over the years road.cc has reported on literally hundreds of close passes and near misses involving badly driven vehicles from every corner of the country – so many, in fact, that we’ve decided to turn the phenomenon into a regular feature on the site. One day hopefully we will run out of close passes and near misses to report on, but until that happy day arrives, Near Miss of the Day will keep rolling on.

If you’ve caught on camera a close encounter of the uncomfortable kind with another road user that you’d like to share with the wider cycling community please send it to us at info [at] road.cc or send us a message via the road.cc Facebook page.

If the video is on YouTube, please send us a link, if not we can add any footage you supply to our YouTube channel as an unlisted video (so it won't show up on searches).

Please also let us know whether you contacted the police and if so what their reaction was, as well as the reaction of the vehicle operator if it was a bus, lorry or van with company markings etc.

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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26 comments

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bmxboyx01 | 6 years ago
0 likes

Can’t see much wrong. Could have used wider lane but this is, frankly, &ollocks. 

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The Rake | 6 years ago
2 likes

It may not be the closest of passes, but the driver has a whole other lane he could use to perform his overtake in. He didn't. And the number of drivers who don't do this (I often ride on the Dorking to Horsham road for short distances) really winds me up. They would pull right across for a car, a motorbike and a horse, but only about 50% of the time, being generous, for a bike. Was passenger with a mate when he did the same, and I asked why he didn't move across into the empty other lane: "loads of room, didn't need to" was his response. A few months later I took him cycling on it and he complained about close overtakes and how unnerving it was. He now pulls across (or maybe just when I am in the car)

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50kcommute | 6 years ago
1 like

Cycling on the A3, even at 2am, is asking for trouble - we don't live in a perfect world and I'd suggest the cyclist stay safe rather than roll the dice with some of the drivers that are out there - stick to the side of the road or the footpath where possible, going over the junction there, rather than under the bridge would be the safer option.  1

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Metaphor | 6 years ago
3 likes

And let us not forget that it's motorists leaving vile notes on ambulances and abusing paramedics!

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Jimnm | 6 years ago
1 like

Best to pick your road that you cycle on.

plan your route on the quietest roads possible, if possible. Cycling on fast clearway type roads is a no no for me. 

Self preservation is everything. 

 

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FluffyKittenofT... replied to Jimnm | 6 years ago
7 likes

Jimnm wrote:

Best to pick your road that you cycle on.

plan your route on the quietest roads possible, if possible. Cycling on fast clearway type roads is a no no for me. 

Self preservation is everything. 

 

 

I dislike this kind of unasked-for advice, which is always really about the advisor taking the chance for some misplaced boasting about how much more risk-averse they are than others (and if you really thought self-preservation was everythng you would never go outside. still less ride a bike).

 

  I mean, really, what was the point of your comment supposed to be?  Those of us who judge such roads too scary already avoid them (as I do), those who find all roads too scary to cycle just get a car, and those who don't do either can be presumed to have their reasons for drawing the line somewhere else.    The point here is bad driving, nothing else.

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HoarseMann replied to FluffyKittenofTindalos | 6 years ago
2 likes

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

Jimnm wrote:

Best to pick your road that you cycle on.

plan your route on the quietest roads possible, if possible. Cycling on fast clearway type roads is a no no for me. 

Self preservation is everything. 

 

 

I dislike this kind of unasked-for advice, which is always really about the advisor taking the chance for some misplaced boasting about how much more risk-averse they are than others (and if you really thought self-preservation was everythng you would never go outside. still less ride a bike).

 

  I mean, really, what was the point of your comment supposed to be?  Those of us who judge such roads too scary already avoid them (as I do), those who find all roads too scary to cycle just get a car, and those who don't do either can be presumed to have their reasons for drawing the line somewhere else.    The point here is bad driving, nothing else.

 

Agree. Although it’s the A3, it's a 40mph limit and very quiet. Probably way safer than riding along a cycle path through a dark park at that time of night!

The roads I commute on are 60mph twisty rural routes with high hedges which are deemed too dangerous to cycle on by a lot of my colleagues. The alternative is a muddy off road route that takes twice as long.

Milton Keynes has a large network of cycle paths, but you will often see road bikes on the 70mph dual carriageway grid roads, simply because the paths are unsuitable for riding a road bike at speed. There was even an article in the local rag complaining about this, with one driver stating he gives a friendly “toot” of the horn to remind such cyclists to use the cycle paths provided at great expensive by the tax payer!

I have tried a route to MK shopping centre both on road and redway. Road took 23mins, redway took 45mins.

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davel replied to Jimnm | 6 years ago
1 like
Jimnm wrote:

Best to pick your road that you cycle on.

plan your route on the quietest roads possible, if possible. Cycling on fast clearway type roads is a no no for me. 

Self preservation is everything. 

 

Bit 'horses for courses'.

One of my riding buddies grew up in the sticks and much prefers winding country lanes. When he plans a route I'm often on edge, trying to anticipate boy racers haring round blind corners with high hedges.

When it's my turn, my route home is often 'straightest line', which means quick, wide A roads, which he hates, but I'm more accustomed to, having a TT/tri background.

I have no idea which ones are safer, not knowing the stats on Sunday morning rear-endings (matron) or head-on collisions on those roads, but we've never had any incidents on either's routes. I suspect both options are extremely safe and our discomfort is all due to our own biases.

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ClubSmed replied to Jimnm | 6 years ago
2 likes

Jimnm wrote:

Best to pick your road that you cycle on.

plan your route on the quietest roads possible, if possible. Cycling on fast clearway type roads is a no no for me. 

Self preservation is everything. 

50kcommute wrote:

Cycling on the A3, even at 2am, is asking for trouble - we don't live in a perfect world and I'd suggest the cyclist stay safe rather than roll the dice with some of the drivers that are out there - stick to the side of the road or the footpath where possible, going over the junction there, rather than under the bridge would be the safer option.  1

It's 2am and it looks like it might be starting to snow. Choosing a quiet road or cycle path in these conditions they are likely to be a lot colder and not treated (grit/salt) so could see you hit black ice at speed and wipe out. That could result in an incident a lot worse than a few idiots doing close passes on a road that will be warmer (because of friction from more traffic) and treated so not likely to get black ice. So yes self presevation may be everything but that does not mean that a quiet road or path is always the safest option!

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fenix | 6 years ago
0 likes

I'm not sure we have the right clip here.
The guy talked of a close pass with the driver beeping his horn ? That wasn't this one.

I'm not sure if was especially close but it's not a good angle to judge.

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Judge dreadful | 6 years ago
2 likes

That was a pretty rubbish bit of unobservant driving. However, by trying to move to your left, you actually inadvertently invited it to happen. At that point, personally I would have positioned myself further into the lane. Sounds counter intuitive, but if you make it less possible for idiots like this driver to do what they did, your ride becomes less risky. He still should have given you way more room than he did though, the driver was 100 percent at fault here.

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HLaB | 6 years ago
1 like

As a horrible pass as it was I'm not sure it was intentional just an unobservant prat  7

 

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HoarseMann | 6 years ago
6 likes

Probably punishment for not using the cycle path.

Caused the driver to perform the arduous lane change manoeuvre. Maybe caused them to become slightly more alert, which is difficult at that time of night.

Either that or they thought that was enough space. I do wish this sort of pointless risky driving would stop. Happens far too frequently. 

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roubaixcobbles | 6 years ago
0 likes

P.S. Where's the "beeping his horn"?

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Fluffed replied to roubaixcobbles | 6 years ago
0 likes

Roubaixcobbles wrote:

P.S. Where's the "beeping his horn"?

The guy has another video with a guy driving past beeping his horn for no reason, I think the two got conflated somewhere?

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OnYerBike replied to Fluffed | 6 years ago
3 likes

fluffed wrote:

Roubaixcobbles wrote:

P.S. Where's the "beeping his horn"?

The guy has another video with a guy driving past beeping his horn for no reason, I think the two got conflated somewhere?

Nope - if you turn the sound up a bit and listen carefully, the car does beep just after it's gone past.

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StraelGuy | 6 years ago
9 likes

I've watched that twice and still can't see a close pass?

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John Smith replied to StraelGuy | 6 years ago
2 likes

StraelGuy wrote:

I've watched that twice and still can't see a close pass?

No, me nither. I'm guessing it was the first car, but I'm not sure as that didn't seem that close. Perhaps it is the camera that makes it look further away. The camera also makes it look like its unclear where the syslist is going. I'm not sure I would be that close to the left turn lane there as it would be easy to have cars going buy on both sides, but the camera may just make the bike look further left that it was.

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alansmurphy replied to John Smith | 6 years ago
8 likes
John Smith wrote:

I'm not sure I would be that close to the left turn lane there as it would be easy to have cars going buy on both sides, but the camera may just make the bike look further left that it was.

Bit there wasn't cars on both sides, and if you think he is quite far left why the fuck does the car passing on the right feel the need to endanger his life.

2 cars show how it should be done after, only by giving the idiot 6 points will all people drive like the following cars!

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efail replied to StraelGuy | 6 years ago
6 likes

StraelGuy wrote:

I've watched that twice and still can't see a close pass?

 

What?

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scouser_andy replied to StraelGuy | 6 years ago
6 likes

StraelGuy wrote:

I've watched that twice and still can't see a close pass?

 

You can't see the close 'car that teararses halfway across the same lane he's in whilst the other lane is free' pass. Ok.

 

 

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BehindTheBikesheds replied to StraelGuy | 6 years ago
5 likes

John Smith wrote:

StraelGuy wrote:

I've watched that twice and still can't see a close pass?

No, me nither. I'm guessing it was the first car, but I'm not sure as that didn't seem that close. Perhaps it is the camera that makes it look further away. The camera also makes it look like its unclear where the syslist is going. I'm not sure I would be that close to the left turn lane there as it would be easy to have cars going buy on both sides, but the camera may just make the bike look further left that it was.

Please don't either of you ever get behind the wheel of a motorised vehicle or ride near me on your bike. 

That would get you a big fuck off fail on any driving test and should get you points and a fine.

Avatar
John Smith replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
6 likes

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

John Smith wrote:

StraelGuy wrote:

I've watched that twice and still can't see a close pass?

No, me nither. I'm guessing it was the first car, but I'm not sure as that didn't seem that close. Perhaps it is the camera that makes it look further away. The camera also makes it look like its unclear where the syslist is going. I'm not sure I would be that close to the left turn lane there as it would be easy to have cars going buy on both sides, but the camera may just make the bike look further left that it was.

Please don't either of you ever get behind the wheel of a motorised vehicle or ride near me on your bike. 

That would get you a big fuck off fail on any driving test and should get you points and a fine.

 

No it wouldn’t. It might not be ideal, and if I was driving I would move over in to the other lane, but if you think that a car that far away is close you must not cycle much. And if you get that angry and rude over a forum post I dread to think what you are like on the road.

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Yorkshire wallet replied to John Smith | 6 years ago
3 likes

John Smith wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

John Smith wrote:

StraelGuy wrote:

I've watched that twice and still can't see a close pass?

No, me nither. I'm guessing it was the first car, but I'm not sure as that didn't seem that close. Perhaps it is the camera that makes it look further away. The camera also makes it look like its unclear where the syslist is going. I'm not sure I would be that close to the left turn lane there as it would be easy to have cars going buy on both sides, but the camera may just make the bike look further left that it was.

Please don't either of you ever get behind the wheel of a motorised vehicle or ride near me on your bike. 

That would get you a big fuck off fail on any driving test and should get you points and a fine.

 

No it wouldn’t. It might not be ideal, and if I was driving I would move over in to the other lane, but if you think that a car that far away is close you must not cycle much. And if you get that angry and rude over a forum post I dread to think what you are like on the road.

He wouldn't be wearing a seatbelt that's for sure, stats proved they caused more accidents or something, a bit like helmets. 

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds replied to John Smith | 6 years ago
4 likes

John Smith wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

John Smith wrote:

StraelGuy wrote:

I've watched that twice and still can't see a close pass?

No, me nither. I'm guessing it was the first car, but I'm not sure as that didn't seem that close. Perhaps it is the camera that makes it look further away. The camera also makes it look like its unclear where the syslist is going. I'm not sure I would be that close to the left turn lane there as it would be easy to have cars going buy on both sides, but the camera may just make the bike look further left that it was.

Please don't either of you ever get behind the wheel of a motorised vehicle or ride near me on your bike. 

That would get you a big fuck off fail on any driving test and should get you points and a fine.

 

No it wouldn’t. It might not be ideal, and if I was driving I would move over in to the other lane, but if you think that a car that far away is close you must not cycle much. And if you get that angry and rude over a forum post I dread to think what you are like on the road.

Better than you sonshine on bike or in a motor, you can't even spot a dangerous close pass for a start off so you wouldn't even get a driving license.

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roubaixcobbles | 6 years ago
2 likes

That is a disgrace and clearly not even thoughtless, deliberately provocative.  But I have to say riding on the A3 isn't a good idea at the best of times - that wide footpath on the left is a shared pedestrian/cycle path which is what I use when heading for Richmond Park that way.

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