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Video: Impatient driver pushes past race marshal onto course – and then stops for an argument

Land Rover driver doesn’t seem to accept race has police permission

The driver of a Land Rover Discovery recently put young racing cyclists at risk by pushing past a race marshal, on the wrong side of the road, just before a blind bend.

The uploader writes that after then being begged to keep moving, the driver reversed to continue the argument.

“He showed real arrogance and reckless disregard for other road users, not least the lives of cyclists. Fortunately the race passed this idiot without incident but he should be ashamed of his behaviour. Every other driver over the course of 6 hours of racing was courteous and patient.”

In the footage, the driver can be heard repeatedly questioning the marshal’s authority and he seems not to believe that the event has police permission.

“I bet you’re not given police authority to just block the road,” he says.

“Yes we are,” replies the marshal. “How else do we stop the traffic coming round the corner and make it safe for people turning the corner?”

At this, the motorist drives off.

In 2014, several sportive riders ignored instructions to get off the road and put themselves in the path of the Yorkshire Region Road Race Championship. A marshal who filmed the incident said these were the only riders to do so during the three hours of the race, with hundreds of charity riders obeying the eight closures they encountered.

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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32 comments

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John Pitcock | 7 years ago
1 like

I was once asked to marshal a mass leisure ride where the route crossed another mainer road. I new I had no authority to control traffic. I wouldn't wave cyclists on unless I was certain it was safe. Some riders waited for my direction, others crossed using their own judgement: so I didn't attempt to stop cyclists, and just suggested they could go when I felt it was safe. Some motorists stopped to give way, this caused confusion as other approaching motorists might not: cyclsits looked to me, I demmed it not 100% safe so did nothing. I have never done it again.
https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20121206174943AAAef81
www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/?showtopic=68488

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FatBoyW | 7 years ago
1 like

Seems to happen at every race unfortunately. Better than the farmer reversing his trailer into the race ( seen it twice that one), or the fantastic attempts by a vintage motorbike run on the same course where one of the slower motorbike riders tried to punch a cyclist who was overtaking him (safely of course so he couldn't reach him!) 

we were really annoyed by the bikes, how could the police give permission to both events on the same road at the same time? Foolish.

Hope you did take the video to the police, they will at least let the idiot know he is on record etc etc.

 

Maybe we all should wear go pros for marshalling these days...

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Leviathan | 7 years ago
1 like

I think it was one of Catherine Ryan's children, "Mummy, why is the bad man blocking our road?"

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biketime | 7 years ago
1 like

You sure he wasn't an  American with a fake British accent?  Nah. Over here he would have been screaming endless obscenities and threatening them with a weapon.  

 

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brackley88 | 7 years ago
2 likes

Bloody Brussels....

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bikebot | 7 years ago
6 likes

Just to cheer you up, I saw something very similar in the first year of RideLondon.  A driver was giving a marshall a very hard time, and decided to try driving around him by mounting the pavement.  And then two Policeman walked around the corner....

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burtthebike | 7 years ago
6 likes

You get that a lot, people who rush past you dangerously, obviously in a hurry, and then stop for an argument when you protest, as if they had all the time in the world.  Hypocrites?  Cretins? or just plain stupid?

They don't seem to realise that everyone gets there quicker if we all take a little more care and avoid confrontation and conflict.

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Sub4 replied to burtthebike | 7 years ago
1 like

burtthebike wrote:

You get that a lot, people who rush past you dangerously, obviously in a hurry, and then stop for an argument when you protest, as if they had all the time in the world.  Hypocrites?  Cretins? or just plain stupid?

They don't seem to realise that everyone gets there quicker if we all take a little more care and avoid confrontation and conflict.

 

Yes, I've had that too. They have all the time in the world to remonstrate if you have the temerity to criticise their driving skills (manhood can be questioned. Driving skills cannot. It's a taboo, apparently).

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bikebot | 7 years ago
3 likes

Just a suggestion...

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HalfWheeler | 7 years ago
7 likes

At the end of the day we (marshalls) can't stop people from going about their business. But the NEG guy could, they have pretty similar powers to the police. Was the motorbike marshall just a guy on a bike with a hi-viz on or was he NEG? If he was NEG why didn't he step in? 

@HandslingRacing, hopefully there won't be a next time quite like that but if there is a short sentence will do; the organiser has applied to the chief constable of the police authority who has given permission in accordance with the Road Traffic Act 1988. 

Lastly, he's a cunt, no arguments there, but swearing at him could get you and your club in bother. Don't rise to it. 

 

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tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
6 likes

Yeah hard to know how to react to complete idiocy and unabashed arrogance. It does set you back.

 

There was a TV segment in the US last night, political nonsense as usual. One of the Republicans said whites contributed more to civilisation than sub-groups. Seriously, he actually said sub-groups. A congressman. No-one knew what to say, just utter shock. Hard to find the words to put together a calm rational response in the face of shamelessness. 

 

 

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HandslingRacing | 7 years ago
17 likes

To give you a clearer picture, the driver actually pushed past another marshall to my right before arriving at me, as I was actually marshalling another part of crossroads, a narrow lane with no traffic all race, so I was actually in a complete state of shock when this idiot appeared beside me!

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Yorkshie Whippet | 7 years ago
6 likes

Hmm two sides of a coin.

Marshal swearing and antagonising the driver instead of just doing what he could to make the situation safer. And a nob of a driver out to cause a scene.

Two rather aggressive people in the same place at the same time.

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PaulBox | 7 years ago
3 likes

Arrogant prick, marshall did well not to lump him.

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dafyddp | 7 years ago
7 likes

The marshall wasn't well trained. He didn't command the situation very well and wasn't briefed properly on what authority he legally had which led to him waffling and swearing.

As for the driver - he just comes across as a knob.

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Threeh | 7 years ago
2 likes

#Brexit

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tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
11 likes

I think whether or not he has authority to direct traffic is besides the point. Clearly there is an event going on and people are there marshalling for the safety of particpants. To roll up in a jeep and start an argument about legal authority like an arrogant wanker just marks you out as a waste of air.

 

Always feel pissed when I see posh cars keyed up, never thought that was right. Then I see this, and really feel like keying his jeep myself!

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Morat replied to tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
4 likes

unconstituted wrote:

I think whether or not he has authority to direct traffic is besides the point. Clearly there is an event going on and people are there marshalling for the safety of particpants. To roll up in a jeep and start an argument about legal authority like an arrogant wanker just marks you out as a waste of air.

 

Always feel pissed when I see posh cars keyed up, never thought that was right. Then I see this, and really feel like keying his jeep myself!

 

That's a Landrover - the imitation Jeep brand created just after WW2. But don't tell the driver that he'd probably be annoyed.

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davenportmb | 7 years ago
2 likes

If you ask me that is some really shoddy marshalling. If he was trying to keep the junction clear he should have been much further down the road and paying more attention to traffic than his own mobile phone. If he'd seen the Disco coming he could have handled that in a much better way than just swearing at the guy when it was already too late.

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STiG911 | 7 years ago
5 likes

'What gives you the right to block our road?'

 

'Our road'? Twunt.

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Scottish Scrutineer | 7 years ago
6 likes

Did the marshal have the authority to stop vehicles? Unless in accordance with the BC process, then they do not have the autority to stop or direct traffic.

From http://www3.hants.gov.uk/trafficmanagement/public-events/events-guidance...


Quote:

Traffic control and signing at events

Except for a few specific situations (described below) the public have no lawful powers to direct or stop traffic on the public highway. The police only have powers to direct or stop traffic in the course of their duties (detecting / preventing crime or in the case of an emergency situation). Accordingly managing traffic at events must be undertaken using signs, such as road closed signs, diversion route signing, cones, barriers and general direction signs.

The specific situations where the public do have legal powers to direct traffic on the public highway include;

Those organisations specifically approved to do so by the police under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme.

Approved cycle race marshals directing traffic in with a specific ‘STOP’ sign accordance with an agreed traffic plan and using the process developed  by “British Cycling”.

 

BC are campaigning for a change, but it is not a given right for Marshals to stop or direct traffic. I my opinion, both parties were behaving like self-righteous prats.

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Ush | 7 years ago
0 likes

Simon was too nice.  A citizen's arrest of the silly old man would have been appropriate there given the potential for serious carnage while he continued to block the road.

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hawkinspeter | 7 years ago
5 likes

I hope he gets prosecuted for using a mobile phone whilst the car is running. If only there was a way to identify the particular vehicle **cough** L800 NCE **cough**.

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Gus T | 7 years ago
19 likes

Shock news, Discovery drivers are arseholes.

 

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WillRod replied to Gus T | 7 years ago
4 likes

Gus T wrote:

Shock news, Discovery drivers are arseholes.

 

 

Only the Chelsea Tractor ones.

I know several Discovery owning farmers who are great drivers, and none have stupid private numberplates and all have mud plastered all over them  1

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WillRod | 7 years ago
8 likes

Shock Horror!!!

A driver belives they have complete and utter right to the road!

 

Not sure what you can do to make marshalls seem more 'official' other than using police officers, which is going to be difficult considering the strain on the police. The only other thing would be a big barrier, which would be more inconvenient than the current 1 or 2 minute human roadblock.

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don simon fbpe | 7 years ago
9 likes

I thought he'd never get the reg number.

This is the absolute worst trait in the english, the absolute arrogance in the face of authority, the absolute disrespect of letting others go about their business. Fortunately we don't see to much of it these days, but it's truly horrible.

Cock of the highest order.

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700c replied to don simon fbpe | 7 years ago
4 likes
don simon wrote:

This is the absolute worst trait in the english, the absolute arrogance in the face of authority

Generalising much?

I'm sure there are twats like this everywhere including in Wales

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don simon fbpe replied to 700c | 7 years ago
1 like

700c wrote:
don simon wrote:

This is the absolute worst trait in the english, the absolute arrogance in the face of authority

Generalising much? I'm sure there are twats like this everywhere including in Wales

 

Too true, but they're generally immigrants  though.   3

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Ciarán Carroll replied to don simon fbpe | 7 years ago
1 like

don simon wrote:

700c wrote:
don simon wrote:

This is the absolute worst trait in the english, the absolute arrogance in the face of authority

Generalising much? I'm sure there are twats like this everywhere including in Wales

 

Too true, but they're generally immigrants  though.   3

No need for discrimination

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