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Video: Aberdeen police didn't think this close pass footage was close enough to follow up on

Inverurie police did though

Twitter user Aberdeen Cycle Cam said that when this incident was reported, Aberdeen police said they did not consider it to be too close.

The incident took place in Westhill in January 2016 and was reported via the 101 line.

However, while the Aberdeen police officer who took a statement did not consider the pass to be too close, Inverurie police decided to charge the driver.

Six more police forces looking to run close pass operation

In November 2016, Aberdeen Cycle Cam went to the Aberdeen Sheriff Court to testify against the person that was allegedly driving the car at the time of the incident.

After being interviewed by the Procurator Fiscal in Court, they were told that the trial could not continue as there was not sufficient evidence to establish who was driving that car at the time. Aberdeen Cycle Cam writes on YouTube that this was “regardless of the accused having responded to a Section 172, identifying himself as the driver.”

A letter from the Procurator Fiscal’s office subsequently explained that two sources of evidence are needed to identify the person responsible with a physical description often serving as supporting evidence.

Aberdeen Cycle Cam has since published this video of another close pass which was reported to police on January 26 of this year.

On this occasion, an Aberdeen police constable emailed to say: “I appreciate the overtake was slightly close however this was not dangerous or careless driving. I will however still trace the driver and advise them on leaving extra room when overtaking cyclists in the future.”

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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47 comments

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Stumps | 7 years ago
0 likes

In relation to Scottish and English law, they are different in many ways. If we have to do work for Scotland, such as reporting someone or arresting them, we need 2 cops who both put in statements otherwise Scotland wont accept it.

Its quite archaic in some ways but in others its bang on with no one going down the line of "there was only you and me so prove it".

Admissions of guilt at an early stage are not proof someone did something. We have had punters during interview saying it was them just to get out of custody quicker and then coming up with an excuse later at court.

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StraelGuy | 7 years ago
3 likes

Yo momma so fat she jumped in the air and got stuck.

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Tommytrucker | 7 years ago
4 likes

Yo momma so fat the only letters in the alphabet she knows are KFC

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davel | 7 years ago
5 likes

Yo Momma so fat she's in the LTDA

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Mungecrundle | 7 years ago
3 likes

Yo momma so fat, her waisteline is a Strava segment.

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davel | 7 years ago
2 likes

Yo Momma Thread!

Yo Momma so fat Hubble's only just got her in focus.

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hagi | 7 years ago
0 likes

The cyclist in question seems to be cycling quite far out in the lane, something that should be considered? Not really the safest place to be when cycling on a main road.

He could easily have moved in 1 or 2 feet without any detriment to his journey. 

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Ush replied to hagi | 7 years ago
9 likes

hagi wrote:

The cyclist in question seems to be cycling quite far out in the lane, something that should be considered?

It should definitely be considered.  If you become a gutter-sneak,  scuttling along at the side of the road then you will inevitably reach a pothole, or road debris which causes you to swerve out into the unfortunate speeding motorist.

On the other hand, if you keep a reasonable distance out then law-abiding, competent motorists will be able to take the steps recommended by the highway code which entitle them to share the public highways with other users.

 

hagi wrote:

Not really the safest place to be when cycling on a main road.

He could easily have moved in 1 or 2 feet without any detriment to his journey. 

And enticed a close pass from a normal motorist.  

There is no problem with the cyclist's position here, the problem is with the person that was driving like a child.

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fabriciomrtnz | 7 years ago
0 likes

Dear Sir or Madam,

While I do agree that the passing was very close and could had eneded in a very bad accident. My question to you sir/madam is why where you be riding in the middle of the lane? 

I would never ride in the a middle of the lane, in a 2 way street. On top of that is night time when people are tired, drunk and do not see too well. Thats just asking for trouble.

 

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Ush replied to fabriciomrtnz | 7 years ago
5 likes

fabriciomrtnz wrote:

Dear Sir or Madam,

While I do agree that the passing was very close and could had eneded in a very bad accident. My question to you sir/madam is why where you be riding in the middle of the lane? 

 

Dear Miss or Master,

I think you can assume that he judges it easier, safer and more comfortable. 

fabriciomrtnz wrote:

I would never ride in the a middle of the lane, in a 2 way street. On top of that is night time when people are tired, drunk and do not see too well. Thats just asking for trouble.

Let's be honest about this.... you only ride two things:  1) your high horse... and you have trouble keeping your balance even on that lowly steed; 2) your momma.

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giff77 replied to Ush | 7 years ago
3 likes

Ush wrote:

fabriciomrtnz wrote:

Dear Sir or Madam,

While I do agree that the passing was very close and could had eneded in a very bad accident. My question to you sir/madam is why where you be riding in the middle of the lane? 

 

Dear Miss or Master,

I think you can assume that he judges it easier, safer and more comfortable. 

fabriciomrtnz wrote:

I would never ride in the a middle of the lane, in a 2 way street. On top of that is night time when people are tired, drunk and do not see too well. Thats just asking for trouble.

Let's be honest about this.... you only ride two things:  1) your high horse... and you have trouble keeping your balance even on that lowly steed; 2) your momma.

All of what Ush says, also if you look at the time stamp it's 7.30 am - NOT night time. And anyway the incident was in Aberdeen/Inverurie so hours of darkness are much longer. The rider was in the correct position simple as. To be further in would have invited a collision with the Audi as the motorist committed to an overtake with an oncoming vehicle. They could have held back as it is a straight road, good visibility and then passed safely. 

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oldstrath replied to fabriciomrtnz | 7 years ago
2 likes

fabriciomrtnz wrote:

Dear Sir or Madam,

While I do agree that the passing was very close and could had eneded in a very bad accident. My question to you sir/madam is why where you be riding in the middle of the lane? 

Probably because, unlike you, he understands the importance of being highly visible, and because most drivers do not, in fact, behave as psychopathic idiots.

fabriciomrtnz wrote:

 

I would never ride in the a middle of the lane, in a 2 way street. On top of that is night time when people are tired, drunk and do not see too well. Thats just asking for trouble.

 

 

I sincerely hope that even in Aberdeen most drivers are not exhausted, drunk or blind. But if you're really worried about such things either don't ride, or ride where even an exhausted, partially sighted drunkard might spot you. 

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FluffyKittenofT... replied to fabriciomrtnz | 7 years ago
2 likes
fabriciomrtnz wrote:

I would never ride in the a middle of the lane, in a 2 way street.

 

Aside from what everyone else has already rightly said - if the above is true and as absolute as you say, it suggests that sooner-or-later you are going to be doored. You ought to reconsider your policy.

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Simon E replied to fabriciomrtnz | 7 years ago
4 likes

@fabriciomrtnz and @hagi

This is from the Department of Transport's "Safety Tips" campaign. The same advice would be given by Bikeability instructors, the Police training manual etc etc.

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fabriciomrtnz replied to Simon E | 7 years ago
0 likes

Simon E wrote:

@fabriciomrtnz and @hagi

This is from the Department of Transport's "Safety Tips" campaign. The same advice would be given by Bikeability instructors, the Police training manual etc etc.

Thanks for clearing that up, for me the best tips come from the road and the road has tought me that drivers dont give an ass hat about you so if you ride on the middle of the lane you are going to get hit.

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srchar | 7 years ago
2 likes

This is very interesting. I have been fined for speeding in Scotland. Before I get jumped on, I was caught doing 68mph on a single carriageway NSL road, while completing an overtake on a lorry doing ~50mph.

My defence, which included suitable levels of grovelling remorse, was that I was completing an overtake on a lorry and that it is sensible to do so as quickly as conditions allow. Obviously, this defence failed, because 68 > 60 and that's that. I now realise that I should have gone for the old "sorry, can't remember who was driving" defence. What a mug.

It's a complete joke that the driver of this Audi wasn't punished, not only because the driver deserves it, but also because it gives similarly reckless twats a ready defence when they endanger others by their selfish driving at night, unable to be identified.

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brooksby | 7 years ago
1 like

WHOIS kevinmorice??

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Leviathan | 7 years ago
3 likes

It would a shame if something happened to that beautiful car, in the dark.

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Rob the Commuter | 7 years ago
4 likes

Got close passed by a bus in Ilkley recently

Clipped the handlbars and I came off into the path of the following traffic.

A witness phoned in a report to he police.

I attended a police station, where I got no response. It was a complete wast of time. I ended up sending the stats 19 form in through the post. The police told me to investigate it myself. I asked in writing, for the information from the witness. I have not had a reply.

Although I have GPS data I had no video. Reluctantly I have bought a head camera

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Silver Rider replied to Rob the Commuter | 7 years ago
0 likes

Rob the Commuter wrote:

Got close passed by a bus in Ilkley recently

Clipped the handlbars and I came off into the path of the following traffic.

A witness phoned in a report to he police.

I attended a police station, where I got no response. It was a complete wast of time. I ended up sending the stats 19 form in through the post. The police told me to investigate it myself. I asked in writing, for the information from the witness. I have not had a reply.

Although I have GPS data I had no video. Reluctantly I have bought a head camera

Most buses these days have onboard CCTV and often road-facing cameras. Did you raise this with the bus company as well as the Police for them to investigate? They won't store this footage forever.

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LDR | 7 years ago
0 likes

Excuse my ignorance, as they need 2 witnesses does that mean the police need 2 independent cameras when targeting speeding cars?

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kevinmorice replied to LDR | 7 years ago
0 likes

LDR wrote:

Excuse my ignorance, as they need 2 witnesses does that mean the police need 2 independent cameras when targeting speeding cars?

 

One rear viewing camera is not enough, but the camera enforcement letters are worded in such a way that you are accepting a plea deal in order to avoid court.  If you contest them they are generally dropped before court unless there is further corroboration, or it is an extreme offence (or where the fiscal feels that he can make you incur enough lawyers fees and loss of earnings that you are effectively getting the financial penalty even if you win in court) . 

 

Any two of:

Front facing camera.

Witness identification.

Police statement. 

Being the only person on the insurance.

Section 172 acceptance.

Admission in person to the offence. 

Admission to the question 'Is that you in the photograph?'.

A second camera (security footage from the drivers employers car park showing him stepping out of the vehicle a few moments later, or any of the other security cameras at the dozen offices along that road would have been enough).

Or half a dozen other options. 

 

 

 

 

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srchar replied to kevinmorice | 7 years ago
1 like

I don't understand some of these.

kevinmorice wrote:

Front facing camera.

If this has a clear view of the driver's face, why is an additional piece of evidence needed? Surely an image is proof enough, assuming the equipment has recent calibration certs etc.

kevinmorice wrote:

Being the only person on the insurance.

I can drive other cars third party on my own car insurance; being the only person on the insurance does not prove you are the driver. That doesn't seem to meet a reasonable standard of proof at all.

Do you genuinely know a lot about this subject, in which case colour me surprised about the above, or are you making it up?

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kevinmorice | 7 years ago
2 likes

This individual reports multiple drivers every time he leaves the house. He is a menace to the police with his incessant time wasting and a danger to other cyclists as he gets the rest of us a terrible reputation. He also regularly shouts at drivers for perfectly acceptable driving. 

 

If he didn't cry wolf so much the rest of us wouldn't have such difficulty getting reports heard. That he wasted two police forces worth of time and a court appearance for something that was always going to fail on a technicality has likely made this even worse for the rest of us to get responses to real offences. 

 

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grumpyoldcyclist replied to kevinmorice | 7 years ago
6 likes

kevinmorice wrote:

If he didn't cry wolf so much the rest of us wouldn't have such difficulty getting reports heard. That he wasted two police forces worth of time and a court appearance for something that was always going to fail on a technicality has likely made this even worse for the rest of us to get responses to real offences. 

 

 

Not crying wolf here, that is dreadful driving full stop. The fact that he has illustrated such archaic, biased, and downright dangerous laws should be applauded.

You want to be overtaken like that, your mates perhaps, or your family? But the scottish legal system does nothing about it? Ah well, give up and roll over then, or highlight it?

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kevinmorice replied to grumpyoldcyclist | 7 years ago
0 likes

grumpyoldcyclist wrote:

kevinmorice wrote:

If he didn't cry wolf so much the rest of us wouldn't have such difficulty getting reports heard. That he wasted two police forces worth of time and a court appearance for something that was always going to fail on a technicality has likely made this even worse for the rest of us to get responses to real offences. 

 

 

Not crying wolf here, that is dreadful driving full stop. The fact that he has illustrated such archaic, biased, and downright dangerous laws should be applauded.

You want to be overtaken like that, your mates perhaps, or your family? But the scottish legal system does nothing about it? Ah well, give up and roll over then, or highlight it?

 

That one is dreadful, the other 5-20 he sends in every single day are not. Go on youtube and watch 5 minutes of the footage on his account. Every licence plate that he shouts out, he reports. The Police spend hours every week watching his footage of perfectly acceptable driving, which he send to both forces regardless of where the offences occur.  

 

The Scottish system is perfectly reasonable, (btw it is also the English system, and the same in most of the developed world). Otherwise anyone with a grudge could report you for a crime and their word would be sufficient for your conviction. Some corroboration is ALWAYS required.

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Aberdeen Cycle Cam replied to kevinmorice | 7 years ago
6 likes

kevinmorice wrote:

Every licence plate that he shouts out, he reports.

Complete lie. In 2016 I've posted around 160 videos, and reported only 9 drivers.

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ChrisB200SX replied to Aberdeen Cycle Cam | 7 years ago
7 likes

Aberdeen Cycle Cam wrote:

kevinmorice wrote:

Every licence plate that he shouts out, he reports.

Complete lie. In 2016 I've posted around 160 videos, and reported only 9 drivers.

Ha, love it when someone gets called out on their alternative facts.

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Gourmet Shot replied to ChrisB200SX | 7 years ago
0 likes

ChrisB200SX wrote:

Aberdeen Cycle Cam wrote:

kevinmorice wrote:

Every licence plate that he shouts out, he reports.

Complete lie. In 2016 I've posted around 160 videos, and reported only 9 drivers.

Ha, love it when someone gets called out on their alternative facts.

Fake news ;0)

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Billy1mate replied to kevinmorice | 7 years ago
0 likes

kevinmorice wrote:

This individual reports multiple drivers every time he leaves the house. He is a menace to the police with his incessant time wasting and a danger to other cyclists as he gets the rest of us a terrible reputation. He also regularly shouts at drivers for perfectly acceptable driving. 

 

If he didn't cry wolf so much the rest of us wouldn't have such difficulty getting reports heard. That he wasted two police forces worth of time and a court appearance for something that was always going to fail on a technicality has likely made this even worse for the rest of us to get responses to real offences. 

 

Not really HSU 223 will probably have learnt his lesson. Maybe the police should send those 'you've been reported by a member of the public for......' letters out and it might change a particular driving behaviour or make one think twice.

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