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Near Miss of the Day 74: BMW driver in punishment pass

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

The latest video in our Near Miss of the Day feature shows a BMW driver in Surrey making a 'punishment pass' on a cyclist in Surrey.

As the footage shot by road.cc reader Andrew shows, motor vehicles coming in the other direction meant the motorist could not overtake him.

But the moment the road ahead was clear - or almost clear, since the distance to other vehicles approaching was minimal - the driver darted through the gap, making a very close pass on the cyclist.

Andrew told us:  "This punishment pass occurred when I doing my usual 17 mile commute to work, back in September. It happened near Brookwood in Surrey.

"I've covered in excess of 20,000 miles as a road cyclist and had many near misses and close passes in my time, but this was the most intimidating and yet unnecessary.

"I believe it was a revenge for filtering past the car a couple of minutes beforehand in traffic."

He continued: "At the time, back in September 2017, I did not report the incident to Surrey Police, because previous full reports had been ignored.

"However since then, I've learned that Surrey Police have since started to be more proactive on cycle safety and closes passes.

"As a result of this, I had a productive exchange on Twitter with the excellent @SurreyRoadCops Twitter account."

He continued: "@SurreyRoadCops then followed up via Direct Message, saying that although the deadline for a prosecution had passed, they would still write to the driver concerned to 'give some advice about the dangers of close passing'.

"They also requested full footage to use for educational purposes. In addition, I've since learned that Surrey Police have launched a new online tool for reporting anti-social driving."

Andrew added: "Although the video in this instance pre-dated the above, I think it would be a good way to highlight Surrey Police's positive initiative in the area and raise the profile of this new means of submitting evidence and getting something done about the problem of anti-social and dangerous driving, especially in Surrey, where road cycling has become extremely popular."

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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9 comments

Avatar
BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP | 6 years ago
1 like

Is that it? That' s just another day isn't ?

Avatar
drosco replied to BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP | 6 years ago
0 likes
Lukas wrote:

Is that it? That' s just another day isn't ?

Yep, we've had over 70 of these 'shocking' videos now with no sign of it ending.

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SteveAustin | 6 years ago
0 likes

Another classic normal bit of driving. Better clips on youtube, i prefer the fail ones with silly folk slipping over, people attempting daft things. or cats, i like videos of cats. cats with cucumbers.

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john1967 | 6 years ago
2 likes

the deadline for a prosecution had passed....

I didnt realise crime had a best before date. i wonder if this applies to bank robbing?

Avatar
SingleSpeed replied to john1967 | 6 years ago
3 likes
john1967 wrote:

the deadline for a prosecution had passed....

 

Unless you're a 1970's TV Presenter.

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds replied to john1967 | 6 years ago
1 like
john1967 wrote:

the deadline for a prosecution had passed....

I didnt realise crime had a best before date. i wonder if this applies to bank robbing?

6months is the timescale from what police told me recently and then promptly said not enough evidence after been struck whilst i was filtering despite the driver admitting fault at the scene in front of a police officer.

Avatar
Sub4 replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
0 likes
BehindTheBikesheds wrote:
john1967 wrote:

the deadline for a prosecution had passed....

I didnt realise crime had a best before date. i wonder if this applies to bank robbing?

6months is the timescale from what police told me recently and then promptly said not enough evidence after been struck whilst i was filtering despite the driver admitting fault at the scene in front of a police officer.

According to West Mids Police, a NIP (notice of intent to prosecute) must be served within 2 weeks of an incident! I didn’t even get a reply to my submission within 2 weeks...

Avatar
Hirsute replied to john1967 | 6 years ago
0 likes
john1967 wrote:

the deadline for a prosecution had passed....

I didnt realise crime had a best before date. i wonder if this applies to bank robbing?

6 months for magistrates offences.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limitation_Act_1980

Avatar
spen | 6 years ago
9 likes

Can't see the punishment element, just the usual tosser in a BMW who can't wait (no sudden change of direction)

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