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Helmet cam cyclist Dave Sherry says he reports 70 drivers a week

Appears on Good Morning Britain segment asking “should cyclists shop motorists?”

Dave Sherry has a certain enthusiasm for capturing helmet cam footage of law-breaking motorists. The cyclist – who recently featured in that godawful Channel 5 documentary ‘Cyclists: Scourge Of The Streets?’ – says he reports around 70 motorists per week.

Sherry works as a bus driver in East London, but when a motorist drove into the back of his bike while he was out riding with his son on the back, he invested in a helmet camera.

We first heard about him back in 2014, when he claimed his footage had resulted in around 60 motorists being convicted of an offence or receiving a police caution.

Since then, he’s appeared on local BBC news, been a guest on This Morning, teamed up with Mr Loophole and presumably reported a few thousand motorists for one offence or another.

This week, he was on Good Morning Britain. You can watch his fellow guest Penny Malory, a former British Rally Championship driver, complaining that cyclists are unidentifiable and unaccountable here if you’ve somehow not yet hit your tolerance for this sort of television.

To be fair to Malory, she does make a point of explaining how ‘road tax’ is an emissions tax and she does emphasise that cyclists are vulnerable road users. However, it is, for the most part, a fairly typical Good Morning Britain cycling segment. (Remember when they started on cycle helmets a few weeks ago?)

Malory considers Sherry’s road safety approach “deeply unhelpful” and recommends that he instead spend his time trying to educate people.

Sherry defends himself by saying that the police support his effforts.

“Next week I’m going down to Sidcup to meet the top person of the Met police – the prosecutions department – and they are loving what is happening: proactive citizens – road users, pedestrians – shopping car drivers for breaking the law.”

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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30 comments

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Hirsute | 4 years ago
1 like

In response to the use of a camera.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-48981489

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-48980069

In both cases, police appeal for camera footage.

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fixation80 | 4 years ago
3 likes

The fact that one cyclist can present and report 70 prosecutable mobile phone offences in one week just shows how useless the detterents to deter life threatening drivers are!

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sue perb | 4 years ago
2 likes

We should club together and buy Dave Sherry a cape; Hi-Vis, natch. laugh

Made my night smiley

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xerxes | 4 years ago
4 likes

We should club together and buy Dave Sherry a cape; Hi-Vis, natch.

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Hirsute replied to xerxes | 4 years ago
5 likes

xerxes wrote:

We should club together and buy Dave Sherry a cape; Hi-Vis, natch.

no capes

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Xena | 4 years ago
0 likes

You know they can fit a device in any car so that your phone won’t work . Why don’t they do this .

it will save life’s and  quite a few crashes from happening as well .  

What you can’t do is stop people from bad driving. People make mistakes, make a bad call . 

If people chilled out a bit more and stopped getting so wound up things would be a lot better but the truth is most people are always in a fucking hurry and if your slowing them down ,be it a bike a car a bus a lorry  everyone else is a arsehole because they are slowing you down.  I’m out on bike most days, now and then someone starts to pull out a bit or someone gets a bit close  , so fucking what , it happens , now and then I make a mistake as well , it what we do, no one is fucking perfect .  No one is hurt no damage been done “ forget about it “ it’s a nothing issue .  Relax out there  swearing fighting is just a waste of time and energy over a non event ( I used to do it )  that if you let it pass 30 seconds later you will be thinking about something else . If your not then you should not be on the roads . Because it’s a definitely not going to go your way every time  and the mental stress if that’s where your heads at is going to send you to a early grave “ if the hearse arrives in timeyes

If though some manic is out there trying to deliberately kill someone then back off get the reg number and repot it . Most of the time it’s just people error. 

I personally think the guy above needs to let go , move on, it was unfortunate what happened but it’s dictating is whole life .  That’s  not healthy . 

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brooksby replied to Xena | 4 years ago
1 like

Xena wrote:

You know they can fit a device in any car so that your phone won’t work . Why don’t they do this .

it will save life’s and  quite a few crashes from happening as well .  

What you can’t do is stop people from bad driving. People make mistakes, make a bad call . 

If people chilled out a bit more and stopped getting so wound up things would be a lot better but the truth is most people are always in a fucking hurry and if your slowing them down ,be it a bike a car a bus a lorry  everyone else is a arsehole because they are slowing you down.  I’m out on bike most days, now and then someone starts to pull out a bit or someone gets a bit close  , so fucking what , it happens , now and then I make a mistake as well , it what we do, no one is fucking perfect .  No one is hurt no damage been done “ forget about it “ it’s a nothing issue .  Relax out there  swearing fighting is just a waste of time and energy over a non event ( I used to do it )  that if you let it pass 30 seconds later you will be thinking about something else . If your not then you should not be on the roads . Because it’s a definitely not going to go your way every time  and the mental stress if that’s where your heads at is going to send you to a early grave “ if the hearse arrives in timeyes

If though some manic is out there trying to deliberately kill someone then back off get the reg number and repot it . Most of the time it’s just people error. 

I personally think the guy above needs to let go , move on, it was unfortunate what happened but it’s dictating is whole life .  That’s  not healthy . 

Are you related to Xenophon2? Similar attitude, it seems...

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Griff500 replied to Xena | 4 years ago
1 like

Xena wrote:

You know they can fit a device in any car so that your phone won’t work . Why don’t they do this .

it will save life’s and  quite a few crashes from happening as well .  

Where to start? Modern cars use a shedload of features relying on the mobile phone network, such as real time traffic info, real time map re-routing, emergency comms to recovery and dealer network in the event of breakdown/accident, not to mention the fact that if you witness an accident you might actually want to stop and phone an ambulance without getting out of you car in the pissing rain where its touch-screen wont work.  All of the above are intended to help traffic flow and safety, and it would be a shame to jam them instead of cracking down on the feckwits phoning home to tell their partner to put the dinner on. 

I do wonder however why we can't have cameras at traffic lights to video drivers using phones. It would seem to be like shooting fish in a barrel.  

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Rik Mayals unde... replied to Griff500 | 4 years ago
0 likes

Griff500 wrote:

Xena wrote:

You know they can fit a device in any car so that your phone won’t work . Why don’t they do this .

it will save life’s and  quite a few crashes from happening as well .  

Where to start? Modern cars use a shedload of features relying on the mobile phone network, such as real time traffic info, real time map re-routing, emergency comms to recovery and dealer network in the event of breakdown/accident, not to mention the fact that if you witness an accident you might actually want to stop and phone an ambulance without getting out of you car in the pissing rain where its touch-screen wont work.  All of the above are intended to help traffic flow and safety, and it would be a shame to jam them instead of cracking down on the feckwits phoning home to tell their partner to put the dinner on. 

I do wonder however why we can't have cameras at traffic lights to video drivers using phones. It would seem to be like shooting fish in a barrel.  

I have been told that cameras have been developed and are being tested, to catch mobile phone users. I believe that they will be incorporated into speed and traffic light cameras.

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OldRidgeback replied to Rik Mayals underpants | 4 years ago
1 like

biker phil wrote:

Griff500 wrote:

Xena wrote:

You know they can fit a device in any car so that your phone won’t work . Why don’t they do this .

it will save life’s and  quite a few crashes from happening as well .  

Where to start? Modern cars use a shedload of features relying on the mobile phone network, such as real time traffic info, real time map re-routing, emergency comms to recovery and dealer network in the event of breakdown/accident, not to mention the fact that if you witness an accident you might actually want to stop and phone an ambulance without getting out of you car in the pissing rain where its touch-screen wont work.  All of the above are intended to help traffic flow and safety, and it would be a shame to jam them instead of cracking down on the feckwits phoning home to tell their partner to put the dinner on. 

I do wonder however why we can't have cameras at traffic lights to video drivers using phones. It would seem to be like shooting fish in a barrel.  

I have been told that cameras have been developed and are being tested, to catch mobile phone users. I believe that they will be incorporated into speed and traffic light cameras.

They're already in use actually, having passed the testing phase.

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Hirsute replied to Rik Mayals underpants | 4 years ago
0 likes

biker phil wrote:

I have been told that cameras have been developed and are being tested, to catch mobile phone users. I believe that they will be incorporated into speed and traffic light cameras.

Yes, but they can't tell if the passenger is using it.

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Stuk | 4 years ago
2 likes

I can’t see that it’s any different than the numerous appeals police make for people to come forward with potential dash cam evidence. In fact judging by the stories on road.cc helmet cam evidence is far more likely to be ignored.

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Griff500 | 4 years ago
5 likes

This is hilarious. Does she really think drivers are open to being educated by cyclists?

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burtthebike | 4 years ago
11 likes

Isn't it amazing that drivers want criminals on bicycles to be apprehended, but not criminals in cars; you know, the ones that actually kill people.

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Hirsute | 4 years ago
2 likes

I watched the clip in the end and was impressed with Sherry. From the C5 programme he was a bit extreme but he spoke very well here and was very clear and with good points.

Mallory was hopeless, she wanted him to educate but kept tellinig us he's not a policeman (hinted he was a failed candidate), telling us he was doing it wrong but no explanation of this or alternate strategy.

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Stef Marazzi | 4 years ago
2 likes

Good on Dave. I hope there are loads more people who take up doing this as well. He is getting the message out there. Don't play with your phone while driving. Don't close pass. The police should employ people to do this. Give them commission from the fines and people would very quickly learn not to do it. Worth its weight in gold.

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Mungecrundle | 4 years ago
15 likes

It should be pointed out quite clearly that Dave Sherry does not target drivers. He targets criminals driving carelessly, driving dangerously, driving whilst distracted with mobile phones or even driving whilst eating their cornflakes.

Such criminals affect every other driver, not just vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians (though the consequences may be much worse and much more personal). From the annoyance of a totally avoidable fender bender to the delays caused by blocking roads due to incidents, cost to society, the NHS, additional pressure on emergency first responders, the additional cost included in everyone's policy so that insurance companies stay on the right side of premiums v claims right up to the deaths and serious injuries of totally innocent drivers and their passengers.

Presumably Ms Malory wouldn't be too worried about a concerned member of the public reporting a drunk driver or someone driving recklessly near the local playground, or indeed reporting any number of non motoring related criminal offences. Why does she feel that a blind eye should be turned simply because the criminal is commiting an offence whilst driving?

That Dave Sherry has chosen to specialise in criminals being criminals whilst driving is due to his experience. Criticising him for that decision is a bit like criticising someone for raising charity cash for cancer rather than all diseases in general.

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MTB Refugee replied to Mungecrundle | 4 years ago
1 like

duplicate, please ignore...

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MTB Refugee replied to Mungecrundle | 4 years ago
11 likes

Mungecrundle wrote:

It should be pointed out quite clearly that Dave Sherry does not target drivers. He targets criminals driving carelessly, driving dangerously, driving whilst distracted with mobile phones or even driving whilst eating their cornflakes.

Such criminals affect every other driver, not just vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians (though the consequences may be much worse and much more personal). From the annoyance of a totally avoidable fender bender to the delays caused by blocking roads due to incidents, cost to society, the NHS, additional pressure on emergency first responders, the additional cost included in everyone's policy so that insurance companies stay on the right side of premiums v claims right up to the deaths and serious injuries of totally innocent drivers and their passengers.

Presumably Ms Malory wouldn't be too worried about a concerned member of the public reporting a drunk driver or someone driving recklessly near the local playground, or indeed reporting any number of non motoring related criminal offences. Why does she feel that a blind eye should be turned simply because the criminial is commiting an offence whilst driving?

That Dave Sherry has chosen to specialise in criminals being criminals whilst driving is due to his experience. Critiscising him for that decision is a bit like critiscising someone who raises charity cash for cancer rather than all diseases in general.

Excellent point. If you saw someone breaking into a car or someone's home, would you phone the police or just ignore it?

Ignoring a crime is antisocial, reporting a crime is the socially responsible thing to do.

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MTB Refugee | 4 years ago
8 likes

As Malory keeps stating, Dave Sherry isn't a Police Office. He isn't arresting anyone, he's not prosecuting anyone, he's not giving points and fines to anyone.

He's giving evidence to the Police and letting them decide what to do. In escence he is a mobile enforcement camera. Nothing more, nothing less.

I really don't understand her or anyones problem with this. If you don't want the punishment, stop doing the crime. Simples

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roadmanshaq | 4 years ago
3 likes

Good for him. A motorist nearly killed or maimed both him and his son. That amounts to nothing to cagers. 

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Karbon Kev | 4 years ago
2 likes

Malory's an idiot, she always was.

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John Smith | 4 years ago
17 likes

"Malory considers Sherry’s road safety approach “deeply unhelpful”" How? 

"and recommends that he instead spend his time trying to educate people."

He is. He referes them to the police for education.

The issue drivers have with him is exactly the same as other criminals have with people who "grass". Snitches get stiches, keep out of things that don't concern you and all that nonsense. As with that rubbish they wil be the first to complain when something impacts their life. 

Dave Sherry not a vigilanti, he is only undertaking his civic duty, as per John Peels principles of law enforcment and tradition of British Civil law:

"the police are the public and the public are the police; the police are the only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the intent of the community welfare."

If more people did this the world would be a much better place.

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Legs_Eleven_Wor... | 4 years ago
13 likes

Next up: 'should shoplifters be prosecuted?'.

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Hirsute replied to Legs_Eleven_Worcester | 4 years ago
0 likes
Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

Next up: 'should shoplifters be prosecuted?'.

I thought that depends on the value? £200 isn't it ?

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Legs_Eleven_Wor... replied to Hirsute | 4 years ago
1 like

hirsute wrote:
Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

Next up: 'should shoplifters be prosecuted?'.

I thought that depends on the value? £200 isn't it ?

Well, yes and no.  Shoplifting isn't actually an offence per se, and was just classed as 'theft' under s.1 of the Theft Act 1968.   The new s. 22A(3) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 now defines 'low level' theft as anything under £200.   You can't be sent to Crown Court for trial or for sentencing.

But my point was that only in the case of drivers, is so much done to spare them the 'ordeal' of answering for their actions.  The only other 'class' of citizens who get such leniency and indulgence from the criminal justice system are women.

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hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
15 likes

I don't understand Malory's issue with the helmet cam approach - surely it is educating the drivers that are caught.

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ktache | 4 years ago
15 likes

Good on Dave, if their extensive training, testing, registration and taxes cannot persuade them to follow the law, maybe losing half their licence might help remind them.

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HarrogateSpa | 4 years ago
7 likes

When you're on a bike and you're close passed, the driver drives off and you never see them again. The licence plate/ID on the car is irrelevant. This is the issue Malory should devote her energy to solving.

(Except when they get stuck in traffic).

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