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Near Miss of the Day 306: Mini driver left-hooks cyclist

Our regular series featuring close passes from around the country - today it's London...

Today’s video in our Near Miss of the Day series shows the moment a Mini driver turned left across the path of a cyclist without indicating in Bermondsey, south London.

The footage was submitted by Simon, who said that he’d love to get the views of fellow road.cc readers on it. The left-hook itself is at around 2 minutes 10 seconds into the video.

He said; “I typically ride a 12 mile route to my home in Charlton from my work in London Paddington.

“This was just as I was turning on to the A200 near Tooley Street.

“I have reported it to the Met Police and they have rejected it as not being worthy of them doing anything about it because ‘We feel the mini indicated in plenty of time for you to be able to see that he was turning left’."

Simon continued: “Yes the driver was indicating, but surely they have to also check that it's safe to turn across another lane of traffic and cause other road users to brake and turn in to a different road?

“Anyway, clearly I have a different view to the police, but would be good to know what others think about this.

“I've also asked the police if their interpretation of the law is that as long as you are indicating, you have the right to turn in to other traffic without being at fault for any accidents. Could be an interesting precedent for them to set."

> Near Miss of the Day turns 100 - Why do we do the feature and what have we learnt from it?

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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32 comments

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ktache | 4 years ago
0 likes

That BMW completely ignores the bus lane, couldn't read the signs, is it always restricted?

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cycle.london replied to ktache | 4 years ago
1 like

ktache wrote:

That BMW completely ignores the bus lane, couldn't read the signs, is it always restricted?

Yes, it says 'Mon - Fri at any time'.

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cycle.london | 4 years ago
0 likes

Exactly the same junction, exactly the same action by a BMW driver.

https://youtu.be/mTBj2RGH0Dw (about two minutes in)

Same result from the Met: refusal to prosecute.  

I used to get left-hooked a couple of times a week on that junction.  Now, I ride at the very right-hand side of my lane, to 'discourage' any passing.

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Hirsute replied to cycle.london | 4 years ago
1 like
cycle.london wrote:

Exactly the same junction, exactly the same action by a BMW driver.

https://youtu.be/mTBj2RGH0Dw (about two minutes in)

Same result from the Met: refusal to prosecute.  

I used to get left-hooked a couple of times a week on that junction.  Now, I ride at the very right-hand side of my lane, to 'discourage' any passing.

I thought they were quite careful, as they hung back a bit, did not go too fast and tried to slot into a suitable gap between cyclists. Shame they went over the white line.

Edited for post in the wrong section

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HLaB | 4 years ago
4 likes

Not the best bit of driving but I can't understand why the cyclist continued? Even if you ignore the indicator (some how missed it) it soon became cleare the driver was cutting accross  7

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ktache | 4 years ago
7 likes

Imagine that fellow cyclist Simon was replaced with PC Simon, riding a large and impressive police motorbike, mini driver does this to PC Simon, does mini driver get pulled over?  I think mini driver does.

Imagine mini driver exhibits this standard of driving during a driving test, is mini driver passing?  I'd hope not.

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mike the bike replied to ktache | 4 years ago
2 likes

ktache wrote:

...... Imagine mini driver exhibits this standard of driving during a driving test, is mini driver passing?  

Not a hope.  I think most examiners would take action here and hit the brake.  A small tick in the ETA box and another dream goes up in smoke.

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Crambie | 4 years ago
5 likes

It didn't take a genius to realise the car was going to turn left. Yes the driver should have double checked that it was safe but all the cyclist had to do was ease off and everything would have been fine. He didn't even seem to brake as the car did.

As for the video in general, holy moly. It's been about 15 years since I rode in central London and you always had a few idiot riders but in this 100% were. I used to roll my eyes when I read reports of what drivers think of cyclists but if that's a typical day in London these days I do have sympathy at least there. That was painful to watch.

Perhaps if we still had bobbies on the beat and patrols then both driving and cycling wouldn't have degenerated to the level it is now.

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Hirsute | 4 years ago
8 likes

Not a left hook. tbh I can't get up any outrage over this and I'm not surprised the met show no great interest. If it were a real left hook, that would be another matter. It's also a bit different to the one much earlier in the year with the small van where the driver wanted to turn left but thought it was ok to cross the solid white line a bit before they should.

It's London, there will always be constant conflict between users as to whose rights prevail, so really you have to be a bit more pragmatic about situations, otherwise no one would get anywhere.

 

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quiff | 4 years ago
4 likes

Think we've had this debate in a NMOTD before. It's Rule 72 (for cyclists) versus Rule 182 (general rules on using the road. It's a matter of interpretation as to which one is closer to the facts, but I think rule 72 is more relevant here. As a cyclist in that position I would probably have been letting the car go without complaint (though easy to say from my desk):

Rule 72

On the left. When approaching a junction on the left, watch out for vehicles turning in front of you, out of or into the side road. Just before you turn, check for undertaking cyclists or motorcyclists. Do not ride on the inside of vehicles signalling or slowing down to turn left.

Rule 182

Use your mirrors and give a left-turn signal well before you turn left. Do not overtake just before you turn left and watch out for traffic coming up on your left before you make the turn, especially if driving a large vehicle. Cyclists, motorcyclists and other road users in particular may be hidden from your view.

 

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OldRidgeback | 4 years ago
3 likes

It's not a good example of driving, but then it's not a good example of cycling either. I can see why the police were reluctant to proceed. The driver should've been aware of the cyclist but wasn't. However the cyclist should've also seen the car's indicator and backed off - a failure to appreciate what another road user is trying to do. 

There are some very poor examples of cycling in that clip too. The guy who hops onto the pavement at speed to undertake the bus is the sort of rider who gets us all a bad name. I'm not saying I wouldn't hop a pavement to get round a vehicle in the way, but I'd certainly do it with a lot more care than that.

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brooksby | 4 years ago
3 likes

If I had been  the cyclist with the helmet camera...

 

I can see the mini indicating left, ahead of me but in the lane to my right.

I can see that we are approaching a junction and make the assumption that the mini's driver intends to go into it.

I am fully aware that I have priority as the mini will be crossing my lane.

However, I am also also aware that many motorists think that if they put on their indicator - even for a single flash! - then that somehow gives them priority, and don't assume that the mini driver will wait (or look, other than to check there isn't a bus barrelling down at them).

I can tell that if I continue at my current speed then we're going to come into conflict.

I stop pedalling for a few seconds (maybe even touch my brakes): the mini goes across into the junction in front of me without me having to throw down the anchors and without me being thrown across their bonnet.

I call them an @rse for not looking properly, but otherwise I carry on my way.

Happy days.

YMMV 

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Mark_1973_ | 4 years ago
2 likes

Substitute cyclist for bus. Still ok?

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nicmason | 4 years ago
7 likes

Plenty of time to see that and everyone is moving fairly slowly. thats not a fast overtake brake and cut left which imo is what constitutes a left hook.  Again its urban traffic. Give way and co operate. 

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Rick_Rude | 4 years ago
5 likes

Idiot cyclists everywhere in that video including the video taker.

I could see that move coming before he stuck the indicators on due to the proximity the car had taken to the bus lane. Then he actually indicates and the cyclist at best doesn't slow at all and at worst speeds into it. It was like loads I've see with motorbikes accelerating into problems and then crying about it.

Sometimes the easiest option is stop pedalling and be ready to stop but im guessing some of these urban warriors don't drive and have probably never been officially tested to use the roads in any fashion or read the highway code
I seem to remember a similar Jeremy Vine video where he just continines to pedal into a problem rather than let of for 5s.

Cyclists should all ride motorbikes for a year then you'd never get caught out at 15 mph again and it seems like you've got ages to think about moves.

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Captain Badger | 4 years ago
5 likes

I think (hope?))I might have anticipated the mini's move, if  I had seen indication, and slowed.

however indication does not confer priority, and the mini driver intends to cross another lane. They clearly either do not observe the cyclist at all,or do so and fail to assess the risk before making the manoeuvre. 

As has already been said, if the cyclist had been a txi/bus the mini would be seen as stupid for crossing someone else's path/priority. Priority though is not reduced by size of road user or number of wheels either, cyclists should be viewed as any other road user in this context.

Further from a liability perspective, a duty of care lies with those with the ability to cause greater harm. This to me is bleeding obvious - when I'm driving, I might be "right", but I have no desire to prove this by knocking someone over. In the mini's position (I hope) I would recognised  the possibility of folk passing on the left, and taken into account before movin from my lane.

 

this to me is on of those examples where we can argue till the cows come home about who is "right". But I would not be particular pleased with myself if I was the driver, and if I was on a driving test I would expect to fail.

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zero_trooper | 4 years ago
2 likes

Crap road layout. There’s a bus lane, which ends at the junction (what do the buses do?). Then there’s a separated cycle lane somewhere to the left. 

As mentioned above, the Mini wouldn’t have done that manoeuvre if it was a bus or taxi they were cutting up and that’s what it is, cutting up another (vulnerable) road user. I know that the cyclist could have done things differently, but they shouldn’t have to.

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lukei1 | 4 years ago
1 like

I've had this argument with the Met, after a driver waited for me to pass on a cycleway and then turned, cutting off 2 cyclists behind me. Their interpretation is that drivers only have to give way to cyclists that they would physically endanger, "giving way" doesn;t mean giving way like you would if you were turning across car traffic, which I find very wrong

 

"The car in question was indicating in advance which you can also see from your position and therefore the cyclist behind should have had sufficient time to be aware of the vehicle’s intention and slow down to avoid unnecessary danger.

The highway code 183 refers to cyclists on the drivers inside which he does comply with by allowing you to pass, however they are not expected to stop to give way to every cyclist behind them as well because they have to keep with the flow of traffic otherwise risk causing an obstruction."

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Rik Mayals unde... | 4 years ago
9 likes

Watching this, I have to say that in my opinion I feel the cyclist was at fault here. You can clearly see the mini indicating, whether three indicator flashes or ten. As the cyclist was behind the mini all of the time, the cyclist should have seen the indication, and held back, not proceed to undertake the mini as it turned left. To me it seems like the cyclist was almost looking for a reason to report a motorist, which is how it appeared to me, in my opinion. A cyclists, we all have to cycle safely and not give motorists reason to be pissed off with us. If it was me, I would have held back and let the mini perform its turn. 

Btw I would hate to cycle in London, looking at the shitty riding from almost all other cyclists, it's no wonder they get a bad rap from motorists. And we all get tarred with the same brush. 

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Sriracha | 4 years ago
2 likes

What was I supposed to be looking out for? Cyclists on the pavement? Cyclists forward of the ASL box at a red light?

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tigersnapper | 4 years ago
4 likes

CXR94Di2 - This has always appeared to be the standard of cycling when I've been in London.  Not all of it, but enough to understand some people's opinions of cyclists.

In this instance, although the driver doesn't appear to be aware of the cyclist he was in front of him right through the previous junction and did indicate, albeit possibly not engaging the indicator fully, just flicking it.  This looks to be mostly the cyclist's issue for not reading the traffic properly and assuming right of way as the approach to the junction was on a marked cycle path, which stops for the junction.

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HoarseMann | 4 years ago
12 likes

To me, a left hook is where a car has overtaken a bike then cut in. In this case the bike was behind the vehicle the whole time.

It wasn’t great driving, but it wasn’t great cycling either. The car did clearly indicate and there was a gap if the bike had backed off and not undertaken.

Overtaking on the left is only acceptable if the vehicle you are overtaking is turning right or in a queue of slow moving traffic. Neither is the case here.

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CXR94Di2 | 4 years ago
5 likes

Some poor cycling amongst other cyclists. Jumping onto paths at speed- all it needs is a person to step out from a shop/office door and wallop. If that is the norm in London, I cam understand the anti cycling attitude from many.

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Captain Badger replied to CXR94Di2 | 4 years ago
1 like

CXR94Di2 wrote:

Some poor cycling amongst other cyclists. Jumping onto paths at speed- all it needs is a person to step out from a shop/office door and wallop. If that is the norm in London, I cam understand the anti cycling attitude from many.

does  poor behaviour from someone with different colour skin mean you understand racism?

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CXR94Di2 replied to Captain Badger | 4 years ago
5 likes
Captain Zhap wrote:

CXR94Di2 wrote:

Some poor cycling amongst other cyclists. Jumping onto paths at speed- all it needs is a person to step out from a shop/office door and wallop. If that is the norm in London, I cam understand the anti cycling attitude from many.

does  poor behaviour from someone with different colour skin mean you understand racism?

Eh?

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Captain Badger replied to CXR94Di2 | 4 years ago
0 likes

CXR94Di2 wrote:
Captain Zhap wrote:

CXR94Di2 wrote:

Some poor cycling amongst other cyclists. Jumping onto paths at speed- all it needs is a person to step out from a shop/office door and wallop. If that is the norm in London, I cam understand the anti cycling attitude from many.

does  poor behaviour from someone with different colour skin mean you understand racism?

Eh?

Straight question dude, don't overthink it 

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Hirsute replied to Captain Badger | 4 years ago
1 like
Captain Zhap wrote:

CXR94Di2 wrote:
Captain Zhap wrote:

CXR94Di2 wrote:

Some poor cycling amongst other cyclists. Jumping onto paths at speed- all it needs is a person to step out from a shop/office door and wallop. If that is the norm in London, I cam understand the anti cycling attitude from many.

does  poor behaviour from someone with different colour skin mean you understand racism?

Eh?

Straight question dude, don't overthink it 

The question doesn't make sense.

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Philh68 | 4 years ago
5 likes

As an Aussie I can see why the police weren’t interested. The car was in front from the previous turn, and signalled their intent. The rider has to accept some responsibility here.

I don’t know what your rules are in the UK, here in Australia if it’s a dedicated bicycle lane the cyclist has right of way but otherwise if a vehicle is in front of you and signals a left turn they have right of way. You should move into their lane behind them. You can be riding in a bus lane like this example and that’s still the case.

Here motor vehicles also may use special purpose lanes like cycle lanes and bus lanes for 50 metres before making a turn or when entering or leaving the road.  It would have been preferable for the mini driver to do that and the cyclist pass easily on the right. But do the UK laws allow it?

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hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
7 likes

I don't get how the vehicle indicating makes much difference. Surely if you perform a maneouvre that forces other traffic (that is travelling straight at a constant speed) to brake, then it's potentially dangerous and certainly not an example of good driving.

However, that didn't look especially dangerous to me, though I'd expect the police to at least send a warning letter that their driving was inappropriate around vulnerable traffic.

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Awavey | 4 years ago
2 likes

not that it excuses it but the rear & side visibility in those stretched MINIs is appalling,the clubman is the worst with the stupid boot setup creating a pillar so you cant even see out the rear window, but they are basically akin to a windowless van but without the kind of blind spot mirrors you need, so not that it helps but that driver had no idea there was anybody there, theyd indicated so felt theyd done their bit at telling people what was happening next

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