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Near Miss of the Day 350: 'The closest pass I've ever had'

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

The cyclist who filmed today's submission in our Near Miss of the Day series says it was "the closest pass I've ever had" - and when you watch the video, you'll see why, with the space the motorist gave him estimated at no more than one inch.

It was filmed in Bournemouth by road.cc reader Dave, who told us: "I reckon it was an old person who didn't see me at all.

"People usually only pass this close when they don't see you, most other people at least give a foot or two.

"I didn't bother reporting to the police, they don't do jack about it, just say, 'Oh we logged it'.     

"Brilliant attitude, really makes cyclists feel protected ...  see the screenshot at the video, that's me driving past a cyclist properly," he added.

"Why can't people grasp how easy it is to pass a bicycle?"

> 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.

> What to do if you capture a near miss or close pass (or worse) on camera while cycling

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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26 comments

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Muddy Ford | 4 years ago
0 likes

Fairly typical for this area unfortunately. Read the comments section in the local toilet paper 'Echo' and you will observe much hatred of cyclists. This overtake was not misjudged, it was contempt.

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ktache | 4 years ago
2 likes

Good stuff Papa Smurf.

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Papa Smurf | 4 years ago
5 likes

I have reported a very similar event to Dorset Police. They told me they had sent a letter to the offender pointing out the offence and that it was logged, another complaint will result in prosecution. 
Report it. 
The initiative is called 'Snap' a portal for reporting such offences. 
https://operationsnap.dorset.police.uk/

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Hirsute | 4 years ago
1 like

I'd report it in Essex, as though outside the time window, they would still use it for reference in any future incidents (or current)

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Butty | 4 years ago
4 likes

So what's the point of the camera and filming the journey  if not to capture bad driving and reporting it?

Posting it on RoadCC will just produce a froth of impotent rage.

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efail | 4 years ago
1 like

Had one the same, in Carlisle, on Saturday. I actually put my hand, with a bent elbow, onto the car as I thought I was coming off. 100m up the road he was sat at traffic lights. When I 'questioned' him about it he gave me two fingers. I sometimes wish they would get out for a proper discussion.

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alansmurphy replied to efail | 4 years ago
1 like

efail wrote:

Had one the same, in Carlisle, on Saturday. I actually put my hand, with a bent elbow, onto the car as I thought I was coming off. 100m up the road he was sat at traffic lights. When I 'questioned' him about it he gave me two fingers. I sometimes wish they would get out for a proper discussion.

 

Have the discussion with their wing mirror, they normally get involved then...

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vonhelmet replied to alansmurphy | 4 years ago
1 like

alansmurphy wrote:

efail wrote:

Had one the same, in Carlisle, on Saturday. I actually put my hand, with a bent elbow, onto the car as I thought I was coming off. 100m up the road he was sat at traffic lights. When I 'questioned' him about it he gave me two fingers. I sometimes wish they would get out for a proper discussion.

 

Have the discussion with their wing mirror, they normally get involved then...

I nearly took someone's wing mirror off this morning.  I was filtering on the left and a car randomly swerved in towards me.  They had their window open and I heard someone in the car say "Whoa!" and then they swerved back.  Presumably they heard my choice Anglo-Saxon at around the same time...

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burtthebike | 4 years ago
2 likes

The clip was silent, but I muttered a few expletives.

OK, so it's too late to report it, but perhaps you could send it to the local tv and press to see if they'll make a thing of it.

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AlsoSomniloquism | 4 years ago
1 like

For those suggesting report it. As it was July last year it is too late to do that. However for the OP, any like this in the future please do. 

Conversely is every other poster on here called Dave as they seem to be the last few NMOTD submitters. 

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kil0ran | 4 years ago
3 likes

Fecking hell. 

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Toffee | 4 years ago
0 likes

Always be fearful of cars with plastic door handles. They're only really on the cheapest cars in the range, and imply that the owner cares very little about their car, or driving.

And if they care little about driving, chances are they won't be particularly adept at it.

This is, of course, not a one-size-fits-all rule.

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Russell Orgazoid | 4 years ago
6 likes

Report it...don't load it here.

BTW, if you see that car again, I suggest letting the puncture fairy pay a visit.

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brooksby replied to Russell Orgazoid | 4 years ago
4 likes

Russell Orgazoid wrote:

Report it...don't load it here.

BTW, if you see that car again, I suggest letting the puncture fairy pay a visit.

I don't think that the Puncture Fairy visits cars.  She delegates that to the Key Goblin and the Bodywork Boggart.

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Mungecrundle replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
5 likes
brooksby wrote:

Russell Orgazoid wrote:

Report it...don't load it here.

BTW, if you see that car again, I suggest letting the puncture fairy pay a visit.

I don't think that the Puncture Fairy visits cars.  She delegates that to the Key Goblin and the Bodywork Boggart.

And the "Potato up the Exhaust Pipe Esquilax"

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hmas1974 replied to Mungecrundle | 4 years ago
6 likes
Mungecrundle wrote:
brooksby wrote:

Russell Orgazoid wrote:

Report it...don't load it here.

BTW, if you see that car again, I suggest letting the puncture fairy pay a visit.

I don't think that the Puncture Fairy visits cars.  She delegates that to the Key Goblin and the Bodywork Boggart.

And the "Potato up the Exhaust Pipe Esquilax"

Or the dog sh*t under the door handles balrog

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hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
6 likes

Whether or not they saw the cyclist, they should not be allowed to drive anymore as a matter of public safety.

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Pyro Tim | 4 years ago
4 likes

That's acres of space for Bournemouth drivers.

You are right about the response you will receive, but I believe Dorset police have somewhere to upload videos. Unfortunately they are a complete shower of...

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SuperG | 4 years ago
4 likes

Terrible....just confirms the disregard of many people, lazy, selfish and dangerous.

 

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alansmurphy | 4 years ago
5 likes

They saw you, they dare not put their wheels over the white line, if you have to die as a consequence then so be it!

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blodnik1 replied to alansmurphy | 4 years ago
5 likes

alansmurphy wrote:

They saw you, they dare not put their wheels over the white line, if you have to die as a consequence then so be it!

EXACTLY this!You must report it.If someone is killed in Bournemouth next week by this driver......

 

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brooksby replied to alansmurphy | 4 years ago
5 likes

alansmurphy wrote:

They saw you, they dare not put their wheels over the white line, if you have to die as a consequence then so be it!

And clearly they didn't feel able to hold back the few seconds until there wasn't an oncoming vehicle...

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Sub4 replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
3 likes

brooksby wrote:

alansmurphy wrote:

They saw you, they dare not put their wheels over the white line, if you have to die as a consequence then so be it!

And clearly they didn't feel able to hold back the few seconds until there wasn't an oncoming vehicle...

an unerring ability to overtake at the least appropriate moment. So many manage this 'skill' that I'm starting to wonder if it has been made a part of the driving test!

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Paul__M replied to Sub4 | 4 years ago
1 like

[/quote]

an unerring ability to overtake at the least appropriate moment. So many manage this 'skill' that I'm starting to wonder if it has been made a part of the driving test!

[/quote]

 

Yeah, its bizzare sometimes, with Sunday drivers especially. It seems as if over time their risk threshold increases, so while they missed a decent opportunity earlier they suddenly make an ill advised move. I suspect it occurs when they see another car behind them and feel pressured. It's not unusal for a car appearing in the opposite direction having to brake.

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brooksby replied to alansmurphy | 4 years ago
1 like

alansmurphy wrote:

They saw you, they dare not put their wheels over the white line, if you have to die as a consequence then so be it!

And, I suppose it's the same mentality as a bus or lorry driver who will pass a cyclist with inches to spare but will say that it's all good because they didn't go into the cycle lane  no

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the little onion | 4 years ago
10 likes

Log it with the police

If they don't respond chase it up

If that doesn't work, stick in a freedom of information request

If that doesn't get you what you wanted, go to your police and crime commissioner. 

 

Don't give up before you have started

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