It’s Chinese New Year tomorrow as we enter the Year of the Rat – but in Near Miss of the Day land it’s the Year of Dangerous Overtaking at Pinch Points, going by some of the recent submissions we’ve had to our feature.
This latest one happened on Glasgow’s Mosspark Boulevard with the driver of the white van involved overtaking getting so close that he actually made contact with the cyclist. However, Police Scotland decided to take no action.
The footage was filmed by road.cc reader Robert, who told us: “The police did nothing so I complained and they still found nothing other than my riding to be at fault.
“In the chicane the van made contact with my handlebars and shoulder ,slight but it happened, they said I should have braked and that I did not take into consideration the hazards ahead.
“They said I should have indicated before pulling out of the dedicated cycle lane (I assume they mean the bit at the side of the road that cars park on. I will be complaining to the PIRC [the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner] regarding this.”
> 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@road.cc">info@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
43 thoughts on “Near Miss of the Day 363: White van man in ultra-close pass – but police say cyclist at fault (includes swearing)”
Riders position and line was
Riders position and line was established, van was wide of him and then drove into him. Dangerous driving, simple as…
Sometimes discretion is the
Sometimes discretion is the better part of valour. If I’ve got anything alongside me as I approach a pinch point, I back off, and let them go. I shouldn’t have to, but when push comes to shove, 2+ tonnes of idiot guided missile is always going to win, and you’ll only get one chance to find out, so that’s that.
Assuming you have ample time
Assuming you have ample time to react and the experience to recognise the situation early enough.
A lot of prerequisites for riding a bike.
I get that it’s a good survival technique for the short term, but worry the further you bend over, the more you’ll be expected too.
kt26 wrote:
And the more it’s sending the message to drivers that they can drive how they like as cyclists will get out of their way. That’s why it’s all the more appalling that the police have taken no action in this case; effectively condoning motorists running cyclists off the road.
Precisely. Letting people get
Precisely. Letting people get away with this just means someone else down the line gets hurt.
[/quote] And the more it’s sending the message to drivers that they can drive how they like as cyclists will get out of their way. That’s why it’s all the more appalling that the police have taken no action in this case; effectively condoning motorists running cyclists off the road.[/quote]
yeah, there’s drivers all over GB getting a message that they can drive how they like against cyclists ….seriously. Your making such a huge fucking generalisation about drivers . I have meet with plenty of drivers including black taxi cabs who stop for a chat at the lights and say ” be safe” ” be careful ” and we have a nice chat . If I make a error I apologise and most times I get a nice response ” no worries mate etc” and if I have to confront a driver , very rare ,I never shout and I start by saying I understand your position I drive a car myself . if you can just make sure next time you take a look before you pull out etc etc ” works every time I always get an apology.
so where’s all these killer drivers out to get cyclists?
who gives a fuck about what the police say anyway ,they have just became revenue agents for there local authorities.
Don’t be a angry cyclist .Be a smart one.
Sounds like we have had very
Sounds like we have had very different experiences. I’ll admit those who came to my aid after I was wipeout by a driver failing to yield at a junction did a great job.
Otherwise my experience has been contempt and disdain, culminating in a confrontation in which the psychopath behind the wheel thought it was funny that I was forced to take avoiding action, laughed at the idea of killing me and then drove into my leg.
I was hit 3 times in the space of a year, all from vehicles failing to yeild, with not much I could do about it. I’ve revisited those moments in my head constantly to see if I could have done something different, for a while after I was brake before every junction I passed subconsciously, until I was aware I was creating danger as the vehicle behind would not expect me to slow suddenly.
I still have PTSD which means I won’t travel home at rush hour, and have anxiety attacks.
While I haven’t been hit in a while I have had more near misses than I’d care to recount. My relative luck is due to defensive riding, self preservation and a sense of duty to my partner to come home in one piece, but it doesn’t change the fear I feel when I’ve had to take a bailout, knowing how wrong it could have gone.
On top of this I hear anti cyclist rhetoric far too often, from people who seem to think its appropriate to joke about hitting cyclists when they learn that I cycle.
I am impressed you have had such different experiences, long may they continue – I wouldn’t wish mine on anyone.
That looks like very good
That looks like very good cycling. Nice hazard awareness. Whilst the cyclists’ position was not ‘wrong’, a more assertive position (i.e primary position) might have dissuaded the white van driver from taking the risk. The cyclist was already ‘established’ in the position when the taxi overtook safely, so the thing about not signalling is nonsense.
My advice would be to contact Cycling UK and get them involved. It seemed to have worked in this similar case: https://road.cc/content/news/270251-police-officer-blames-cyclist-taxi-driver-close-pass-road-safety-experts
Whilst I appreciate the
Whilst I appreciate the advice can work, this is pretty much what happened to me yesterday.
I was further out than Robert, and the van was a 10T rigid truck. My bailout came in the form of a bus stop just before the pinch point.
I don’t think position would have changed much other than the severity of the contact. That’s my opinion at least.
The police response is basically aiding and abetting, but not uncommon and a primary reason I haven’t bought a camera – I don’t think I could contain myself in Roberts position, and that wouldn’t end well for me.
Cyclist pretty much keeps one
Cyclist pretty much keeps one line for 300 yards and doesn’t deviate from it – Police response is he pulled out of his dedicated cycle lane without indicating and should have slowed down with the pinch point ahead.
Van driver pulls in overtaking person on the road and clipping them – Police response is no fault at all.
Did they even watch the video at all? How do they know the cyclist didn’t indicate (and as he was already in situ in the correct “lane” he didn’t need to). Why does the cyclist need to brake because of hazardous conditions ahead when they are only hazordous because of the actions of the vehicle making the stupid manouvre from behind.
Definitely complain and get other organisations involved as mentioned because even with unbiased eyes, what they mentioned does not match the footage at all.
There is no “dedicated cycle
There is no “dedicated cycle lane” on” Mosspark Boulevard. As Robert correctly says there are parking areas along the roadsides, marked by white, dotted lines which indicate the edge of the carriageway.
Mosspark Boulevard is notorious for drivers trying to force their ways through at pinch points. Robert’s riding looked excellent.
Good for you, take this as
Good for you OP, take this as far as you need to to get a satisfactory resolution which is at least a careless or better still dangerous driving charge against van man.
A terrible reaction from
A terrible reaction from Glasgow police! (unlawful even?) Victim blaming much!
The cyclist was established
The cyclist was established on the road and following a straight line and the van driver created a dangerous situation for absolutely no reason.
The police should be ashamed and need to learn some roadcraft and also how they should be doing their job.
Stan Lee would be so proud
Stan Lee would be so proud his comics have had such a profound influence.
With great power comes no responsibility… wait a second…
Why is it the cyclist’s
Why is it the cyclist’s business to brake and watch out for hazards ahead when he’s the one in front? Surely it’s the van driver’s responsibility (as the following vehicle) to brake and watch out for hazards ahead?
Nailed it there Brooksby!
Nailed it there Brooksby!
The van driver has an excellent view of what’s ahead of them, including the cyclist and completely screws it up in a dangerous manner.
Not a dedicated cycle lane –
Not a dedicated cycle lane – dotted lines indicate cars can use if unavoidable, and in any case it terminates abruptly at the traffic island.
I don’t recall “dedicated cycle lane” even appearing in the HC?
The police don’t care about
The police don’t seem to care when drivers use the bike lane as a car park, so I suppose it’s only fair that they tell bike riders to use the car parking as a bike lane. Very even-handed.
Completely ridiculous
Completely ridiculous response from the police. If that was me, I’d be wondering who the driver knew in the force.
That is a shocking decision
That is a shocking decision from Police. The cyclist was never in the “cycle lane” (which is definitely just parking space for cars) in the first place so of course he doesn’t need to indicate out of it.
Appeal and complain as loudly as you can!
Was the cop even watching any
Was the cop even watching any video let alone this video?
Cyclist was travelling at a lick, lined up for the hazard some way out and was then cut up by the moronic driver. Oh, I suppose the driver was ‘provoked’.
Rider needs to escalate this one because that is an appalling response from police.
It’s such a motorist attitude
It’s such a motorist attitude with the police here (of course (sorry to those working hard at the WMP)). Any form of white line near the gutter is automatically a cycle lane and woe betide any rider not using it. Makes no difference to how the motorist should behave, drive in it, park in it every bit of tarmac belongs to them.
It’s incredible isn’t it.
It’s incredible isn’t it. Submit a video and your cycling for several hours both before and after the incident must be beyond reproach (including those random “laws” that people make up – you can’t break any of those either which is difficult when the laws can be made up on the spot, even by the police).
But you can literally drive a van into someone and it’s not found to be careless or dangerous. That means (by process of elimination) that the driving must not have fallen “below” or “far below” the standard of a normal competent driver (the legal defintiions of careless and dangerous driving respectively).
And that is terrifying!
Ridiculous although at least
Ridiculous although at least you get to submit footage.
My force won’t accept it as they don’t have the resources to view them all.
Wiltshire by any chance?
Wiltshire by any chance?
That’s my local force who offer the same level of support.
Complain about the government
Complain about the government not the police. Apart from the cuts in front line police there where also huge cuts in support staff. Exactly the sort of people who would deal with these videos.
Why not both?
Why not both?
The government should be blamed for the overall resourcing of police, but some of that blame should also fall onto the top police chiefs for not making their case sufficiently (or maybe resigning if they’re not being taken seriously).
Meanwhile, the police have to be blamed for not performing their job properly. I can’t defend police who blame a cyclist when the van driver is clearly at fault. I don’t see how that’s a resourcing issue. In fact, I would consider that the police are creating more work for themselves as they’ll presumably be looking at dealing with a complaint as well as having to deal with the original incident.
If the cyclist new that road
If the cyclist new that road then he can only blame himself . In situations like that I make sure I move towards the centre of the road in plenty of time when I know that the road is going to narrow . I signal before I move out , I use the Contador pistol gesture . Pointing to the space I’m moving into.
. When the road widens I move back to the side of the road and signal thanks to the veichle behind . Most times they wave back with a acknowledgement.
Common fucking sense people, common fucking sense. Unless some driver deliberately is trying to run you off the road ,stop bitching and moaning and take control otherwise walk or take the bus etc .
Thanks for you erudite
Thanks for your erudite comments but you failed to meet your quota of eff words per sentence.
On the other hand you exceeded the threshold for victim blaming.
Listen I take responsibility
Listen I take responsibility for myself. I’ve been riding a long time and also worked as a cycle courier in London for a while and had plenty of crashes during that time .
…..humour by the way .
It’s always easy to blame someone else, instead of taking responsibility for yourself.
i have rode my bikes all over the world , I live in London and do my riding / workout rides in London . I’ve not crashed once , not once since I took up riding a road bike and that’s been quite a few years . Admittedly you can be very unlucky and some idiot does something crazy, I had a head on going down Highgate hill west , a driver with no patience decided he would drive up the wrong side . I managed to squeeze past him . He made a bad decision and lucky for me I never got hit . Things happen but most of the time common sense and defensive riding will see you safe . I put the gas down where I know it’s relatively safe . I didn’t know there was a threshold for victim blaming. Perhaps you can post a pie chart or some stats you have made up in your head because somehow you think cyclists should have more rights on the road than anyone else and everyone should tiptoe around them . Learn to ride a bike and know how to handle yourself and you won’t have any issues. Simple as that.
So fuck off
Of course I did not say that
Of course I did not say that “cyclists should have more rights on the road than anyone else”, not that making stuff up seems to worry you.
It’s ironic that in your next post you tell us not to be angry.
I’m not your mate, so best not to tell me to eff off.
So you need to know a road
So you need to know a road now before you can ride down it and follow yet more non existent rules.
How does the van driver know if the cyclist knows the road? Is it his fault if they don’t?
At what point does hitting someone with a vehicle you have sole control of become your fault exactly. According to you it is down to the experience of your victim and nothing to do with your actions.
What nonsense.
Don’t worry all drivers
Don’t worry all drivers understand and accept the contador gesture but it’s all in how you deliver it
Something along the lines of
Something along the lines of Trinity in The Matrix – “Dodge this”?
Do you keep on staring back
Do you keep on staring back at the vehicle behind to catch the waved acknowledgements?
No they acknowledge me when
No they acknowledge me when they pass . Simple . I tend not to look back I’d prefer to see where I’m going .
On the other side of the coin
On the other side of the coin. Transit Man will also have been familiar with the road and would have known that the pinch point existed and should have dropped back rather than barged through.
There’s several pinch points on my commute that even with my taking a strong position they will still attempt to barge through with some passing on the other side of the island when they realise they are about to impale their vehicle on a bollard.
This is representative of shoddy driving demonstrated by many motorists who have no regard for other road users.
Xena wrote:
Kicking myself for missing this last time I refreshed my knowledge of the Highway Code.
Yes, this should be brought
Yes, this should be brought to the police commissioner.
I too submitted video footage to the Police in Belfast and never heard anything……
An idiot went straight on at a right turn only junction, when I was turning right. Missed my right hand side by millimetres. His numberplate was easily readable from the video.
Bad driving by the van driver
Bad driving by the van driver. But looking after yourself by owning the situation would have been good . You saw him coming. i would have taken action and slowed not been waving my arms about energetically (hopefully).
Yes Nic. There was a lovely
Yes Nic. There was a lovely bailout zone of a curbed grassy area with two massive steel bollards and to actually slow fast enough to not be going through at the same time of the van would have meant heavy braking. Of course, no one loses control whilst heavy braking these days if they have antilock brakes which all bikes do or course.
very mimimal slowing would
very mimimal slowing would have done it. I’m not excusing the van driver here for bad driving but its good to live in the real world where you take action to protect yourself not the I cycle at this speed and must not slow and if anything out of the ordinary happens I crash but have the moral high ground as i heal world. .Seems a lot of people on here would benefit from some defensive cycling / motoring training.