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Near Miss of the Day 382: Everyone wants to overtake oncoming tractor

Our regular series featuring close passes from around the country – today it's Hampshire...

It increasingly feels there’s a case to be made that nice straight roads with good visibility are the most dangerous of all for cyclists because that’s where motorists feel most inclined to overtake.

This incident took place on the B2177, just outside Portsmouth, on the evening of Thursday February 27.

Neil writes: “The road is a long straight, I'm visible with bright clothing and front and rear lights – I'm pretty sure I can be seen from quite a distance – however one very impatient driver decides to overtake several cars and a tractor. That driver then gets cut up by someone else just behind the tractor who also decides to overtake.”

Neil says he hasn’t contacted Hampshire police, “as they either do not respond or reply saying they won’t take action.”

He has reported a number of incidents in the past and been disappointed by the force’s response.

“I've been spat at, had things thrown at me, received lots of verbal abuse and had a driver recently who tried to run me off the road several times whilst telling me cyclists should not be allowed on the road. On that occasion Hampshire police said they couldn't be bothered to do anything as I didn’t have footage of the driver’s face.”

> 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

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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13 comments

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scu98rkr | 4 years ago
0 likes

This was obviously could of led to a very bad accident.

But I often find drivers dont seem to understand that you cant move into the other lane if a cycle is coming.

I often alread moving past a line of parked cars and then someone starts coming from the other side. 

The are on my side of the road. There is no reason I should move over for them.

If they just stopped as they approached I would nt mind. Once they are stopped moving past them is no problem.

But they cant just keep approaching me and forcing me to the curve when they arent even on there side of the road !

 

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Hirsute | 4 years ago
2 likes

Good work HoarseMann

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HoarseMann replied to Hirsute | 4 years ago
3 likes

Thanks. I think this bit of research hits the nail on the head.

If you don't fancy the long read I posted earlier, there's a 30min podcast and 5 min video on this webpage:

https://www.roadsafetytrust.org.uk/funded-projects/19/university-of-leic...

There's huge variability in how different police forces act on this issue. However, the law as it stands is useable. There's no need to wait for the overdue road offences review to be able to take action. The problem is attitudes and societal norms, which need pressure in order to change.

As the report authors state, not many dangerous drivers begin their journey with the intent of causing death or injury. Therefore, only prosecuting DD when harm has occurred is no deterrent. There needs to be more action taken for DD when endangerment has occurred in order to change driver behaviour.

Let's be clear, it's behaviour change that is needed, not only justice following a tragedy.

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kevvjj | 4 years ago
3 likes

If we give up reporting these events then nothing will ever change. Even if the police don't take action they will, over time, gather a body of evidence that will highlight an issue. If you do nothing then nothing changes. If you aren't happy with a decision then you need to take it further via a formal complaint - this will involve more paperwork for the police and they might just begin to get the message that acting on the initial evidence is more in their interest.

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schlepcycling replied to kevvjj | 4 years ago
1 like

kevvjj wrote:

If we give up reporting these events then nothing will ever change. Even if the police don't take action they will, over time, gather a body of evidence that will highlight an issue. If you do nothing then nothing changes. If you aren't happy with a decision then you need to take it further via a formal complaint - this will involve more paperwork for the police and they might just begin to get the message that acting on the initial evidence is more in their interest.

I have to agree with this.  I report at 1 offence a week to Thames Valley that occur on my commute and so far not a single NIP has been issued, all they send is a letter outlining their responsiblities when overtaking vulberable road users.  I did start to wonder why do I bother but I decided to keep going so at least the car's details are recorded and if there's another incident stronger enforcement action may be taken.  

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HoarseMann | 4 years ago
3 likes
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ktache replied to HoarseMann | 4 years ago
1 like

Good find.

I couldn't find a date, the last reference was 2017, so seems a relatively recent paper.  The summary is good, I might  have a go at the full paper.

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HoarseMann replied to ktache | 4 years ago
2 likes

make sure you pace yourself! I've not got past the contents page yet 

I think it was dated around June 2019

The takeaway for me was the fact a dangerous driving charge was actively avoided by some police forces due to the increased paperwork required and the issues in having to deal with the CPS.

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NZ Vegan Rider | 4 years ago
0 likes

Is there not some other way of reporting this or making a formal complaint re the police inaction?

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Hirsute | 4 years ago
1 like

381 was 3 points and £200 and that was paltry.

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Butty | 4 years ago
6 likes

The Audi tries to overtake 2 cars plus the tractor but the van then pulls out in front of them. So many levels of careless driving let alone not considering the cyclist.

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Arjimlad | 4 years ago
5 likes

Very dangerous driving. Can you not complain to the Police about their shameful lack of action ?  Incidents like this should have consequences. 

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HoarseMann replied to Arjimlad | 4 years ago
5 likes

I think Neil really ought to chase this up with the police. There's a lot going on here. The Audi starts an ambitious overtake, but does not indicate. The white van pulls out without indicating or clearly checking his mirrors (so that's only one out of mirror/signal/manoeuvre). They both decide to do this whilst clearly having the 'sun in their eyes', as demonstrated by the sun visors being deployed in both vehicles. Both BK52 UXZ and MM67 PGF are registered as taxed and MOT'd with DVLA, so the drivers should be traceable.

That was a ridiculously close shave. Just pure fortune that nobody was injured or worse. Let's ditch the ambivalence and fatalism, and press for some justice.

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