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@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
26 thoughts on “Near Miss of the Day 350: ‘The closest pass I’ve ever had’”
Log it with the police
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
They saw you, they dare not
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!
alansmurphy wrote:
EXACTLY this!You must report it.If someone is killed in Bournemouth next week by this driver……
alansmurphy wrote:
And clearly they didn’t feel able to hold back the few seconds until there wasn’t an oncoming vehicle…
brooksby wrote:
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]
[/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.
alansmurphy wrote:
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
Terrible….just confirms the
Terrible….just confirms the disregard of many people, lazy, selfish and dangerous.
That’s acres of space for
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…
Whether or not they saw the
Whether or not they saw the cyclist, they should not be allowed to drive anymore as a matter of public safety.
Always be fearful of cars
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.
Report it…don’t load it
Report it…don’t load it here.
BTW, if you see that car again, I suggest letting the puncture fairy pay a visit.
Russell Orgazoid wrote:
I don’t think that the Puncture Fairy visits cars. She delegates that to the Key Goblin and the Bodywork Boggart.
brooksby wrote:
And the “Potato up the Exhaust Pipe Esquilax”
Mungecrundle wrote:
Or the dog sh*t under the door handles balrog
Fecking hell.
Fecking hell.
For those suggesting report
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.
The clip was silent, but I
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.
Had one the same, in Carlisle
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.
efail wrote:
Have the discussion with their wing mirror, they normally get involved then…
alansmurphy wrote:
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…
So what’s the point of the
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.
I’d report it in Essex, as
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)
I have reported a very
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/
Good stuff Papa Smurf.
Good stuff Papa Smurf.
Fairly typical for this area
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.