Here’s an astonishingly close overtake on a cyclist, at speed, by the driver of a horse box lorry – leaving the rider who found himself on the receiving end to say that it “scared me shitless.”
The road.cc reader who filmed it, Bruce, said: “It was on the A413 near Whittlebury, just outside Towcester.
“I didn’t report it as the number plate is not 100% clear unfortunately, that plus Northamptonshire police never ever update you on submitted videos (against their policy) so totally discouraged from reporting on their side.
“Other forces are much better,” he added.
34 thoughts on “Near Miss of the Day 452: Horse box lorry driver’s astonishingly close pass “scared me sh*tless,” says cyclist”
Holy moly , that was close.
Holy moly , that was close.
FFS not another one of these
FFS not another one of these petty idiots from Northamptonshire who won’t submit videos because they haven’t been getting updated info even though submissions could benefit others on the road.
We’re fortunate to have a good police force in Northants and I know the issue of updates is being looked into, and we’re fortunate to have a Chief Constable like Nick Adderley – who’s a top bloke – who’s genuinely commited to making the county’s roads safer.
Are we fortunate? I agree. I
Are we fortunate? I agree. I dont agree with no updates though. Or no action. It does not encourage you to bother. For all I know they just ignore it. Sorry Billy, but in this case, and I use your words “petty idiot” simply does not apply. If I felt I would get a conviction, and I had a clear shot of the number plate, I would definately have submitted. my actions are considered and based on past experience on the prior, has led me to a differing opinion of Northamptonshire police in this department.
Conversly, Thames Valley have the courtesy to phone you and discuss. Hopefully just a department, as seperate to this gripe I hold northamptonshire police in high regard.
Thank you for your views and assumptions.
Same with Herts. Reasonably
Same with Herts. Reasonably easy submission process, request for upload of video then nothing, using GDPR as an arse covering get out.
Actually I don’t really care too much about the outcome, indeed I’d be surprised to find they even bothered with a NIP or letter to the registered keeper, certainly not to the extent of taking my time following up. I guess a generic freedom of information request one day might be interesting – number of reports via their portal and outcomes.
If nothing else though, every report has to be logged against a number plate (surely???) and if that plate comes up enough times then maybe someone might make some effort to follow it up or take a future reported incident more seriously.
I live in hope…
The process may be relatively
The process may be relatively straightforward,but ultimately what’s the point?
its an extra bundle of stress/burden that I sure dont need when all I want to do is just ride my bike,not be an extension of police camera action, and theres no grim satisfaction gained from doing it.
Let’s face it the drivers we might be reporting are unlikely to learn anything from it,they drive in the way they do because they are grade A selfish tw**s in the first place,and you always worry about the unhinged ones who might go hunting for you to get some payback.
The alternative is to accept
The alternative is to accept the status quo and do nothing with the tools currently available (beyond complaining on echo chamber internet forums) to make sure the behaviour we face out on the roads is at least reported to the authorities.
Your tolerance level and motivation might not be CyclingMikey league, mine certainly isn’t but if you are concerned enough to ride with a camera then it would be public spirited to report the incidents that cause you genuine concern.
I just find it depressing
I just find it depressing thats all, CyclingMikey has my full admiration for keeping at it, and not losing that love of still riding whilst faced with seemingly insurmountable odds. Id like to think I would always report incidents that caused me genuine fear for my safety concern, but its increasingly difficult to judge I find
I hope that if reports are
I hope that if reports are made then if and when something more serious occurs or of multiple incidents are reported that there is no “previous good character” to fall back on. They had form…
Like a lot of things in life,
Like a lot of things in life, I find that lowering my expectations makes me a far more contented man.
Surely not from the optimity
Surely not from the optimity of road safety a horse rider. They never complain when you past too slow too fast too close too far away or when you Shout to let them know you’re there, don’t let them know you there. Look at their horse the wrong way, when a drain cover looks at them the wrong way.
The words you typed are all
The words you typed are all English ones, all short and simple ones too but when they are put in the order you put them in, they are very discombobulating.
I got his meaning.
I got his meaning.
I think horse boxes, whether
I think horse boxes, whether towed or the lorry variety, are over represented in close passes simply because they are often driven by people who don’t normally drive anything that big. Those who drive big vehicles every day clearly are not immune either, but are your typical horsey culturalists well trained, practised and experienced?
Without wishing to tempt fate
Without wishing to tempt fate,I dont recall that I’ve ever had any problems with horse boxes, its pick up trucks, which are the weapon of choice in my area
Actually, the driver of this
Actually, the driver of this truck was quite skilled in skimming the cyclist very closely without hitting him – this action by the driver was not accidental poor driving.
Report, report, report!
Report, report, report!
Submit it to the cops.
Submit it to the cops.
“I didn’t report it as the
“I didn’t report it as the number plate is not 100% clear unfortunately, that plus Northamptonshire police never ever update you on submitted videos (against their policy) so totally discouraged from reporting on their side.
“Other forces are much better,”
Uh? Why not report it to one of the other forces then? Pretty sure police have to investigate crime regardless of what force they are.
yep, the plate was clear
yep, the plate was clear enough, but looks like this happened back in Jan, so too late now…
Titanus wrote:
Because it’s not their jurisdiction so they don’t have the budget (or authority) to investigate. They would either tell you to report it to the correct force, forward it themselves, or just bin it.
Reported plenty, Northants,
Reported plenty, Northants, nothing. Other forces in the area will at least phone to discuss.
I have a suspiscion that wasn
I have a suspiscion that wasn’t deliberate, there was no intention – he just didn’t see you. Because the alternative is worse in my eyes. And no point in reporting it – would be a “low winter sun m’lud” job.
Bright red jacket, flashing
Bright red jacket, flashing red tail light, straight road, bright sunlight, if he missed me its not because of anything I did. Perhaps on his phone or distracted, I dont know. And as above, I was definately too far left, however if, considering this driver potentially missed seeing me, that is the case, it probably saved my life.
Quite similar to 446 only at
Quite similar to 446 only at higher speed.
Hope you can get back on the bike afer that.
Thanks hirsute.
Thanks hirsute.
Shook that off pretty quickly, I cant control what I cant control.
“If he missed me it’s not
“If he missed me it’s not because of anything I did” – agreed, and that’s the scary thing about passes like these. Inches from death and for no reason other than SMIDSY or wilful action to intimidate or harm. It’s why I’m currently off the road and concentrating on MTB.
The driver definitely saw the
The driver definitely saw the cyclist, as he moved over just enough to miss him and then clearly moves back after passing him; this was deliberate intimidation by the driver and being a horse truck, which part of the community likes horses and might be likely to engage in such conduct? (cough) traveller (cough).
Are you an out and out racist
Are you an out and out racist or do you just hate travellers?
kil0ran wrote:
Why are you making excuses for this dangerous driver when they should be condemed ?
There are no excuses for the fear they cause in threatening someone’s life.
They didn’t make any excuses.
They didn’t make any excuses.
This is why I have a helmet
This is why I have a helmet mirror and a Fly6 on the back of my bike – much easier to get the plate number.
Terribly close!! ;-(
I would’ve reported it.
I do now have a fly 6. I have
I do now have a fly 6. I have reported multiple close passes to this force, and had nothing but an email back saying “thanks, we wont be back in touch”, which is very discouraging to even bother. Other forces I have submitted to have at least taken the time for a courtesy call to discuss.
With Essex it is currently
With Essex it is currently
The Extra Eyes team are currently working on an improved Webform that will allow a more efficient and simple method of uploading your submission. While this important work takes place regrettably the team will be unable to process all submissions.
Thank you for your interest in making the roads of Essex safer and we assure you that the team will be fully operational as soon as the work on the new Webform has been completed.
We will temporarily be assessing submissions and dealing with high end offences, while sending warning letters or using the submission for intelligence purposes for lower end offences.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this period and for continuing to make the roads of Essex safer.
Then they leave you to input your URN into their webpage to see if there is any action. No human to human contact even when it is all working.
I’m thinking of a FOI same as mungecrundle.
(there must be a lot of ‘snitches’ in Essex, as the URN sequence has gone up by 140 in 2 days.)
Just been riding in France
Just been riding in France for 2 weeks; they’re not complete ‘saints’ out there when it comes to close passes but you just feel that the relationship between cars and cyclists is more ‘respectful’. Picked up the bike for my first UK ride (on return) and felt a bit heavier; that will be the front and back cameras back on. Did I feel that I still needed them after a 2 week hiatus; 100%!!