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news
Near Miss of the Day 567: Rider who received close pass from lorry driver told by firm that it receives "numerous complaints" from cyclists
A cyclist who was on the receiving end of a very close pass from a lorry driver in West Yorkshire got no response from either the company or the police when he sent the footage to them – although the fact that the owners of the firm told him that they receive "numerous complaints" from cyclists suggests he is not the only cyclist to have been subjected to such a dangerous overtake.
Vincent, the road.cc reader who submitted the clip, said: "I was cycling from Keighley to Skipton when I was passed by a wide lorry.
"You can see how close it was from the front view, another lorry is coming the other way at the exact time this bloke overtakes me.
"I phoned his employer who complained that cyclists made numerous complaints about him and his brother, a family business, but conceded that I sounded like a decent bloke.
"He didn't reply to the footage, I sent it to him via WhatsApp. I submitted it to North Yorkshire police who also failed to respond."
> 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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32 comments
The road was relatively very quiet, A629, there's loads of room for all types of vehicles to pass, just not when two large lorry's are head on. Here's another close pass by a lorry and then a punishment brake and abuse from a motorist for trying to get in the righthand lane for the roundabout.
https://youtu.be/V9RUFtA81ss
Not sure if the detail will be viewable of this screen shot of an OS map, but Keighley is bottom right and Skipton top left. The road looks like the A629.
I would personally stick to the roads south and west of the railway between the two towns. The route would then be country lanes and a bit of B road. Admittedly slightly more undulating than the main road on the valley floor, but in my opinion much preferable.
1 in 7 is undulating ?!
I'm eyeing up that pan-flat canal towpath that runs alongside the main road - got gravel tyres on at the moment, so if not too pressed for time, that would be my choice.
Earlier today I posted the contact details for Lambert Haulage for any readers who wanted to join me in passing on their thoughts. Yet my post has been removed by Road.cc with no notification or discussion. Anyone on the staff care to explain why?
As much as some of these companies suck at driving, and dealing with complaints *cough* DPD *cough*, i'd imagine a targeted online campaign against them could quickly lead to libel and harassment. I expect your answer is somewhere in that realm.
The nonsensical situation exists that anyone doing an online search can find contact details and/or location, if such information is publicly available, but if anyone uses social media to post such readily available information, they get in trouble for 'doxing'.
Bit of a misunderstanding there - You can't "dox" a business, since their details are available to the public by choice. Doxing refers to releasing contact details of ordinary people to encourage harassment, and is a form of bullying.
"search for and publish private or identifying information about (a particular individual) on the internet, typically with malicious intent.
"hackers and online vigilantes routinely dox both public and private figures""
First of all well done for cycling that road. I'm not sure I'd be brave enough. As for the police, in May 2017 Road cc reported that North Yorkshire were one of the first forces to get a close pass mat from Cycling UK and here is the text of a corresponding article in the Yorkshire Post at the time.
.......................................................................
"Traffic Constable Michelle Bergstrand from the North Yorkshire Police Major Collision Investigation Unit said: “Following the success of the Tour de Yorkshire we have seen an increase in the number of cyclists on our roads.
“By the nature of cycling, cyclists are some of the most vulnerable road users and Operation Spartan aims to ensure that drivers are aware of the fact they need to leave sufficient space when passing a cyclist.
“Rule 163 of the Highway Code states at least the width of a car should be left between cyclist and vehicle. However to make it easier for drivers, we are advising this should be 1.5 metres from the cyclist.
“Drivers need to remember that cyclists need enough room so they can safely navigate around uneven road surfaces, drain covers and other debris that finds its way onto our road surfaces.
“We want to ensure that every driver in our region feels confident to overtake a cyclist safely and is aware of the guidance.
The close pass mat is a great way of depicting really easily exactly how much room that is and we are grateful to Cycling UK, and all those who supported the fund raising campaign, for their support.
“370 cyclists were injured on our roads in 2015, with four cyclists sadly losing their lives.
“We believe that everyone should use the roads with care and consideration towards each other and Operation Spartan will take every step necessary to increase the level of safety for all and reduce the number of cyclist who are killed or seriously injured on the roads of North Yorkshire.”
David Murray, Cycling UK’s Head of Campaigns and Communications, said: “We’re really pleased to see North Yorkshire Police roll out the first of our close pass mats – particularly as Cycling UK’s spiritual home of Harrogate sits squarely in their patch.
“Over the rest of May, thanks to the generosity of cyclists across the UK, who supported our #toocloseforcomfort kickstarter campaign, we’ll be donating these mats to every force in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales as we aim to make it a summer of safe cycling on all our roads.”
............................................................................
My advice would be to contact the police force and ask them to confirm that they received your report. If you get this wait the appropriate amount of time, in Gloucestershire it is 6 weeks, and then email to ask them to confirm that no action was taken. If you get this then I would contact the the PCC asking whether they are still taking part in the close pass initiative. Then send in the footage and ask what action would have been taken if one of their officers had been subjected to this pass on a close pass operation. You may have to be persistent in following stuff up to get replies but always be polite, remember tyhe police have plenty to do.
You may find Cycling UK helpful in this as well and you could try to contact Traffic Constable Michelle Bergstrand directly to get their opinion on this. Just a thought.
and it was on a solid white line too, with oncoming traffic. No wonder the lorry driver ended up getting quite close. Surprised the police weren't interested.
North Yorkshire Police failed to respond, the video was submitted via a Web portal. If I remember correctly, and I may not, I believe it's their policy not to respond. Action may have been taken but equally it may not. That's part of the issue really you don't get feedback even though you are a victim.
If I remember correctly, and I may not, I believe it's their policy not to respond
That's believable about NYPD (no, not that one, ours!), because it's certainly true of Lancashire: no response, then they won't tell you who decided it was to be no action, and then they just define whatever action they did, or did not, take as being 'correct'. Then you complain, and keep complaining, they mount a 'go-slow' on the complaint, and you keep going. It's the only way to confront the enemy.
Try to get in the habit of shouting out the number plate, company name and phone number so your mic picks it up.
Send your complaints to the company by email, with the subject line clearly saying that it is a complaint and the vehicle reg, time and date.
Go through the complaint in the email, with a link to WeTransfer, YouTube or some where similar.
If you haven't had a response within 2 working days, send the complaint again ... And again if you haven't had a response in 2 working days send it again.
Use the Forward function, so it builds a history of being ignored.
If after 3 emails (and a total of 6 working days) you are still to get any form of response, send your email chain to the local Traffic Commissioner as a complaint to them.
And keep doing it for every time you get ignored.
If there are enough complaints that are not being acted on, the Traffic Commissioner could investigate and potentially remove the companies operating license.
Driver is guilty. Classic case: they couldn't care less about the cyclist, and are good law abiding drivers because they didn't cross the unbroken white line. You have to complain to the police. They couldn't care less about cyclists either, but they have to follow the rules about complaints. They try all types of dodges to put you off but you have to persist.
Read the article, he did complain to the police
He didn't "complain" to the police. He reported it. There is a difference. He should make a complaint to the police if they have not acted on his report.
Read the article, he did complain to the police
You have failed to grasp the point- try reading my post instead of sending in a slapdash comment! The police will almost always refuse to respond initially- either they ignore the report or come up with some really stupid reason why they have to do nothing. Then you have to complain to the PCC (if they have ignored the report) or direct to Professional Standards if they haven't. Something else stupid will result, so you persist and go to the PCC. Something else stupid results....you have to persist
This and so much this i as a result of doing the same i now have the email address of a traffic seargeant to send stuff directly !
So his conclusion after receiving numerous complaints is to blame the complainers?
A wise business owner would use any kind of feedback (customer or not) to improve their business and especially reputation as it's difficult to build a good one and easy to gain a bad one. In this instance, it would literally cost nothing to get the drivers together and decide to be extra cautious around cyclists and to respond to any complaints with a sincere apology.
Time to draw the big sword. Find out when the o-licence is due to be renewed and object in writing to the traffic commissioners.
One can also write to the commissioners to pass on that the management of operations falls far below that of a competent manager.
And I know of two company managements who manage drivers' in such a way as to enure immaculate and highly professional respect around folks on bikes. So consistently I've written to recognise and thank them. The Lamberts should perhaps take lessons from could take lessons from https://www.longsofleeds.co.uk, another family haulage firm.
Ride central, all those vehicles would have to slow and wait to pass. The road had solid white line indicating no overtaking. Dont ride in the gutter
This⬆️
I have to say both cyclists riding in the gutter in a way I would never do. Also excellent overtakes by other road users.
and there is no way Id ride central on that road, which Im assuming is NSL with, what is that a 41tonner effectively as its got 3 axles, truck bearing down on me.
stuff that for a game of soldiers
And the close fast overtake by an opened wheel truck is a better idea.
By riding primary, you slow down all the vehicles, so when they do overtake, its from a slower speed. The other benefit is a larger safety area to your left.
You can choose when to create your rolling road block.
You will find most drivers are just in autopilot following the vehicle infront, so thats why vehicles generally pass in groups.
Slow them all down, break the daydreaming mode and think about overtake
an alternate route might be a better idea if that traffic is representative of what you meet on that road, the cars are manageable but there are 3 heavy duty trucks in less than 1 minute, which suggests they frequently use this road,I presume its a main route ?
I wouldnt be at all comfortable riding that road with such a speed difference and heavy traffic and I dont think where you position yourself makes a damn bit of difference to how lorry drivers like that will treat you.
I know this road well and although I agree in principle about taking the raod in practice it would be difficult. It's a couple of miles of single carriageway between stretches of duel carriageway. Traffic would build quickly and become irrate, there would serious prospect of someone trying to teach you a "lesson".
I totally agree about selecting a possible better route.
However if you're in a situation like riding on a road like that, I would still take primary position.
There are some, thankfully few A roads I have to travel down and I will ride primary all the way, over 5 miles.
Its no different for vehicles following farm vehicles, the other traffic has to slow down.
Not really - they're all ignoring the solid white line, mostly overtaking into oncoming traffic, and the van at the end of the rear-view clip looks like it's about to pass just as close as the truck did.
Aren't drivers allowed to cross solid white lines to overtake bicycles?
Referring to double white lines where the line nearest you is solid, section 129 of the Highway Code states: "You MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road.
"You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph or less."
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