There are close passes … and then, there are close passes like this one from a lorry driver that had the cyclist on the receiving end yelping in fright. “I really thought the game was up with this one,” he said.
It happened in North Yorkshire in June and Vinnie, the road.cc reader who sent it in, told us: “I was cycling from Skipton to Grassington when I was passed by the tipper truck as I headed towards Cracoe from Rylstone.
“The truck driver showed real skill in not going over the double white lines, you can see how they position the truck absolutely perfectly and at the same time as a car is on coming ; stunt driving at its best. A perfect chicken run. I really thought the game was up with this one.
“I reported via the usual black hole to North Yorkshire Police. A few weeks later I emailed them asking for an update and was told a notice of intended prosecution had been issued, so a better result than I expected. Maybe not a black hole after all.”
Vinnie added: “Given the current situation with hospital beds I’ve taken to Zwift.”
17 thoughts on “Near Miss of the Day 685: “I really thought the game was up with this one””
The wheels are definitely
The wheels are definitely over the line. You must not cross or straddle it. Two clear offences there.
Cyclist seemed to be going
Cyclist seemed to be going slow enough that the lorry could cross them “if clear and safe to do so”. Obvioulsy he totally failed on the last two though.
It’s possible the cyclist was
It’s possible the cyclist was slower than 10 mph.
The road stops being solid
The road stops being solid white lines 10 seconds after the pass. Still as the lorry decided slowing down was not feasible it wouldn’t have made a difference. Just glad the Police also decided he had options and are doing “something”.
That’s two NMOTDs on the run
That’s two NMOTDs on the run where the police have taken action against the driver. Is it too optimistic to hope that cyclists’ submissions are being taken more seriously at last.
PS Thanks for submitting and I’m glad you’re OK.
I know that I keep banging on
I know that I keep banging on about this, but a Notice of Intended Prosecution DOES NOT MEAN that the police WILL prosecute.
It is merely a legal requirement before any prosecution of certain offences under the Road Traffic Act can take place.
Yes, it’s a positive action, but it does not guarantee any further police action.
The only positive I could say is that presumably the video has been reviewed and not immediately binned; that the reviewer thought that the complaint had some merit.
Vinnie, please re-contact North Yorks Police and request a result, preferably in writing.
BTW that was a terrible overtake, worthy of prosecution (IMO).
It involves a level of admin
It involves a level of admin that police are unlikely to undergo unless they at least intend to take it further. A step down from this, but above NFA is sending a warning letter.
As I understand it, NIP is mandatory before offer of driver improvement course – which can only be offered as an alternative to prosecution.
So NIP outcome can mean driver improvement course, points, fine or even prosecution for jail/ban – or it can mean NFA if on further review or after interviewing the driver/receiving further evidence (e.g. dashcam) the CPS deems insufficient prospect of successful prosecution.
But that’s typically unusual.
A NIP is the first formal
A NIP is the first formal action police must take to allow all options to remain on the table, it also requires the registered keeper to identify the driver.
Definitely worth following up with the police for a final outcome.
Right, wrong, right!
Right, wrong, right!
Yes, it’s the first formal action.
Nope, unless the design has changed since I retired, the requirement to identify the driver is a separate form (tho’ usually sent out at the same time – as both forms are sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle)
Yes, defo worth following up.
So NIP outcome can mean
So NIP outcome can mean driver improvement course, points, fine or even prosecution for jail/ban – or it can mean NFA
This is from an OpSnapLancs (new name for the same old do-nothing Lancashire traffic officers) email dated 23rd December referring to a close-pass at speed by a massive Mercedes Sprinter white van KV70 LVC on the 22nd):
Your footage has been viewed by members of the OpSnapLancs team and we are in agreement with you that the standard of driving shown by the other drivers fell below the minimum standard that should be shown on the roads today.
We will write to the registered keeper of the vehicle involved, requiring them to identify the driver.
Once the driver has been identified then we will assess the most appropriate outcome, which could be;
1. An advice letter
2. A Driver Educational Course.
3. A conditional offer of points and a fine.
4. A summons to court.
There’s a lot of standard Lancashire Constabulary dodging here, but I think this is probably referring to a NIP. The main trick is: which could be… That leaves it open for them to actually do nothing at all, or just ‘have a word with the driver’, otherwise known as ‘words of advice’. These are by far the most likely outcomes, and it never goes beyond the joke inconvenience-free online driving course. Lancashire has never prosecuted anyone for non-contact close passing. Other forces will be deploying the same tricks. My best guess in this case is nothing at all
That’s bad. I’ve booked a
That’s bad. I’ve booked a cottage in Grassington for a week next year. Think I will throw the gravel tyres on and explore the moorland tracks rather than the roads.
I understand the feeling but
I understand the feeling but let’s not allow these arseholes to bully us off the roads.
You’re right. I won’t be
You’re right. I won’t be bullied off the roads, but it’s flipping tiring sometimes. Callous driving like this is enough to put off all but the most confident of riders.
There are near misses and
There are near misses and near misses, this is clearly dreadful and dangerous driving. When compared to yesterdays jaguar driver this is in a different league.
Really terrifying particularly when considering the apparent speed and size of the vehicle.
was told a notice of intended
was told a notice of intended prosecution had been issued
The important question, which the police attempt to avoid telling you, is to what offence the NIP refers. A favourite dodge of The Filth is to ignore the close-pass (the most heinous offence, but the one Lancashire at least couldn’t care less about) and go for the crossing of the double white line. Later, they say that they can’t be sure the white line was crossed at all- in this case they definitely will say that, and that it would have been legal anyway because they don’t know how fast you were travelling. This ‘speed of any cyclist is unknown and is therefore always presumed to be under 10 mph’ Perma-Dodge is one of their most beloved. It doesn’t matter whether it’s obvious from the video itself that you’re going at over twice that speed. The idea is that you will feel ‘something was done’ and forget about it, when really nothing was
That’s really alarming. The
That’s really alarming. The driver needs to be penalised heavily. Tipper truck drivers and skip delivery truck drivers have the worst records of any HGV drivers. They are paid by the delivery and therefore are under pressure. Some firms are good but some aren’t. It’s of note how certain names crop up over and over again with depressing regularity when it comes to fatal crashes. Companies come and go and have the same people involved as directors.
(e)The driver needs to be
The driver needs to be penalised heavily
Except he almost certainly won’t be, and he knows it. That’s why they commit offences routinely