[road]

Hello everyone,

I have stumbled upon a bit of a problem. I record my rides with a GoPro on the front and another on the back of my bike, both to share good videos but also to share footage of dangerous driving with the police. I’ve had success previously, with no fewer than 11 convictions (including one getting their licence revoked!) from around 250 videos submitted. It’s a lot of work and the rate isn’t great but I’ll do anything to keep vulnerable road users safe.

Here’s where we get to the problem. In one of my videos that I sent to the police, I have to admit that I did not keep a cool head, and used what they have described as ‘racially charged language’. I don’t dispute that, and it was a momentary lapse when I was almost run down by a man who was on his mobile phone at the time (I know because I caught him as such on camera). At this point, in shock of almost being killed, I screamed something I am not proud of as I reached for the most offensive term I could. The driver did not hear me, or at least did not react, and I consider myself lucky that he did not.

I submitted the footage to the police regardless, and explained in the same way that I did above why I said what I did, and that I am not a racist person. Their response was to telephone me while at work and ask me to retract the report or I would potentially face a conviction myself which, for reasons I don’t need to go into, is not something I want.

The issued me with what they described as an ‘informal verbal warning’. Has anyone else received such a warning before, and know what it means? I think it’s ridiculous that my momentary lapse of vocabulary as a result of almost being murdered by a dangerous driver could be used against me, when I’m helping the police out by submitting such videos.

Does anyone have advice on what to do next, and if this warning has any actual meaning, or is just a bluff? It won’t stop me on my crusade against murderous drivers, but it does make me unsure if I am putting myself at risk by doing so in future.

Thanks I’m advance.

Topic

[Rendel Harris]

NotNigel wrote:

Let’s hope he’s using his own identity and not Rendel’s when submitting videos….if he actually is doing any of what he’s stated.

Crikey, I didn’t realise (there being no avatar on forum posts) that this is my alleged doppelgänger. Indeed, I do hope his activities outside the walls of this forum are carried out under his own identity and not mine!

[NotNigel]

Let’s hope he’s using his own

Let’s hope he’s using his own identity and not Rendel’s when submitting videos….if he actually is doing any of what he’s stated.

[Adam Sutton]

Rendel Harris wrote:

Adam Sutton wrote:

Yes, in Australia it is a term of endearment.

Not my experience amongst those Australians I’ve played rugby against, unless I was very much misinterpreting their comments!

That might just be you though 

[Adam Sutton]

No, as per the dictionary

No, as per the dictionary definition – an offensive word for a very unpleasant or stupid person

[brooksby]

If you have to scream at

If you have to scream at someone, maybe criticise the activity not the person: “That was f-ing dangerous!” “Are you trying to kill me?” “WTAF were you thinking?” and never “You f-ing xxxx”.

[Rendel Harris]

Adam Sutton wrote:

Yes, in Australia it is a term of endearment.

Not my experience amongst those Australians I’ve played rugby against, unless I was very much misinterpreting their comments!

[Flintshire Boy]

.

.

In hole.

.

Stop digging.

.

 

[quiff]

Presumably not the intent

Presumably not the intent behind your use in a heated moment though.

[Adam Sutton]

Yes, in Australia it is a

Yes, in Australia it is a term of endearment.

[Hirsute]

Essex say unedited footage
Essex say unedited footage should be uploaded.
Is muting it editing?

I wouldn’t have submitted as they could ask for the original raw footage.

I always add in a comment if my actions could be questioned by someone with no local knowledge. Eg “this may look like I’m on the pavement but I have joined nc100 which is signed as shared but I have joined it part way”.

[quiff]

While I agree with the

While I agree with the sentiment, your slur of choice has its own biases.

[Rendel Harris]

Quote:

I think it’s ridiculous that my momentary lapse of vocabulary as a result of almost being murdered by a dangerous driver could be used against me, when I’m helping the police out by submitting such videos.

I’ve been mugged at knifepoint by a black person, I’ve been threatened by a black person, I’ve almost been killed by black drivers (I’ve also been threatened by white people and almost killed by white drivers, of course) and it’s never once crossed my mind to use racist language towards them, even in the heat of the moment. I’m afraid that what I find more ridiculous than the police giving you a warning, which sounds richly deserved, is that you are passing this off as a “momentary lapse of vocabulary”. If I’d done what you seem to have I would not have submitted the video, I would have been too ashamed to do so, and I would’ve spent the time and more it would have taken me to submit the video having a good think about what had made me behave in that way.

[HoarseMann]

some useful information on

some useful information on this website:

https://fightcybercrime.org/scams/identity-theft/social-media/

[Adam Sutton]

I have been known to have a

I have been known to have a complete potty mouth and call a driver a cunt in a heated moment of a close pass, but never racial language. Maybe reflect on what you did and why you chose that language.

[chrisonabike]

As others have said some self
As others have said some self-reflection may be in order.

I was surprised by the mention of someone actually having their licence revoked and even more it happening as a result of this kind of report. Looking at the government guidance it would appear that there is a gap between what is stated and what happens in practice (are licences regularly suspended for drug dealing?). Or are they really “throwing the book at” some drivers (not the Beano) and this is under-reported here?

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/learn-why-we-would-revoke-or-suspend-your-licence

[Author]

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