Essex helmetcam cyclist claims footage has led to 60 convictions and warnings

"Police have begun an investigation into alleged death threats made on Twitter towards the Telegraph’s commodities editor, Andrew Critchlow, by Road.cc news editor John Stevenson"

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/cycling-journalist-inves...

Wot a Twitter

For “The trouble is that in my experience" read "using my selective memory let me present my prejudices".

If Mr Telegraph reader cared to look properly he would see that drivers break the rules at least as frequently as cyclists, they just do so in a different way, and don't see their misdemeanors as wrongdoing. There is no better illustration of driver incompetence than the casualty record of British roads.

Well bought a camera and in just four weeks have recorded countless motorist madness. Phones, red lights, near misses. Cyclists too but minuscule. I speak to the cyclists as calmly as I can and try and get the message across that by their actions they are making us all look bad. The motorists, don't say anything, just report it. It will escalate, even though you may be pointing out something they have blatantly done wrong, into a full on fistfight. Just take it to the police or email. I applaud this chaos tenacity as so far the police interest has been complacent.

The telegraph is full of so called 'journalists' that write what they are told to write not what they actually beleive. most of them support UKIP but spout Conservative appeasements to please the papers owners. There is not one of them that understands reports or how to interpret real data they mereley know how to string the owners views into overly long articles. The telegraph is redundant and writing for them is sign of a 'redundant' journalist - see what they write on the NHS for dunderheaded biased claptrap too! I'm surprised this guy can even ride a bike it's probably someone else logged onto strava with the same name or using his name that he tries to pose on the back of!

Maybe the guy is a bit self-righteous but he has a point. I can't say I've any sympathy for those he's caught. Will any of them learn anything or will they assume all cyclists are carrying cameras? Who can tell.

Cellphone use by drivers is all too common and young drivers in particular tend to be sending texts or checking email or whatever as well. I couldn't count how often I see this. There is a lot of crappy driving. I've been thinking of getting a dashcam for my car and demountable cameras I can fit to either my motorbike or my bicycle.

Way too much bad motoring behaviour has been completely normalised (eg.: stopping in ASL, jumping red light (either as it changes, or 'just because...'), speeding, mobile phone use, eating breakfast, rooting around in a seatwell to look for the CD you really need right now).

Motorists on "discussion forums" (OK, comments pages on local papers) constantly complain if they are complaining about cyclist behaviour and a cyclist points out things motorists do that are more dangerous. And yet their own argument is that they aren't really breaking the law, and anyway cyclists do far worse, so there....

That said, unfortunately, blatantly filming said bad behaviour does create an impression of "holier than thou"; motorists "don't like it up 'em" if someone calls them on their bad behaviour.

I mean, you've seen those rubbish tv programmes (c'mon, you know you have): so many people will say "well, yes, but..." even if called on bad behaviour by the f-ing police! So is it any wonder they get irate when called on it by someone without the protection of the uniform?

Does make you wonder if one bus driver with a headcam can get 60 convictions how many even a few Policeman/PCSOs in each area could get.
As with all crime you can ramp up the penalties as much as you want but people considering transgressing are more concerned with the chances of being caught.

But despite the lives saved that would be a war on motorists

Oh come on RoadCC, "holier-than-thou"? nope, no such thing! Vigilante? Again nope as he doesnt go around acting as judge & jury & inflict punishment.
He is just like many other person who see's a crime, gets evidence & pass it onto the police. It could be done whilst cycling, driving & even walking as video or photo. Its called being a concerned member of the public reporting a possible crime.
Its time the media stop putting it on a pedestal on 1 cyclist coz there are many cyclists, drivers & pedestrians who all do his around the UK. all its doing is fuelling the cycle hatred against those who cycle along & record their rides & that includes me. Here's an example of what I do: http://youtu.be/0wm2qcgUtoQ

Yawn 8|.

I tried using the policewitness website, but ultimately gave up as, unless you buy a dashcam off them, you have to pay a subscription.

So in other words, you have to PAY the police to look at your videos, but then maybe they won't be so dismissive, as this is a revenue stream for them (the paying to submit video, not the actual fining people bit). My own experience in West Yorkshire is that the police have better things to do than follow up idiots who put other people's lives in danger.

I prefer to submit things to the road justice website operated by the CTC, at least I get the feeling that one day all the evidence they collect may be of some use.

The expression 'holier than thou' is really irritating (no doubt that's the intention). It's not appropriate to a situation where cyclists criticise the way people drive, because they feel their personal safety is being put at risk. That's not holier than thou, that's a normal reaction which anyone would have.

As for the stuff about red light jumping, I suggest it's a completely London-centric comment, and if it's a problem, get the police to sort it out.

But get them to sort out the much more dangerous behaviours behind the wheel at the same time.

"It is possible that he simply doesn't Strava his commutes. But... you're probably right."

Totally recognise what you are saying from an empirical perspective but anecdotally from the way he writes about utility/commuting cyclists I'd disagree

He's just putting his personal bias on that report rather than using impartial data and reporting impartially. He's quite wrong of course. Even the most law abiding of citizens find it socially acceptable to break 30mph speed limits. I don't. As a cycling enthusiast and a car driver who knows only too well what its like on a bike in rush hour traffic I stick to "red circle" speed limits robustly. Which mostly leads to the car behind trying to "push" me along faster, such is their ignorance.

The amount of drivers that think its morally/socially/ethically/safely acceptable to drive in excess of 30mph limits must be over 70% to 80% from my driving experience of nearly 30 years.

Thats at least 7 out of 10 drivers, from young boy racers from one side of the chart to grannies on the other side, all who think its okay to ride in excess of 30mph and very often drive at speeds approaching 37/38mph and 40mph+.

So Mr Critchlow you already have 70% of motorists breaking the law on a daily and constant basis wherever there is a 30mph limit in force (conjestion aside of course). Now add to that the drivers who regularly use mobile phones, the drivers who dont have insurance, the drivers whose vehicles are not road worthy, the drivers who are over the alcohol limit, the drivers who have taken drugs. The drivers who dont have driving licences, the drivers whose eyesight is poor and should not be driving, the drivers who are disqualified, the drivers who jump red lights, the drivers who do stupid overtakes at pinch points, the drivers who must get in front of the cyclist at all costs at the risk of the cyclists safety.

All this Mr Critchlow while these drivers are cocooned in 1.5 tons of metal shell, surrounded by air bags and have all manner of safety measures in place.

Contrast that if you will Mr Critchlow with the average 12 kilo bike weight on 25mm tyres. The rider who is clad in cotton/lycra/nylon and whose head is protected by a 250 gram styrofoam helmet which only protects the head from a 1 metre high fall at 12mph. Not a collision.

Now Mr Critchlow consider that the Highway Code classes all cyclists as vulnerable road users and the duty of care from vehicle drivers is greater than the duty of care cyclists have towards drivers.

Now Mr Critchlow, also consider your daft comments:“From what I observe, a fatal combination of poor riding skills, a complete disregard for the Highway Code, and the temptation of turning a gentle ride to work across Battersea Bridge into the final stage of the Tour de France, are just as equally to blame for the number of accidents on Britain’s roads as careless drivers.

“The trouble is that in my experience … cyclists are actually more likely to break the rules of the road than motorists"

...And consider that actually, you are a bit of twat really, aren't you?

Andrew Critchlow's exchanges on twitter have been somewhat disappointing to say the least, telling others "he's cycled more miles than other tweeters and their followers put together", something his strava feed might call in to question, with 412 miles year to date and all of them racked up in the Surrey hills and none as far as I can see in central London. He also went on to suggest that Chris Boardman promotes cycling as he has a "he owned a bike brand and has a vested interest".
It rather looks like he has a problem with urban commuting cyclists and is sadly more than a little elitist in his views on the humble bicycle.
A pity.

I see the Telegraph has successfully managed to use this article:
http://aseasyasridingabike.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/the-terrible-journal...

Car Cams are very popular in China.
As it can be used in evidence against bad driving.

I for one, as a cyclist use it for protection against such things, and drivers here do too.

I always thought the definition of a vigilante was someone who enforces the law themselves, the opposite of someone who reports an offence to the Police.

Are the papers suggesting this chap goes around slashing car tyres at night, or something similar?

I'm still waiting for the Big Road.cc Test Of On-Bike Cameras.

I'm really starting to think I should have one... not for posting to YouTube, just in case.

What a silly comment!!
I really struggle to see how the writer can back it up with some facts. There are of course irresponsible road users, and they equally travel by car, bicycle, etc.. that’s include pedestrian too.
This person is intellectually wrong (or dishonest) in this statement. He/she fails to observe is that when it comes to “a complete disregard for the Highway Code, and the temptation of turning a gentle ride to work across Battersea Bridge into the final stage of the Tour de France..(or the final lap in Silverstone) ” the potential consequences of bad driving are not even close to the ones of bad cycling!!! Although I am a strong believer that both should be persecuted by police. I would be curious to know whether (of course hypothetically) he/she would prefer being the victim of bad driving or bad cycling. (and for the avoidance of doubt both should not be tolerated by the society.)
Also they are not are “just as equally to blame for the number of accidents on Britain’s roads as careless drivers.” Check the official numbers please.
The problem with those type of statement is that the average Joe reads it and starts believing that cyclist are the reason of the road congestion.

Daily Mail is stupid, shocka.

Yes there's plenty of cyclists who ride badly/dangerously, but they still seem to be a much smaller minority than the number of people who text/call while driving, let alone any other offences. And as people have alluded here, if a cyclist isn't paying total attention, the majority of times it's they themselves who will come off worse, rather than when someone's driving a big old metal box while tweeting about it.

Not trying to sell the Blackvue but it records speed, maps where the driver has been (like Strava I suppose) saves days of footage, sounds like a good piece of kit and I want one!
After a few days I would have enough footage to keep the Police busy for some time; but very little would be of cyclists.

I really think that dashboard cameras should be compulsory in cars. Not only would it make insurance claims simpler and disputes easier to resolve (and would probably reduce premiums too!), it would also make drivers less likely to see cyclists as "above the law" by giving them some degree of accountability. (This is also one of the virtues of blackboxes: they give concrete evidence when it's needed.)

Cyclists should also wear cameras, of course, for their own protection, but that can't really be legislated for.

"What kind of crimes would be uncovered on a daily basis if motorists unleashed digital cameras"

Maybe someone should invent a 'car-cam'?

Oh bugger, someone already has....
http://www.blackvue.co.uk/

So next time some stupid cyclist tired, over worked and paying more attention to his on bike tech than where he is going kills some poor innocent lorry driver it could be on film!

I hope he also targets bad cyclists! And pedestrians!

This sort of passive-aggressive behaviour might achieve minor convictions for individual offences – all well and good – but it doesn't really do much to make the roads safer. At worst, it foments division and conflict between two (imagined) species of road user.