20 cm away from death

[Coco]

Don't feel bad for the driver. Anything that happens to him/her is entirely their own responsibility. We all make mistakes in life, but how we deal with them defines our character. I suspect if the driver had stopped (even on the other side of the roundabout) and apologised, you would have dealt with it differently.
Don't go all Stockholm on us

 

[magnatom]

I'd echo the others, the driver made a stupid move that could have been avoided, dont feel bad.

Will the mods here need to lock this thread if he's been charged? Legal reasons and all that?

I don't know about that. The police are possibly poping in tonight to take a statement. I'll ask them then.

 

[boydj]

It's funny. I don't feel particularly pleased. In some ways it's great that it is being taken seriously, in others I feel bad as he must be going through a bad time.

Very mixed emotions.

He certainly should be feeling bad at this moment, but it's probably nowhere near as bad as he would have been feeling had you not changed those brake blocks and been so alert.

 

[arallsopp]

+1 with boydj. Had you not been so fortunate, he would have very likely had screaming nightmares for the rest of his life AND possibly be unable to drive again. Losing a job has a big impact, but he's got to know he's getting off lightly.

 

[shippers]

Was the roundabout part of your regular communte? If so, I'd be tempted to find a different route for a little while.

Don't feel bad- he'll probably get a due care and attention charge and some element of retraining from his employer. Hopefully he'll become a more responsible tanker driver!

 

[classic33]

How would you feel if you hadn't done what you have done, ignored it & later someone was killed by either the same driver or another driver(presuming on this part), coming from the same depot, on the same stretch of road?

You had a chance to prevent anyone else getting hurt, at best.
If nowt else look at it that way

 

[classic33]

I don't know about that. The police are possibly poping in tonight to take a statement. I'll ask them then.

Is this what is meant by taking it to a higher authority?

 

[magnatom]

The police can't make it tonight, the young constable just phoned me. Obviously I can't say much, however, the one thing I will say is that she keeps on saying how the bloke seems a genuine, top bloke and is really sorry for what he did. Ah pooh!

 

[thomas]

The police can't make it tonight, the young constable just phoned me. Obviously I can't say much, however, the one thing I will say is that she keeps on saying how the bloke seems a genuine, top bloke and is really sorry for what he did. Ah pooh!

They said that when I was 15/16 and got punched by someone who a good few years older for no reason. I am sure it is more genuine in your case, but anyone with some sense would act in a certain way when dealing with the Police.

Ultimately, however the driver feels now and what ever the conscience, you definitely did the right thing.

 

[trickletreat]

The police can't make it tonight, the young constable just phoned me. Obviously I can't say much, however, the one thing I will say is that she keeps on saying how the bloke seems a genuine, top bloke and is really sorry for what he did. Ah pooh!

What he did is almost kill you. He is a professional driver. He should know better. The young pc should not in anyway sway you, and if she comments again then call professional standards.

Its good that he is sorry, what else can he say! He committed a serious offence.

 

[fossyant]

Look folks....Mags was very lucky....that's how it happens............sometimes........... let the legal systems sort themselves out........

 

[boydj]

What he did is almost kill you. He is a professional driver. He should know better. The young pc should not in anyway sway you, and if she comments again then call professional standards.

Its good that he is sorry, what else can he say! He committed a serious offence.

Professional Standards is maybe a bit strong, but the point is correct that the driver brought this on himself either by some gross negligence in not seeing the cyclist, or he made a deliberate decision to put the cyclist's life in danger. He may be a lovely guy and genuinely remorseful, but he would not have given the incident a second thought if he had not been reported. And then what happens next time?

 

[Cab]

The police can't make it tonight, the young constable just phoned me. Obviously I can't say much, however, the one thing I will say is that she keeps on saying how the bloke seems a genuine, top bloke and is really sorry for what he did. Ah pooh!

I don't care that he's well meaning, he's a danger on the roads and if the result of your near death experience is that he's not left in control of such a vehicle any more thats definitely a good thing.

 

[swee'pea99]

At best he was shockingly incompetent, in a life-threatening way, while in command of a tanker. But what would make it very hard for me to have *any* sympathy for this supposedly 'top bloke' is that from the video, I find it very hard to believe that it *was* incompetence - ie, a SMIDSY. Everything about that video leads me to believe that he saw you, but simply decided to keep going. And that, to me, makes him not merely an incompetent (and no incompetent has any place at the wheel of a tanker) but a scumbag, who made a conscious decision to take a chance with another person's life rather than inconvenience himself by slowing down for a few seconds. That's not my idea of a top bloke. And I for one would be/will be pleased - without reservation - if he never gets to drive a tanker again.

And who knows, maybe word will get around...

 

[swee'pea99]

Oh, and I forgot to say, well done Mags. It's *only* by people like this getting charged that this kind of behaviour gets changed. You've made the roads safer for all of us.