How big does a collision have to be?

[Matthew_T]

Yesterday I was behind a van who suddenly stopped. As a result, I came very close to the back of him but went to the side I could see his mirror, and ahead of him. His reverse light then came on but I thought that he must have seen me as I was in his sight of view. He started reversing into me and I had to bang on the van and jump out of the way of being squashed.

He did hit me but there was no damage to the bike or me and when I passed him he did apologise.

Should I have gone about this differently even though there would not have been any reasonable outcome from calling the police?

 

[chillyuk]

Thankfully no damage to you or the bike. I take it from your post the driver's action was not malicious. The driver apologised. Forget it and get on with your life.

I wish I could put hand on heart and say I have never made a mistake on the road!

 

[apollo179]

Getting out of the way and banging on the van is the correct action to take in these circumstances.
The driver did apologise and no harm done so best leave calling the police for more serious incidents.

 

[Smokin Joe]

No damage, no injury, the police wouldn't want to know.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Sounds like you were riding too close and in his mirrors' blind spot to begin with.

You do seem to get yourself in a lot of scrapes like this.

 

[Muddyfox]

Yesterday I was behind a van who suddenly stopped. As a result, I came very close to the back of him

Should I have gone about this differently

Yes .. dont tailgate Vans

 

[Matthew_T]

http://s1132.photobucket.com/albums...ction=view&current=NH53OPO-Reversesintome.mp4

The video.

I wasnt tailgating him.

 

[HLaB]

http://s1132.photobu...ersesintome.mp4

The video.

I wasnt tailgating him.

I can't see the driver in the mirror I can only think that you came to a rest in his blind spot but if there was no real contact just learn from it.

 

[CopperCyclist]

No damage, no injury, the police wouldn't want to know.

Yep. Doesn't even classify as an RTC. Yeah, there was a offence of driving without due care, but as is well known on this forum, no chance CPS will run it without damage/injury caused anyway. The apology you got makes it sounds like the driver wasn't an arse about it either.

 

[Matthew_T]

Yep. Doesn't even classify as an RTC. Yeah, there was a offence of driving without due care, but as is well known on this forum, no chance CPS will run it without damage/injury caused anyway. The apology you got makes it sounds like the driver wasn't an arse about it either.

Well I had another collision with a vehicle today. It was at a set of traffic lights and they werent indicating to go left so ended up left hooking me. I clipped the wing mirror and stopped just in front of the car. I turned around and pointed at the indicator and said "where's your indicator?" The woman driving was laughing so I asked her why. She said that I shouldnt have been up the inside of her (arguable). Eventually she turned on the indicator and told me to get a move on. I told her that she was on camera and got her number plate.

Later on I saw a police officer and told him. He asked me if there was any damage to my bike or me or the car and I told him that I was going to report it. He said that I shouldnt because as there was no damage, or damage which the driver would try to get money for, that I should just leave it. I said that I would like to report it because I dont think she would learn her lesson as she was laughing but the officer insisted that I shouldnt.
As a result I didnt say thank you to the officer, just rode off as I felt I had been fobbed off a bit.

(Video will be up in a bit)

 

[vickster]

Personally, I try never to sit on the inside of any vehicle if at all avoidable, more likely to if in a cycle lane but cannot get to the ASL (But never inside a truck). I would always try to eek out a space/position myself between vehicles where I can be seen. Motorists (including myself probably) aren't very good at looking to their left if sat in traffic - it's not the natural place to look - I am assuming you don't drive a car here so may not have that perspective). Remember cars (as much as lorries and vans) also have blindspots (albeit not as big obviously),

Have you read Cyclecraft? Might be an idea if you are new to riding and are often in heavy traffic and getting nudged, cut up etc (It's under a tenner from Amazon I think) . Riding defensively is key, you are far more vulnerable that the motorists in their big and heavy steel and glass cocoon...even if they are in the wrong, you'll be the one to come off worse, so best to avoid getting into those situations...getting somewhere 2 minutes quicker really isn't worth getting squashed for

 

[danger mouse]

It sounds like you say 'dick head' as you ride of.

If it is and after the driver apologised, then that's not very gentlemanly conduct.

Totally agree with a defensive approach.

Its a very inconvenient fact that you will usually come of worst in an accident so in your own interest to apply very particular caution when around other road users.

Emphasis on the word accident.

I know it sometimes feels like it but I don't believe there are too many psychotic drivers intent on causing harm.

 

[Dan_h]

I have to say that this does not look like much to worry about, there was no damage. I would say that although you were not tailgating him you could have stopped further back giving the driver more of a chance to see you, OTOH the van driver should have looked behind better (the thought of kids crossing behind him comes to mind).

Still, in this instance just one of those things really.

Oh, as for the car turning left without indicating... well i do feel that passing to the left when the cars can turn left is not arguable, don't do it!!! So many people don't indicate that you cannot assume they are not turning, just don't be there.

 

[DCLane]

Couple of thoughts - you're on his right and he's not expecting that. Also, it looks like a genuine mistake and he apologised. Leave it.

With the lady, it's all about you looking behind you at junctions - assume that everyone else is likely to do something wrong. I always look behind to my right at a junction and it's sometimes prevented an accident.

My advice: ride much more defensively.

 

[david k]

you should realise its not always easy to see a cyclists and as i have posted on another thread we all make small errors when driving, this can be disastrous for a cyclist. therefore i recommend you cycle knowing this and put yourself in less danger. i wouldnt have got that close to a van and would have sat to the side where he can see me