Is it worth reporting dangerous driving to the police ?

[rossw46]

Thanks for all the replies and advice.

I'm going to download some editing software now, I'd show the clip on here, but is that the wrong thing to do prior to showing the police.

Also, this happened on the 8th of this month, in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, so if it's a 48 hour thing it's no good, I'll try anyway, don't think I'll get a chance to call in the local police station until Monday though.

I made a mistake on the day, about 2 minutes after the event I caught up to what I thought was the offending van and had a go at the driver, bless him, the dude was quite apologetic, my apologies to him !

 

[Andy_R]

Some of these gits are so evil they'd mow you down if you took primary. Sometimes it's best to hug the kerb and let the self-gratification artists pass by.

You've come up with some corkers in the past, but that one takes the biscuit....never ever hug the kerb

 

[Accy cyclist]

That's the worst, dumbest and possibly deadliest advice I've ever read on this forum.

I should've made myself clearer. I meant hug the kerb when you either see or sense a nasty piece of work approaching. Not hug it all the time.

 

[ianrauk]

Got to agree with the others. Hugging the kerb is highly dangerous in what ever circumstances. Do not follow that bad advice. You kerb hug and your front wheel touches the kerb, you'll probably end up on the tarmac, either on the pavement or in the road.

If you want to let an aggressive car driver pass then stop at the side of the road and let them go.

 

[Tim Hall]

If you do that though, you have no safe space to move into if you need to. It's not good advice.

Although you could interpret Accy's "hug the kerb" advice as "moving into the safe space if you need to".

 

[Markymark]

Although you could interpret Accy's "hug the kerb" advice as "moving into the safe space if you need to".

It depends if you think being a few iches from the kerb on one side and the passing car on the other side is a safe place.

It only takes a minor deviation from road surface, pothole, wind from passing car and you've nowhere to go and will be off.

As mentioned above, if that unsure, just come to a stop. Hugging the kerb is extremely dangerous.

 

[Globalti]

I think Accy meant "take evasive action", but as usual a bunch of people have jumped on him without stopping to understand his meaning. We all know AC is an experienced cyclist.

 

[Markymark]

I think Accy meant "take evasive action", but as usual a bunch of people have jumped on him without stopping to understand his meaning. We all know AC is an experienced cyclist.

Again, do you think a good bit of advice for evasive action where there's a nobber behind you is to put yourself in a dangerous position where any slight variation will most likely result in off and possibly seriously injury? Better evasive reaction is to either hold the lane and stop the over take else come to a stop and out of the way on the kerb.

 

[Tail End Charlie]

I took Accy's advice to be slow down, move towards the nearside and let said nobber pass. Fair advice to me.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I think Accy meant "take evasive action", but as usual a bunch of people have jumped on him without stopping to understand his meaning. We all know AC is an experienced cyclist.

Thank you Globati, that is what i meant. To clarity i mean hug the kerb even with the left foot unclipped to balance yourself if you should wobble. Do anything to avoid the dangerous driver hitting or clipping you. Even if it means losing your balance and falling onto the kerb. A bruised elbow or shoulder is better than being hit. Some of the vicious bastards out there WILL hit you on purpose then think they'll be able to explain their actions in court and be let off.

 

[Globalti]

A few might aim to hit you but the majority are simply incompetent. I think you'd be shocked if you knew how many incompetent, distracted and just plain blind drivers are on the road. Even my own wife had to admit recently that she needed glasses for driving after years of denying it. Add in the hazards of rain or darkness or low sunshine on wet roads and a windscreen that's misted with plasticiser film, something almost nobody understands or cleans off regularly, and you've got a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Since i've followed advice about taking primary i must say it's not as safe as folk say. Yes it stops that little old biddy in her Postman Pat type car from doing something silly but the other day for example i had one of those 4x4 flat back macho nobber machines trying to touch my back wheel because i was blocking him from passing me as i tried to negotiate some horrible long pot holed patch on the road. In the end i wimped out and pulled over till he'd passed by. These idiots really do think you're taking primary just to get their backs up Too thick and too dangerous you can't reason with them, You just have to hope karma visits them soon!

 

[glenn forger]

Just the other day, amazing.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Just the other day, amazing.

Meaning what?

 

[martint235]

Since i've followed advice about taking primary i must say it's not as safe as folk say. Yes it stops that little old biddy in her Postman Pat type car from doing something silly but the other day for example i had one of those 4x4 flat back macho nobber machines trying to touch my back wheel because i was blocking him from passing me as i tried to negotiate some horrible long pot holed patch on the road. In the end i wimped out and pulled over till he'd passed by. These idiots really do think you're taking primary just to get their backs up Too thick and too dangerous you can't reason with them, You just have to hope karma visits them soon!

But they don't actually touch you in my experience. I know there are some complete nobbers out there who will deliberately run you over but they are quite few and far between. By holding your ground you're not trying to reason with them, you're just riding in the road. Reasoning with them comes later when you're off your bike and they, should they be brave enough, are out of the metal box (but I don't recommend this course of action to anyone who hasn't fully thought through all the possible end games from inviting someone to leave their car)