Reporting mobile use while driving

[Black Country Ste]

automatic notification of insurance companies.

If that isn't already possible/done for any driving offence then it should. I occasionally wonder how often drivers fail to notify their insurance of endorsements in the hope they can get away with it.

 

[glenn forger]

The insurers can check. Naturally they have access to the records of any convictions.

 

[BentMikey]

I do wonder how automatic it is, though. I'd like to see a system where it happens as an automatic result of a court conviction or FPN. Nobody needs to check, it simply gets documented and included in future insurance quotes.

Same goes for opticians doing eyesight tests and DVLA notification.

 

[glenn forger]

If someone makes a claim on their car insurance checks are run for convictions, so a theft claim won't be paid out until they pay the additional premium that they would have had to pay had they declared an SP30 or CU80.

 

[BentMikey]

Same car seen by both me and CycleGaz:

 

[Davidsw8]

I'm pleased to say that RoadSafe responded to all 4 of my recent 'grassing's up' of miscreants with the following e-mail. The e-mail is the same each time, except for the date. I'm curious as to what the letter sent to the motorist says though, does anyone know?


-----------------------------------------------------
Dear Cyclist

The Metropolitan Police Service is committed to reducing serious traffic collisions and the purpose of this letter is to increase driver and cyclist’s awareness and reduce road crime.

We have developed a web based information reporting system called ‘Roadsafe London’ to support us in this aim. Roadsafe London is accessible to the public via http://www.met.police.uk/roadsafelondon/

We have received a report from you in relation to an incident that occurred at approximately 17:45hrs on 20th 2013.

The Driver has been sent a letter which highlights their driving at the time of the incident. They have been advised that the letter is a written warning and should the vehicle come to notice in similar circumstances then it is likely that they would face prosecution.

As no further Police action is being taken, I am informing you that this matter has been investigated. Our role is to raise awareness and promote road safety with all road users.

--------------------------------------------

 

[BentMikey]

I've just had a response as well, on the one Gaz filmed 3 years ago and I filmed on Saturday. Much the same. Good on Roadsafe.

 

[Recycle]

I'm curious as to what the letter sent to the motorist says though, does anyone know?

If I ever get one I would be too embarrassed to say, and I suspect no-one I know would tell me if they got one because my response would be less polite than the letter.

 

[BentMikey]

Actually, Gaz and I've had one. I had one for KJ05WUM, as apparently I was riding too far right, and spoke to her too aggressively. John Franklin wrote a rebuttal of this, which I passed onto the then Roadsafe officer and his boss, explaining how with that narrow lane I was riding exactly where I should have been. Additionally, he told them that fight or flight meant that my response to her was entirely normal, ending it with his expert court witness credentials. I'd thought I was extremely restrained with her. Roadsafe have never once told me I'm riding too far right again or that I spoke to a driver wrongly since.

 

[gaz]

They warned me about my language in some cases., suggesting that I would be charged under section 5 of the public order act if I continued.

 

[Matthew_T]

They warned me about my language in some cases., suggesting that I would be charged under section 5 of the public order act if I continued.

I have had that in the past. In a very old incident involving a guy in a BMW M5 who tried to run me off the road when I screamed w*nker in his face. I have since learnt not to say anything like that to someone again after the police officer gave me a stern warning about shouting at people.
The video was never online due to me forgetting to upload it. I am glad of that now as I was utterly disappointed with my behaviour.

 

[gaz]

I have had that in the past. In a very old incident involving a guy in a BMW M5 who tried to run me off the road when I screamed w*nker in his face. I have since learnt not to say anything like that to someone again after the police officer gave me a stern warning about shouting at people.
The video was never online due to me forgetting to upload it. I am glad of that now as I was utterly disappointed with my behaviour.

As long as you don't do it any more than 30 seconds after the incident then it's fairly easy to get around with some basic knowledge of section 5 of the public order act.

 

[BentMikey]

A lot of people really don't understand how very distressing it is for a cyclist to be almost knocked off. They think we're angry ranting nutters behaving totally unreasonably, probably because insulated in a metal cage they haven't felt or thought of the risk involved at all. Fight or flight response doesn't seem to be considered at all.

I'm probably one of the calmer cyclists going purely by other peoples' comments, but I think that might mean there's something wrong with me.

 

[Matthew_T]

A lot of people really don't understand how very distressing it is for a cyclist to be almost knocked off. They think we're angry ranting nutters behaving totally unreasonably, probably because insulated in a metal cage they haven't felt or thought of the risk involved at all. Fight or flight response doesn't seem to be considered at all.

I am fortunate enough to have now driven a car a few times and I can say that I understand to a certain degree the difficulty motorists have sometimes. Being in a car you cannot hear much of what is happening outside, and have a blocked perception sometimes. However this does not condone close passes or SMIDSY's. The width of the car comes with the practice of driving the car and there is no excuse for pulling out of a junction in front of anyone. If you cannot safely pull out without causing a problem then it is unsafe.
I have had to pull out into busy traffic before and realised that if you dont get your speed up quickly, even if the gap you went into was large enough, people (other cars) are behind you within a matter of seconds. And it is not like I was slow to accelerate or kept way under the speed limit, people just like to speed around everywhere with not much patience (until they see the L plates and you stall!).

 

[Matthew_T]

Back onto mobile phone use...

Saw a van driver stopped at a ped crossing today on the phone. I think he clocked my camera as I saw the phone go to his lap immediately as he started to move off from the crossing. Still had the phone in his hand though with a worried look on his face.
Cant be bothered to upload it and contact the company on his van. Some things arent worth the effort.