[Travel] I felt powerless - So I started filming’: one-man battle with dangerous drivers.

[Brovion]

Some great posts in this thread.

Absolutely agree with those saying we're over-reliant on cars. Not just cars in general, either, but larger vehicles than we actually need. Big SUVs that only ever get driven in urban areas, as an example. I'd love to see the government track the average size of vehicles used on the roads and establish a target for reducing that average size over time.

Unfortunately, the most recent VED changes did the opposite and almost completely removed (other than for full electric / hydrogen) the incentives for buying vehicles that produce less CO2.

Oh don't get me started on SUVs! All the transport problems in the world and the car manufactures said: "Do you know what we need? Bigger cars!" Car parking in Brighton would be greatly improved if they banned SUVs as we could get more vehicles into the limited spaces*. If they can't do an outright ban then just reduce the width of all spaces in all car parks in Brighton by six inches.

And I know this is a regular topic that we do to death every couple of weeks or so, but why the centre of Brighton is 100% pedestrianised I haven't a clue. Other towns and cities do it, indeed I think Brighton must be one of the few places that still allows cars to drive round roads like Ship Street. The only development we seem to get is expensive tinkering like the Valley Gardens project. What problems has that solved?

And to get back (vaguely) on topic, the only time in my 64 years I've been involved in an RTA with an injury it was caused by a bike. I was a pedestrian walking (on the pavement) up Tottenham Court Road when a cyclist hit me at speed. Despite the fact that 100% of my experience is that cyclists are dangerous lunatics I'm prepared to accept that that isn't where the main problem lies.


* I appreciate that some might say that getting 'more vehicles' in isn't itself a solution, but where I disagree with some on this thread is that not all car driving is bad.

 

[Motogull]

Oh don't get me started on SUVs! All the transport problems in the world and the car manufactures said: "Do you know what we need? Bigger cars!" Car parking in Brighton would be greatly improved if they banned SUVs as we could get more vehicles into the limited spaces*. If they can't do an outright ban then just reduce the width of all spaces in all car parks in Brighton by six inches.

Its not just SUVs bu I'm with you inspirit. Not long ago I was behind a new mini and an old volvo estate. They were pretty much punching the same sized hole. Many roads and car parks are still based upon what was made decades ago, so too narrow. Cars now are bigger for safety reasons and that is fair enough.

I see BMW now do an X7. Were their salesmen really reporting prospective customers walking out saying the X5 was too small?

 

[Stat Brother]

Slammed on the brakes - it’s 30 through there isn’t it? You’d have been approaching a pedestrian crossing and a traffic light junction just another 100 yards on. Thou doth protest too much perhaps…

Maybe the cyclist incorrectly judged the speed of the car approaching from behind.

There's a 101 maybes.
Of which maybe the cyclist was being an arse-biscuit is high on the list.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Maybe the cyclist incorrectly judged the speed of the car approaching from behind.

There's a 101 maybes.
Of which maybe the cyclist was being an arse-biscuit is high on the list.

Highway Code test refresher it is then. Here is the approach to the junction to the lock turning which is the right turn behind the blue car. Let's assume the cyclist is going faster than 10mph. Anything on the road that might indicate you shouldn't be overtaking any vehicle at this point, regardless of the cyclists behaviour?

 

[Icy Gull]

Loads going on in this video, something for everyone

2:55 in cyclist appears into shot also going the wrong way on that side of the road, completely oblivious to the argument taking place

She’s a dick but he is an arrogant tosser.

 

[essbee1]

Highway Code test refresher it is then. Here is the approach to the junction to the lock turning which is the right turn behind the blue car. Let's assume the cyclist is going faster than 10mph. Anything on the road that might indicate you shouldn't be overtaking any vehicle at this point, regardless of the cyclists behaviour?
View attachment 143521

There's a pedestrian crossing just beyond the junction. So I would always approach with caution in case someone was
waiting to cross and certainly not overtake.

 

[Acker79]

Highway Code test refresher it is then. Here is the approach to the junction to the lock turning which is the right turn behind the blue car. Let's assume the cyclist is going faster than 10mph. Anything on the road that might indicate you shouldn't be overtaking any vehicle at this point, regardless of the cyclists behaviour?
View attachment 143521

https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/using-the-road-overtaking.html

167
DO NOT overtake where you might come into conflict with other road users. For example

• approaching or at a road junction on either side of the road

The junction itself is why you shouldn't overtake.

 

[Easy 10]

You should feel honoured.

Clearly the cyclist knew he was in front of the world's greatest driver.
A driver who has never made a mistake, never been inconsiderate, always attentive and never broken the law.

Clearly the Froome wannabe wasnt gesticulating at you after you have screamed foul abuse at him because an accident didn't happen, which he might have been completely unaware of.
He was waving in shock that he'd finally met the world's greatest driver.


Or in that moment he could have just been an inconsiderate arse-biscuit, which is more likely?

On reflection, given a review of the incident, I'd say the latter.

I've never made claims to being the Worlds Greatest Driver. The various scuffs on my alloys from parallel parking will attest to that. But I do drive defensively, and make extended efforts not to behave like a reckless c*nt who is oblivious to all other road users.

 

[Easy 10]

We were far enough back that the lights at that crossing were green as I moved out to give him room.

However, the Crash Bandicoot on his bike veered straight out in front of me extra early from that junction (and the lights), in order to take advantage of the fact that there was no oncoming traffic at that moment. No signalling, no checking over his shoulder, just literally swerved to his right directly in front of me. I had bags of time to slow down and stop when the lights turned to orange, after matey-boy had barrelled off down his turn flicking V's, but not before I'd had to brake sharply to avoid sending him sprawling.

Anyway, thats how it played. I'm not overly interested in justifying why I'm not a mind-reader.

 

[Stat Brother]

This all-party government transport group's Twitter feed really ought to be followed.
Us bibbling about who overtakes what and where is completely insignificant when compared to what's actually going on out there.


www.twitter.com/allpartycycling

I really ought to find out what they do with all the confiscated cars!!

 

[Stat Brother]

Best jump in the car then.

Londoners told to reduce physical activity on Friday due to pollution

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...-physical-activity-on-friday-due-to-pollution

 

[SAC]

Best jump in the car then.

Londoners told to reduce physical activity on Friday due to pollution

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...-physical-activity-on-friday-due-to-pollution

Cycling to work yesterday was horrible in the smog, they should ban cars on days like that. Today didn't seem as bad although you have no idea what is going into your lungs.

 

[1066familyman]

Cycling to work yesterday was horrible in the smog, they should ban cars on days like that. Today didn't seem as bad although you have no idea what is going into your lungs.

Imagine the outrage when they bring in that alternate number plate driving days thingy in over here.

 

[The Wookiee]

Clearly he has identified a lot of wrongdoings by motorists which could cause accidents to cyclists - perhaps someone should remind him that wearing a cycle helmet will reduce the risk of serious injury and even death !

As far as I can see he isn’t wearing one and the article says his camera is attached to his baseball cap !

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Clearly he has identified a lot of wrongdoings by motorists which could cause accidents to cyclists - perhaps someone should remind him that wearing a cycle helmet will reduce the risk of serious injury and even death !

As far as I can see he isn’t wearing one and the article says his camera is attached to his baseball cap !

"Top of the head view … Van Erp’s helmet-mounted GoPro. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian"

 

[Acker79]

Clearly he has identified a lot of wrongdoings by motorists which could cause accidents to cyclists - perhaps someone should remind him that wearing a cycle helmet will reduce the risk of serious injury and even death !

As far as I can see he isn’t wearing one and the article says his camera is attached to his baseball cap !

As well as this...

"Top of the head view … Van Erp’s helmet-mounted GoPro. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian"

There's also the argument that not wearing a helmet makes you less likely to be involved in an accident, thus reducing your chances of being hurt. Other road users show more consideration to helmet-less cyclists, and people are shown to take fewer risks when they think they are safer due to safety helmets, etc. There's also an argument that wearing a helmet increases your risk of neck injury if you are involved in an accident.

So it's not quite so clear cut.

 

[Stat Brother]

Clearly he has identified a lot of wrongdoings by motorists which could cause accidents to cyclists - perhaps someone should remind him that wearing a cycle helmet will reduce the risk of serious injury and even death !

As far as I can see he isn’t wearing one and the article says his camera is attached to his baseball cap !

Yep wearing a helmet is definitely the answer.

Many people would think not driving on the wrong side of the road, would reduce the risk of injury, but helmet wearing is where we need to concentrate attention.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Yep wearing a helmet is definitely the answer.

Many people would think not driving on the wrong side of the road, would reduce the risk of injury, but helmet wearing is where we need to concentrate attention.

There is nothing more frustrating in my car when doing 40 in a 30 and clipping a cyclist who doesn't have a helmet. Clearly he needs one if I'm going to not give him enough space under his peddle power doing a paltry 15mph. What does he expect?

 

[Stat Brother]

There is nothing more frustrating in my car when doing 40 in a 30 and clipping a cyclist who doesn't have a helmet. Clearly he needs one if I'm going to not give him enough space under his peddle power doing a paltry 15mph. What does he expect?

If only they were wearing a helmet, when I hit them, they might still be alive.

So you see it's not even really my fault.

 

[1066familyman]

Yep wearing a helmet is definitely the answer.

Many people would think not driving on the wrong side of the road, would reduce the risk of injury, but helmet wearing is where we need to concentrate attention.

And high vis. Don't forget the high vis.

If there isn't more high vis on show than at a Balfour Beatty topping out ceremony then how can a car driver be expected to see anybody?

It's just plain common sense really.