I've recently started reporting dangerous drivers to Roadsafe London. I doubt it does anything but what else can I do?
The two incidents I've reported so far:
One was a driver of a Mercedes Benz Sprinter van who cut across two lanes of traffic on Marylebone Road to take an illegal left hand turn into Marylebone High Street. In the process he forced me to first attempt to break from 30mph but being unable to do this in time unless I wanted to plant myself head first in the side of his van the only thing I could do was try and get in front of him. I managed to do so but his front bumper was millimetres from my rear tire and I was forced to emergency brake on the pedestrian crossing. Fun times. I caught up with him and turns out he was driving an unmarked "secure cash delivery vehicle" with windows and doors locked in place until their final destination. I held him up at a crossing while I asked him to explain himself (the adrenalin enforced rush didn't do my temper any favours). Him and his co-driver just laughed at me while I took photos of the license plate and driver. Reported to Roadsafe but all they said they would do was send a letter reminding him of the rules of the road.
Great.
Second encounter was last Friday on Upper Street right outside Angel station going north. I was in the ASL and when the lights turned green I set off at a decent speed until I noticed the red traffic lights further ahead, I went into the left hand lane to allow traffic to overtake me. A black Volkswagen Touran did exactly that. However he timed it so that he turned into my lane as his front wheels were parallel with my front wheel. He even looked into his side mirror and stared right into my eyes while doing so. Que me swooping into the left hand bus trying to not get side swiped. I then slowed down and indicated to go into the right hand lane instead, he then immediately went right as well while again looking me into my eyes (is this flirting?). I got annoyed so asked him what in god's name he was doing. He then called me a dangerous cyclist and asked why the f**k I needed the entire lane to cycle in. I explained to him about riding in the primary position and then he went on about road tax. The usual.
Worse was at Essex Street station traffic lights when he had somehow caught up with me, and started creeping up to my back wheel. I ignored him and just sat behind the bus in front of me. I then see him come out of his car and as I turn around he freezes momentarily and pretends to adjust the ski box on his roof. He then gets back into the car and pulls up alongside me and just sits there and grins at me. Lights turn green and I let him go off because what's the point?
I've recently started reporting dangerous drivers to Roadsafe London. I doubt it does anything but what else can I do?
The two incidents I've reported so far:
One was a driver of a Mercedes Benz Sprinter van who cut across two lanes of traffic on Marylebone Road to take an illegal left hand turn into Marylebone High Street. In the process he forced me to first attempt to break from 30mph but being unable to do this in time unless I wanted to plant myself head first in the side of his van the only thing I could do was try and get in front of him. I managed to do so but his front bumper was millimetres from my rear tire and I was forced to emergency brake on the pedestrian crossing. Fun times. I caught up with him and turns out he was driving an unmarked "secure cash delivery vehicle" with windows and doors locked in place until their final destination. I held him up at a crossing while I asked him to explain himself (the adrenalin enforced rush didn't do my temper any favours). Him and his co-driver just laughed at me while I took photos of the license plate and driver. Reported to Roadsafe but all they said they would do was send a letter reminding him of the rules of the road.
Great.
Second encounter was last Friday on Upper Street right outside Angel station going north. I was in the ASL and when the lights turned green I set off at a decent speed until I noticed the red traffic lights further ahead, I went into the left hand lane to allow traffic to overtake me. A black Volkswagen Touran did exactly that. However he timed it so that he turned into my lane as his front wheels were parallel with my front wheel. He even looked into his side mirror and stared right into my eyes while doing so. Que me swooping into the left hand bus trying to not get side swiped. I then slowed down and indicated to go into the right hand lane instead, he then immediately went right as well while again looking me into my eyes (is this flirting?). I got annoyed so asked him what in god's name he was doing. He then called me a dangerous cyclist and asked why the f**k I needed the entire lane to cycle in. I explained to him about riding in the primary position and then he went on about road tax. The usual.
Worse was at Essex Street station traffic lights when he had somehow caught up with me, and started creeping up to my back wheel. I ignored him and just sat behind the bus in front of me. I then see him come out of his car and as I turn around he freezes momentarily and pretends to adjust the ski box on his roof. He then gets back into the car and pulls up alongside me and just sits there and grins at me. Lights turn green and I let him go off because what's the point?
Sorry about the rant.. feel free to ignore.