Please report dangerous drivers to the police - Roadsafe. Report to plod, not just whinge here.

This isn't true you know. On occasions when I've dicked up whilst driving or on my bike I pretty much admit it straight away. I had a spectacular spill on a weekend roll a couple of weeks ago which loosely involved / scared the bejeezers out of a couple in a car. They stopped to see it I was ok and once it was established that I hadn't maimed myself too badly proceeded to dish out a proper bollocking (adrenaline). I held my hand up straight away. I think they thought I'd be arguing the toss as their ticking off got more and more animated until I eventually just walked away.

I just made a complaint to TFL about one of their drivers who repeatedly swerved into me the other day. I know he saw me as the first time he did it we had eye contact. I hope he gets in serious sh*t for it, I was cycling with a colleague and he was a bit intimidated by the whole thing. Last time I complained to TFL I got a very nice letter apologising and promising that the driver would get additional training. I like to believe it isn’t a pack of lies...

Writing complaining emails feels so good. When I’m old I’m going to be one of those people who writes letters all the time to Points of View and things like that.

interrupting

I had a small incident with a bus a couple of weeks ago. It was wet, gloomy, and I was in a bit of a rush, on my shit old bike which has brakes which are working, but are not the modern, efficient kind. To cut a long, boring story short, a bus pulled out from a side road with me bearing down upon it (it was a slight descent), giving me little more than 15-20m to stop. It had been stationary at the side road, which has good sightlines, especially towards the direction I was coming from - I know this as it is a local road I use regularly. The driver pulled out, effectively blocking the whole of my lane, plus a bit more. I pulled a mega emergency stop, but just before I stopped completely the back wheel slid out and I came off. (Did I mention it was wet?) Since I was going so slowly by that point, the only harm done was some ripped bartape.

The driver was very apologetic, but worryingly couldn't really explained why she had pulled out. I was riding in the centre of my lane. The bus driver behind saw the incident and confirmed it was her fault, asked me if I was ok, etc. Anyway, I made a complaint to TFL, and received this today:

Thank you for your email regarding the above matter.

I was concerned to learn of your distressing incident regarding a driver on route 484, and I am relieved to hear that a serious accident did not occur. Our drivers should be professional and aware of the safety of all road users. I am very sorry for the obvious inconvenience and upset caused to you by this incident.

I have contacted Abellio, who operate route 484 on our behalf. They would like to convey their apologies for the incident. They have advised me that throughout training and at regular intervals thereafter, drivers are instructed and constantly reminded of the need to drive their bus in a safe manner, both for the benefit of their passengers and other road users such as cyclists, and to be considerate and courteous at all times.

Abellio have made the Accident Prevention manager at the route 484 garage aware of your complaint.

They will interview the driver in question about her conduct, and follow this up with appropriate action in line with their internal disciplinary procedures. This can include further monitoring to ensure that improvement is made, however, for confidentiality reasons we cannot release details of an interview and any subsequent action taken. However this matter will be taken very seriously to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

I would seek to reassure you that all of our drivers are formally assessed by a Driving Standards Agency Approved Assessor. In addition to holding a full category B entitlement (car) driving licence, all bus drivers take an additional test for Passenger Carrying Vehicle's (PCV) as assessed by the DSA. This includes ensuring that the vehicle is driven, at all times, with the utmost safety and with courtesy and consideration for everyone else on today's busy roads.

We are also actively training bus drivers in regards to behaviour around cyclists. We have consulted with the Cycling Centre of Excellence and London Cycling when devising these training programmes. We currently have a training programme specific for bus drivers dealing with cyclists.

I hope that this helps, and I hope that your future journeys are more pleasant. I should note that most drivers are confident and courteous towards cyclists and we hope that this trend continues. Should you need to contact us again, please feel free to email me.

Personally, I am pretty happy with that response, and am glad to hear that something will be done. I'm fairly sure no one is going to lose their job over this, but hopefully the driver concerned will be a little more alert at junctions next time. In some ways I was rather disappointed it was a bus driver, as in general I think they are among London's most considerate road users. I might have expected it from a van driver or a regular drivenger.

There's two things men will never admit being rubbish at and driving's one of them.

And the other one is never admitting to being lost, right?

God help you if you have a run with a bloke who is rubbish at driving and in denial about being lost, just ride, run or hobble or your way to safety asap.

And @ Spybot I was pretty impressed by that too, it actually sounds hand written and personal rather than just a standard letter, but i know its my inner cynic in action but this bit:

'however, for confidentiality reasons we cannot release details of an interview and any subsequent action taken'

screams at me 'and after sounding all concerned for a minute there and suggesting actions that may reduce similar future incidents, we may well decide to just throw this letter in the bin and do nothing and you'd be none the wiser, LOL'

Have we come to any conclusions as to how best to deal with angry motorists?

Acknowledge them and carry on riding.

If they persist, best to pull over and let them pass, they will forget about the whole incident in five minutes, it's not worth arguing with someone with a vehicles that can be turn into a dangerous weapon.

That's so sensible! You feeling alright? Won't find this in I bin Scobled

Still doesn't know the difference between a .gif and a meme though.

Seeking some forum wisdom.

A police van overtook me on a bend on the way home tonight, not too bad but closer than I would have liked. Enough for me to raise a hand and shake my head, in case the driver checked his mirrors as he drove off. I caught up at the next lights and made eye contact with the guy, dressed in plain clothes, only for him to start revving aggressively. It was the usual shit you might get from some chav boy racer. Pathetic, but quite funny.

Anyway, that's about it really. Normally I wouldn't think twice about it, other than to remind myself I should have been more assertive and taken full primary, but as he's a copper and should be setting an example to other road users I'm tempted to report him.

Would you bother?

Do some murders and get away with it, that'll make them look bad.

Remember - ACAB.

Had a close one with a HGV this morning, Robert Wiseman Dairies, be interesting to see if this gets a response;

This morning, at about 07.45, I was cycling along Kingston Road (A238) eastbound in Wimbledon, the visibility was good and traffic light. Just past Mostyn Road, Kingston Road narrows from the nearside because of a bus stop, as I approached this pinch point I started to move out to go past the obstruction, this was a gradual manoeuvre rather than a mad lunge out into the road. As I approached the obstruction one of you lorries, a 20' rigid hard sided Scania decided to overtake me and effectively force me to do an emergency stop or either hit the curb or go under the side of the lorry. His actions were ridiculous and completely contrary to rules 162 -169 of the Hiighway Code relating to overtaking, which includes;

163

give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car (see Rules 211-215)

167

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

• where the road narrows
  
  
  

My first thought was this dangerous manoeuvre was because your driver was an inconsiderate fool but when I asked why he did this manoeuvre he came out with the line "I didn't see you". This was married to an air of indifference regarding the matter and no apology whatsoever. So your driver is going along a single carriage way suburban road, in good conditions and can't see a six feet two, large cyclist, in a bright white top with red writing on it who is in front of him as he approaches an obstruction where he is supposed to take more care. This sort of driving and attitude is dangerous, disgraceful and an embarrassment to your company. Are your drivers issued with the FTA cycling code, which includes the advice;
*
*
*1 Respect other road users
Remember that cyclists are road users too and have the same
rights as motorised vehicles.
*
*
*
*
*
*3 ‘Give a metre’ or hold back until there’s room
Many roads have too little space for cyclists and hgvs** at the same
time. If an hgv cannot give a cyclist at least a metre’s clearance
then they should hold back. Drivers should bear in mind that
cyclists are trained not to ride too close to the kerb. The Highway
Code advises that you should give at least as much room as
when overtaking a car.*
*
*
I welcome your comments on what action you intend to take and how dangerous driving towards cyclist in great big lorries ties in with;
*
*
[INDENT]“We take our roles in the communities we operate in seriously and believe we have an obligation to make a positive contribution to the communities in which we operate and minimise our environmental impact.”[/INDENT]*[I]– Billy Keane, Managing Director*[/I]
*
*
[I][/I]

Seeking some forum wisdom.

A police van overtook me on a bend on the way home tonight, not too bad but closer than I would have liked. Enough for me to raise a hand and shake my head, in case the driver checked his mirrors as he drove off. I caught up at the next lights and made eye contact with the guy, dressed in plain clothes, only for him to start revving aggressively. It was the usual shit you might get from some chav boy racer. Pathetic, but quite funny.

Anyway, that's about it really. Normally I wouldn't think twice about it, other than to remind myself I should have been more assertive and taken full primary, but as he's a copper and should be setting an example to other road users I'm tempted to report him.

Would you bother?

I did, got a phonecall from the Met saying "the van in question is part of the Royal protection detail, so this is going no further"

I did, got a phonecall from the Met saying "the van in question is part of the Royal protection detail, so this is going no further"

Write a letter to the Queen about it...

Been a quiet few days lately until an HGV shitted it past me today then swerved in to the lane I was in because the second lane was coned off. Grabbed loads of front brake and swerved into the side of the road and he hammered it through the roadworks.

Caught up with him at the lights and he was oblivious to everything and on his mobile phone. Some words were offered to the driver who then drove off, still on his phone. At the next lights I caught up with him again and photographed him in his cab. My creaky phone is a bit slow to take a pic though but I got a "Phone? What phone?" photo anyway:

Oh, and speaking of signs, this one was at a place near where I used to live.

I did, got a phonecall from the Met saying "the van in question is part of the Royal protection detail, so this is going no further"
That's fairly terrible.

This is an interesting article on how to react to drivers.

http://bicycling.com/blogs/sittingin/2008/01/18/confronting-the-cars/

Fuck that. I don't give a toss what they think.

It's the part about them not taking their rage out on another cyclist somewhere else down the road that I like.

If only I could be convinced that they would actually remember.

There are not enough FUCK YOUs in the world for all of the cunts on the road today.

I say cunts but I feel that it is the wrong word, I like cunts, I like cunts a lot more than pricks in Audi A5s on Essex Road screaming abuse at me for daring to be a female on a bike who wishes to avoid the copious quantity of diesel on the road immediately following a downpour.

I much prefer cunts to the vile sample of santorum in the silver Prius who pulled out into me behind Oxford Street. Thank fuck I wasn't on a drain cover as I swerved. And SMIDSY? No, I get "FUCK YOUUUS" and told I shouldn't overtake cars.

LISTEN motherfucker, I'm overtaking rather than undertaking because you are more likely to look in that fucking mirror and I ride a bike mainly because I want to get to my fucking destination rather than sit in a fucking traffic jam.

People like the dick mini gangster in the A5 are the reason why I stopped carrying my d lock in my belt. People with your attitude are why I should. You will feed through a fucking straw next time you arrogant, worthless piece of fermented jizz.

Finally, to the silver cab driver who overtook me by the roadworks, trying to squash me into a barrier, 50 yards from a red light, I hope you contract ebola because it's only mildly more painful than being pressed through a 7' steel sieve by a 2 tonne vehicle.

Just had to get that off my chest. From 2013 I will be available as a counsellor if any of you need help in dealing with your anger!

In a busy inner city, it's not a bad thing if people get in your way. That's part of the point of having busy inner cities, and it creates a lot of positives as well as those negatives.

That said, there can definitely be too much for one day in that department sometimes.

Reped for the use of fermented jizz.

Does anyone know how long it’s meant to take TFL to respond to complaints? They haven’t replied about their bus driver trying to run me over on marathon day. I just sent them a little reminder email, hopefully that will encourage them along.

They used to be pretty good at reassuring me that they weren’t trying to kill me...

Does anyone know how long it’s meant to take TFL to respond to complaints? They haven’t replied about their bus driver trying to run me over on marathon day. I just sent them a little reminder email, hopefully that will encourage them along.

They used to be pretty good at reassuring me that they weren’t trying to kill me...

I think you have to chase them quite energetically (or pursue a claim with a lawyer). Have you seen Wayne's thread?

https://www.lfgss.com/thread53843.html

There's a lot of useful info in there.