Constructive steps to stop dangerous driving?

Was almost taken out by a coach driver today, overtaking me on a blind corner with cars coming the other way. (Almost caught me in the pinch point). Adrenaline kicked in and I caught him a little up the road. He seemed sorry & promised he'd not do it again but:-

a.) This is the second time I've had to chase this particular driver

b.) He really was VERY close

c.) If no one reports him eventually he'll cut it too fine / has he already cut up other cyclists?

So what can i do? Police? Coach company (it's a G reg un-branded coach)? School he picks up for?

As we discovered on Hippy's thread I'm rather too English for violence / weeing in shoes. Any realistic steps which might see him take this seriously?

It's an all too common act of stupidity, that. I cycle thru Petersham every morning and there's always a few nutters who overtake into the blind corner. When a No.65 comes the other way where do they go? You guessed it - time to head for the kerb and pull your elbows in.

In reality I think there's little you can do which will change drivers' behaviour, you just have to ride defensively. If you anticipate and make yourself sufficiently wide at the danger spots, you can deter most would-be overtakers.

Of course if it was a bendy bus, all you'd need to do is to wave a naked flame somewhere approximately near the rear end...

Ban all motor vehicules

Ride wide....... Make them work to pass you. I have become deaf to the horns?
Most these idiots decide to rev up behind me, blast the horn, race past, then I pass them 20 yards down the road when hey are once more in a line of traffic!
You gotta laugh eh!

So nothing retrospective then?

I normally try to ride considerately than defensively except when I'm cycling the daughter to school, then I'm RIGHT out in the middle of the road. I may have to push it to everyday routes too...

I feel bad for the majority of good drivers...

I ride in the middle of the lane usually. I move in when I think there is a point where overtaking me would be safe. Always good to look behind at them so they know you know they're there.

Too true AL86 - nothing beats a bit of eye contact for deterring potential chancers.

Stick your right arm out as though to turn and then curl it back into an open-handed "wait" gesture.
That usually works for me when I need to stop someone overtaking me, like when coming up to a line of parked cars, tight bit in the lane etc.

Leave the car at home?

Add a section to the driving test where students have to be able to safely negotiate a 2 mile journey by bicycle/tricycle along a typical high street.

• this could be limited to Bus, HGV, and London Taxi tests - Ahhh.. i'm smiling just thinking about it!
  

A mile in their shoes kind of thing???

I like it...

REPORT THEM.

I can't find Tam's original thread but she had some success in Oz with this. Not sure who you'd have to deal with in UK.
There must be some kind of Transport Ombudsman in the UK? TFL? PCO? Police? Get the rego, the company name. Take complaint to the company in question too (ie. CC the email or write a couple of letters). The more you tell and the more formal you make it the more procedures have to be followed up on..

This is an example of a bus driver being reported for dangerous driving in Aus.

*Just call the transinfo line and tell them you want to make a complaint.
The BCC is taking such calls very seriously now. I made a complaint,
and the guy who took it was actually a cyclist. He took all the
details, and asked whether they should contact me by phone or in
writing. A week later I received a phone call to let me know that the
driver had received counselling and retraining on safe driving around
cyclists. I was really happy with this outcome and BCC transport is
trying hard to make big changes. 10 years ago the majority of bus
drivers were grumpy old men, prone to slamming doors on high school
students and other ridiculous behaviours, but now they're getting better
and better. *

With this guy, you must report him to his company - if he's carved you up twice, who knows how many other times he has driven recklessly - they may even have other complaints already about him. If there are no indications on the bus, then you should complain directly to the school. I'm sure they would be concerned about the implications of him taking out one of their students.

As a response to your question on a more general level... I think more of those rising bollard things are the solution... EVERYWHERE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_Cw0QJU8ro

More tunnels.

Bendy buss at 30 ish sec.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFk-vn2Ikjk

Jesus, that is a mental film. All from one tunnel...

Imagine being in the back of that bendy bus.

Luke (d0ca) - that is the reason why you shouldn't cycle the Blackwall tunnel!

hey, i had no great plans to cycle the Blackwall tunnel!! But then maybe you're confusing me... I'm not Luke.
Saying that, I did finally stack in huge style this morning as I was cycling down Caledonian Rd approaching Kings X, checking out the traffic in front of me for which way was the best way through the cars at the lights... Hit a massive pothole that was right under my nose and went head-over-heels! Somehow, I managed to land on my leftt shoulder, rolling over and absorbing the impact, and ending up with the contents of my bag safe (computer still working) and bicycle in hand - albeit upside down with the wheels in the air. So, a few grazes, minimal blood and no scratches on the frame. Oh, and my helmet didn't even touch the ground - but I'm still gonna be wearing one!

Oh shit, yeah, I'm confusing Luke and André, doh.

Anyway, that sounds nasty. Glad you're ok. I bet it looked spectacular?

yer it was indeed me and the blackwall tunnel, something i shall not be doing again, that was scary enough without being cut up.

mashton
Anyway, that sounds nasty. Glad you're ok. I bet it looked spectacular?

Wish I'd seen it! ;-)
Anyway, been back to bed for an hour now, and am off out again. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

What country is that tunnel film from. That is actually disgusting

asm What country is that tunnel film from. That is actually disgusting

I've seen that before it is from somewhere in Russia, water running in to the tunnel froze causing black ice through it.
There was one clip where a small car goes sliding past on it's roof :D

asm What country is that tunnel film from. That is actually disgusting

The vid is called Russia Tunnel Crash.. I'll let you work out the rest :P

i guess that's excusable, i thought it was just people driving like idiots.

noggin .....I cycle thru Petersham every morning....

Hey Noggin, where you at? I'm a Ham man(someone has to be). I always stay very central thru the Petersham bends....especially as its a 20mph speed limit thru there, and I'm very careful to stay wide up Star and Garter when theres oncoming traffic...no-way can a car pass me with on-coming, and I havent learnt to skip up onto kerbs yet. Mind you, I'm quite a sight 'flying' up that bastard.....even most law-abiding motorists are on there mobiles calling for a ambulance for me.

another particular nit of road where I do struggle with passing close traffic is Priory Lane and its fcuking stupid useless slippery leafy cycle (rink) lane. Fast and close passing traffic.

kipsy [quote]noggin .....I cycle thru Petersham every morning....

Hey Noggin, where you at? I'm a Ham man(someone has to be). I always stay very central thru the Petersham bends....especially as its a 20mph speed limit thru there, and I'm very careful to stay wide up Star and Garter when theres oncoming traffic...no-way can a car pass me with on-coming(let alone a 371 bus!, and I havent learnt to skip up onto kerbs yet. Mind you, I'm quite a sight 'flying' up that bastard.....even most law-abiding motorists are on there mobiles calling for a ambulance for me.

another particular bit of road where I do struggle with passing close traffic is Priory Lane and its fcuking stupid useless slippery leafy cycle (rink) lane. Fast and close passing traffic.[/quote]