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

http://www.askmid.com/ ?

On my way home tonight I was approaching queueing traffic and an unmarked white van passed in the middle of 3 lanes, on my right, and immediately swerved into my lane and stopped. Normally I would wait in the queue (only 3 cars ahead at the lights) but I switched to the middle lane simply to get past him. I told him that was a dick move as I rode past, to be greeted with a load of hootin' and tootin' shortly after.
I was expecting some sort of close pass further along, or some response, but to my amazement he followed at a distance until it was safe to pass, and then did so by overtaking like a saint.
I wasn't surprised at the dick move, I was surprised that he appeared to learn from being called out for it.

Cycling along approaching a narrowing in the road. A motorcycle passes me, followed by a van!

I always feel like I am being a nuisance riding in the middle of the road, however seems like you need to...

Worth reporting?

So reported the incident to Road Safe. No real surprises in the response but guess glad they acknowledge it. I am not going to pursue it further but would report any similar offences.

I thought my camera would have captured the licence plate but it was difficult to make out in the recording. Good habit to read out the licence plate while recording (like others do) to ensure the Met can match it.

Dear ***,

Thank you for providing a link to the footage for your submission to Roadsafe London.

From the footage and further investigation, we have confirmed that the registration number of the panel van is ***** and not '**' as originally thought. All appropriate checks have now been undertaken.

**From the information you have provided, but without further corroboration, police will not be taking any further action however a letter of warning has been issued to the driver and company concerned. ** The letter contains the link to your You Tube footage along with reference to Highway Code Rules relevant to the incident (guidance only, not enforceable), along with the equivalent sections/regulations of Road Traffic enactments (enforceable) and their penalties upon conviction.

We appreciate this may not be the outcome you were hoping for however would ask that this does not deter you from making further reports to Roadsafe London.

Please be advised, Roadsafe London is not an alternative means of reporting road traffic offences or breaches of Highway Code Rules with a view to prosecution.

Kind regards

---

On Behalf of ROADSAFE LONDON
MPS Traffic OCU (SCO15)
TrafficMailbox-.Crackdown@met.police.uk

When I had my last incident with one of them, I asked the police specifically if coaches are allowed to be on the bus lanes, the answer was no. When I asked the same question to National Express, the PR dept had no idea and said they will check. And according to the tfl website, buses have more than 10 seats can use them. So I am still confused. Bottom line is, the way they use it is so sneaky, they only seem to want to get in it when there is traffic in front. That suggests they might not be allowed to use it, but what do I know?

Please read advice in this link - tfl advice for coach drivers:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/businessandpartners/coachoperators/1262.aspx

More specifically: **Do not drive in bus lanes, unless within permitted hours marked on signs **There is no mention of number of seats of the coach.

I am amazed that the PR department of National Express didn't know this. I am even more amazed that their drivers do not know this, but let's face it, if most of the public do not know this (looks like a lot of us here do not know), then National Express coaches using bus lanes will go unreported, their drivers will keep taking chances.... Time to start reporting these incidents to National Express / Roadpeace / Police.....

So what I was told by the police is correct then. How serious do you you think they will take me if I just report to national express with this as a general issues rather than having any specific info like the number plates, descriptions of drivers?

^ Hard to say. I always find a written letter, addressed to the MD, more effective than an email, or web enquiry, or you could try phoning to talk to someone senior.

If that doesn't get you anywhere, start tweeting :)

Abt time I start using my GoPro...

Can I fit this to my bike?

RF Safe-Stop shuts down car engines with radio pulse

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-cctv-traffic-wardens-caught-on-camera/4od it's amazing what driving does to turn people into self righteous pricks

Yeah cause there are no self righteous pricks on bikes.

That's why cyclists are the bestest.

right-on

Abt time I start using my GoPro...

Did you really abbreviate about?

Yeah, I'm a lot safer doing 45 but looking up.
It's really not difficult to keep a car at a constant speed. Even if you are checking the speedo occasionally it's pretty fucking easy, you don't even need to move your head, just a flick of the eyes like rearview mirror checks.

HAHAHAHA...yeah good one...mirror checks. Lol/rolf/etc

The problem I find with riding in primary when I don't want to be overtaken is half the time the motorist takes even more risks to overtake me. I assumed it today through a tight, twisting section of road with road islands for peds and a bus still overtook me in a narrow section (although at least he did fully leave the lane to do so) before pulling over 5 seconds later at a bus stop. Immediately after, approaching a roundabout, just after coming past a traffic island and avoiding the park cars on my left, a car accelerated and passed me at high speeds despite oncoming traffic, jagging back to the left before I had been cleared to avoid a collision. The motorist then turned left and I overtook her again while she waited at the lights. I gave the car a sharp rap on the window as I passed, out of frustration but also to illustrate the pointlessness of her dangerous manouver. We both turned right, I think she sprayed her windscreen as she passed me as a lame tit for tat as I got a couple of sprinkles. I passed her again later on as the traffic clogged up and undoubtedly got to where I was going a lot quicker than her.

It's the impatience I don't understand: why the hurry if you're about to pull over at a bus stop, or about to go through a roundabout or approaching traffic lights.

I'd quite like a helmet cam now. After that farcical video from the LTDA I think it's important that cyclists create a counter-narrative highlighting the daily dangerous driving they encounter on even a short commute.

Yours,

Frustrated in Bristol

Hey wing mirror, meet my mate, nike air max.

There is a definite element I find that a motorist sees a bike and everything becomes secondary to getting past that cyclist, whatever the road conditions.

Defo. I never see them losing it like that when it's a JCB driven at 12mph by a 17st Irish bloke named Paddy.

Yeah cause there are no self righteous pricks on bikes.

Obviously there's a few but these people get wound up over the fact that they park in a bus lane and get ticketed , they know it'll happen and they keep doing it , especially when they cover up their number plates to avoid fines it's just selfish because it causes traffic for everyone else

Defo. I never see them losing it like that when it's a JCB driven at 12mph by a 17st Irish bloke named Paddy.

nizlopi- jcb song - YouTube

Defo. I never see them losing it like that when it's a JCB driven at 12mph by a 17st Irish bloke named Paddy.

Or a tractor driving farmer in Devon or Wiltshire.

You don't mess with farmers

need to report a 345 bus driver who having pulled along side me whilst I was waiting at a pedestrian crossing on clapham high street, looked me straight in the eyes, then as we both pulled away as the lights changed accelerated sharply then immediately pulled across me into the cs7 lane to pull into the bus stop 10 yards ahead while i was still level with the midpoint of the bus. he only stopped because I started banging the side of the bus with my fist.

what's the best way to report it as i can imagine not only is there footage of him driving at me but also him looking straight at me before he does it. no question in my mind that he did it on purpose.

wac

Yep, that's why he did it.

Hb is a cunt

I am. but he was a bigger one.

Phone, email, tweet etc TFL and don't give in until they give you satisfaction.

I watched a woman in a van from Transport Research Labs driving and texting this evening. Not only texting but as soon as she got to a clear bit of road she drove away from me at well over the speed limit.
She has been reported.