I had an extremely close encounter with an NHS van this morning on my way to work, possibly the closest overtake I have ever had in my entire cycling life, on the grounds of the RIE. I followed the van and confronted the driver who other than trotting out the usual failings of cyclists in general, told me that I was not wearing a helmet, to which I responded it was not a legal requirement...the next point was of interest...he then went onto say that supposing he had hit me and I had died as a result, it would have been my fault and I would have been personally responsible for my own death as I was not wearing a helmet, and also that I should not have been on road, as I don't have insurance. Make of that what you will. It spoke volumes to me...
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
Repercussions?
(18 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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Hope you got his number and report it.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I did get his number, eventually. He refused to tell me his name. He also took a photo of me with his phone to prove I was not wearing a helmet, which although very annoying does prove that I was there and had spoken to him, puts a place and time on it. All been written into a complaint to his manager. Not reported it to the police. He was not compliant either with regulations...was not wearing a high-viz jacket, which if not a legal requirement now certainly is one for NHS van drivers.
Posted 11 years ago # -
He shouldn't be driving.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Sounds like deliberate dangerous driving to me.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@cc It certainly felt like a punishment pass and a deliberate manoeuvre to intimidate me on his part, as I had somehow annoyed him.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I'm guessing you either work at or were using the RIE facilities? If you work there, could you complain through your HR/line manager? If you are a customer, you can complain to the Hospital. Good luck, but looks like a case where a head camera might have been useful, for proof!
Posted 11 years ago # -
@DaveC, HR or rather ER as they are now called would not do anything, my line manager would do nothing either. I have written to the interim Manager of the unit where he works in an email, and await her response. Yes, you are right a headcam or camera would have been very useful, and something that friends have been urging me to get. I actually work at the hospital and I am here everyday so hope that the title of the thread does not come back to bite me, with the driver getting really offensive and vindictive, which is always a concern when you complain, and as he was not in the least bit remorseful or apologetic, would not be unsurprising.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Wonder if it was the same NHS van I spotted yesterday afternoon turning into Roseburn Street checking his phone...
Posted 11 years ago # -
With the described behaviour I'd say it was worth writing a letter to the police with a description of the incident. So they have it on record at least.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Since you were clearly bullied and harassed by a member of staff on your employers turf, I'd be putting in a formal grievance.
Posted 11 years ago # -
You are saying that he used his vehicle in such a manner as to cause you alarm, because he didn't like what you were doing, even though what you were doing was totally legal, while driving a company vehicle on your employer's property, and your managers won't do anything about it?
Posted 11 years ago # -
@To be fair I have not spoken to my actual line manager but I can take a fairly good guess at what her response might be. If I want to take out a grievance then the letter of complaint would be the pre-emptive strike. His line manager phoned me whilst I was on lunch, and left a message saying she would phone back, no call so far. Tomorrow is another day. The polis had gone home by the time I went to A&E to discuss the matter and get some advice from them.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Speed limit 10mph on whole site? Area covered by cctv?
The trick is maybe to write to someone senior but cc line manager so they can't say you bypassed them.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Do you have "near miss" reporting?
Seems strange to report a "near miss"; wouldn't a "near miss" be a hit and a "near hit" be a miss?
Anyway, as said above the employers have responsibility under health and safety regulations that the actions of their employees does not endanger the health and safety of others. Failing to act upon it would be considered an offence.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Back again, to keep you updated. Some monkey has removed the 10mph advisory sign, I did notice this a couple of weeks ago, pole still there. I went to have a wee chat with the police that are stationed in A&E, and had a long chat with a very sympathetic police woman. The gist of it is that should there be a meeting with the chap concerned that she would be more than happy to attend with me, to point out the error of his ways, but that there was no way of taking it further as I had no witnesses and it is unlikely that the CCTV would have shown anything. The manager of the depot finally contacted me first thing this morning, having attempted to contact me at lunchtime of Wednesday, and me sending her a further prompting email on Thursday. She asked me if I would leave the matter with her to deal with for the present time, that she had spoken to the driver concerned, whose attitude she said at the time of being spoken to and his behaviour since left a great deal to be desired, but she has been parachuted in and is an interim manager and would like to get her staff onside. I informed her that I had contacted the police and should she need any assistance they would probably be more than happy to intervene, but she thought that would not be necessary. I did ask her to write me an email of the actions taken and the outcomes. So I await that missive from her. I gather she thinks morale in the unit is low and staff do not feel valued! Well I have to say I did not feel that the driver valued my life in any way, shape or form, and just because he is having a crap day does not entitle him to drive cyclists off the road.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Oh yes, meant to say, in the course of the conversation with the WPC she did say that the latest trick, perhaps it has actually been going on for a while, is the use of a wire or invisible string across bike paths causing cyclists to come off their bikes so that they can be robbed. Thought I should pass that on.
Posted 11 years ago # -
That is shocking - well done for persuing with transport manager. This driver is a liability and likely to get involved in an accident of his own making.
If it was LRT he would be sent for re-training - assuming they would take someone so hostile in first place.
Sounds like he should be driving for Bonally Dairies...
Posted 11 years ago #
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