So, I was cycling home last night travelling south on North Bridge. There were a couple of cars ahead of me waiting at the lights at the High Street junction. I rolled up behind them and came to halt in the middle of the left-hand lane leaving plenty of room in front. I'd been stationary for a couple of seconds with one foot on the ground when I hear a screeching of tyres. Next thing I know I'm on the deck. It wasn't a big hit, I initially thought it was another cyclist that had hit me. Turns out a private hire taxi had failed to stop before running into the back of me. He got out and was apologetic and offered to call an ambulance. He also offered me his details but then said he didn't have a pen. I didn't have any injuries needing treatment and the bike seemed fine so said I was alright. He made off fairly smartly after that.
Given that I was stationary in the middle of the lane, with stationary traffic in front, sporting two rear lights and full high viz jacket, I can only assume he wasn't paying attention. I'm feeling lucky he wasn't going faster and/or driving a lorry.
In retrospect I'm wondering if I should have taken his details and reported to police? I'm not interested in making a claim of any kind or pressing for charges (not that there's any great likelihood of the police taking it further anyway). I'm more thinking that it's the sort of thing that should be officially recorded somewhere, for statistical purposes if nothing else.
I did glance at his registration plate as he drove off, I thought it was SL54 JJP but that doesn't come up as a valid plate. Red/maroon Renault Senic ("or similar", as the car hire folk would say).
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
Knocked over by a taxi last night - advice sought
(15 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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for sure you should have reported(and still should) to the Police
Posted 11 years ago # -
Hope you're ok!
When I got hit by a car it was a similar situation. I was absolutely fine other than being a bit shook up, and my bike looked ok. However it turned out my rear wheel needed replaced.
Even without the damage I think it's always important to take details and report it.Posted 11 years ago # -
Definitely report. Might be some CCTV round there. If you'd been closer to the vehicles in front...
Posted 11 years ago # -
Yeah definetly report it to cops - that's s heavily cctv'd area so as long as you know time and location they should be able to join the dots.
The bike might need some close inspection over a couple of days -rear stays, hubs etc don't like a bashing.Posted 11 years ago # -
Report it for sure, you never know if the person who hit you was properly licensed, insured and taxed. You don't know who they might hit next or if they've done it before.
If you need insurance work to bike they might want to have a police reference also.
Glad you're OK.
Posted 11 years ago # -
You say "I didn't have any injuries needing treatment"
it is my understanding that if you are injured in any way (even just bruised) then the driver of any mechanically propelled vehicle involved has broken the law by not reporting the incident to the police.Posted 11 years ago # -
Yup. Lots of frames snap a few weeks after apparently minor contact with one and a half tonnes of steel. Get on to the cops while the CCTV is still available.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Definitely report it to the police - you can do this by calling 101 from anywhere in Scotland. This is important as this guy is liable to be driving around Edinburgh's roads for hours every day. We will all be safer is action is taken against him, even if it is just a warning.
Also, carefully check your bike - easy to miss small but potentially dangerous damage, frame cracks, damaged hub etc.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Bad luck Luath, wrong place at the wrong time: I think I'd have reacted the same as you, kind of playing it down at the time as you felt OK.
Does reporting it mean charges would be automatically initiated against the driver ? (for not reporting ?) Even if that were the rule, I'd doubt if it were followed. I reckon you should report it, irrespective of "oh, i dont have a pen" which sounds a bit like backtracking to me.
I am pretty crap at looking at registration numbers. In all the times I've had an incident I nearly always think afterwards, should have got his reg number.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Thanks for all the advice and support folks. Looks like i'll be making a call to 101. And checking my frame carefully!
Posted 11 years ago # -
As Fimm says, this driver would seem to have a duty to report this accident to the Police. Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 section 170 if for any reason the driver did not give their name and address to any person requiring it, they have to report as soon as is reasonably practicable and within 24 hours to the Police. That applies to damage-only as well as injury accidents. (If they do give all the details, including an insurance certificate, to anyone requiring them at the time, then I think they don't have to report it to the Police even if there is someone injured)
Posted 11 years ago # -
Injury crashes have to be reported to the Police. S.170 applies to all motor vehicles and tracks back to the original Motor Car Act of 1903.
There is also no requirement for actual contact with the offending driver's motor vehicle. If the PRESENCE of the vehicle causes injury to a person (or certain animals) or damage to property, then details have to be provided to any person reasonably requiring them. So if you get blown off by a close passing truck there is still a case to answer for the truck driver.
The first case (in 1903) concerned 2 horses which had to be destroyed, after they were spooked by a company rep showing off in his new company car (plus ca change!).
NB most bus and taxi drivers will have a card or other means to pass the required information to an aggrieved party, as this avoids any lengthy discussion, and a need to admit any specific liability or guilt at the scene of the crash/incident.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Just to back up Tuilyars post I came off my bike after a PHC decided to drive towards me on my side of the road to overtake a bus. I was doing about 25mph, slammed on the brakes and flipped over landing just in front of him (fortunately he'd stopped too!). I didn't actually hit him but broke my left metacarpal. Police and Ambulance called, boy was charged with careless driving. (I got Cycle Law Scotland involved too which resulted in a successful claim as my bike was wrecked)
Posted 11 years ago # -
The incident should certainly be reported and I hope the CCTV footage (if any) is of sufficient quality that the driver is traced and at the very least spoken to.
I had an accident whilst on my motorbike at that very junction where a car cut across me, I was travelling North over the bridges and he was going from North Bridge to 'up' the high street. The police were unable to get a registration mark from any of the CCTV in the area. I was both surprised and disappointed when I heard this!Posted 11 years ago #
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