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Witnessed an accident (what to do/what not to do)

(9 posts)
  • Started 5 years ago by gembo
  • Latest reply from EdinburghCycleCam

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  1. gembo
    Member

    I was coming down through Dumbiedykes approaching the pinch point junction at the entrance to the NCP car park (near Moray House). two cyclists coming up the hill, a car waiting to turn right (probably in to the carpark). I stop in the right hand lane as I am turning right and I am waiting for the bikes to come up the slope and indeed the car to turn.

    The driver clocks me stopping then turns right hitting the young irish woman's fron wheel (nice light blue pashley with the white tyres). Cyclist behind the woman is eastern european chap though he can swear good in English. [He is not connected to the woman and frankly made the situation worse by not calming down and not stopping swearing - gave the driver an excuse to also be radge which he did very well ].

    THe woman is OK. THe other cyclist (the guy) and the driver who seems to be an employee of KFC proceed to have a very loud argument.

    I ensure the woman has my details as witness, the number plate of the car and all her belongings. She is in shock but coming out of it. She is swithering about reporting to police as she is laid back and her previous accident where a taxi hit her and just drove off is something she sees as far worse than this one).

    I manage to separate the two males, the cyclist goes on his way. Still effing and jeffing. KFC man (he has a dress shirt in black and white check but with the KFC logo stitched on the breast) then says I should keep my pal in check. I say - I don't know him but I witnessed your driving and you were 100% wrong. He makes no comment. He drives away to the car park. I check woman is still ok, she is and she cycles off. I head to work.

    I guess I could report it too as I have the reg too but I am not thinking I will.

    I am not sure the woman will report it but I encouraged her to do so.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  2. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    If the driver didn't give their details to their victim directly (or you), the driver commits an offence in law if he does not report it himself to the police in 24 hours. Maybe give it a day then report it. Of course the police may ngaf as usual.

    Did you get the name and address of the driver?

    Posted 5 years ago #
  3. fimm
    Member

    If no one was hurt then I don't think an accident has to be reported to the police?

    Posted 5 years ago #
  4. dougal
    Member

    "KFC man ... then says I should keep my pal in check."

    That really does show little awareness he had of the situation.

    https://surrey.police.uk/contact-us/report-online/reporting-road-traffic-collisions/

    If you are the driver of a vehicle involved in a road traffic collision and owner / insurance / vehicle details were not exchanged at the scene OR you sustained an injury, you must report the incident in person at a police station as soon as possible and within 24 hours. You are legally obliged to do this.

    The driver of the vehicle involved should take the following documents to the station with them:

    • FULL driving licence
    • Insurance certificate
    • MOT documents

    If no one was injured in the collision and you’ve already exchanged contact and insurance details with the other person, or people, involved you are under no legal obligation to report this incident to the police.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  5. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @gembo

    Well played. They were lucky to have you there as post-incident facilitator.

    Maybe phone it in? Irish lady may be too shaken to make robust decisions? Might protect others from KFC Man?

    Posted 5 years ago #
  6. gembo
    Member

    One of my difficulties was I was having to manage the fight provoked by the other cyclist. KFC man was politeness itself with the woman. OK-ish with me and giving as good as he got with the other cyclist.

    I do have the reg and can call it in given the KFC man's poor observational skills this morning.

    Polis:Anyone else involved?
    Gembo: Another cyclist going radge
    Polis: Nil -nil draw then

    Posted 5 years ago #
  7. acsimpson
    Member

    Gembo,

    If you do phone it in then could you avoid describing the sweary foreigner as a cyclist. After all he was just a member of the public who happened to be riding a bike.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  8. Frenchy
    Member

    If you are the driver of a vehicle involved in a road traffic collision and owner / insurance / vehicle details were not exchanged at the scene OR you sustained an injury, you must report the incident in person at a police station as soon as possible and within 24 hours. You are legally obliged to do this.

    Can anyone confirm that cyclists are not also legally obliged to do this?

    Posted 5 years ago #
  9. EdinburghCycleCam
    Member

    Was there any damage to the bike or the car? Was the cyclist injured at all (even just a scraped knee, etc)?

    If the answer is no to both, then I fully expect the police to not take any action whatsoever, but I also expect them to take no action whatsoever unless the cyclist comes forward to report it (and even then...)

    Another thing to check: is the vehicle taxed and MOT'd (https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/)?

    @Frenchy: I'm 99% sure it's not a requirement for cyclists (I mean, it isn't for pedestrians either), but I can't actually find anything that says that in black and white.

    Posted 5 years ago #

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