I think the likely function of the tool is to get that article on the BBC website and further the interests of the two shareholders of Westcotec Ltd.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Today's rubbish driving...
(11258 posts)- Started 12 years ago by Stepdoh
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Posted 5 years ago #
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So if someone is using a gps it will flash but not if they are watching a film on their ipad? Solution looking for a problem.
Posted 5 years ago # -
It's a useless "awareness" function, like those 30mph flashy smiley signs.
Like anyone engrossed in their phone would be looking at signs anyway.
The irony is, the flashing "no mobile use" sign is yet another distraction and item of street clutter in itself
Posted 5 years ago # -
To the killer on the A82 Glencoe pass yesterday that decided to overtake a line of cars with no gap between them at around 80 mph heading straight at me on my side of the road ... I was doing 60kmh with nowhere to go. .. disc brakes and into ditch. I suspect they could hear my warning shout on the Aonach Eagach. Driver was oblivious or just didn't care he was chatting away waving his left arm around. Didn't stop
Posted 5 years ago # -
Ooof. You all right?
Posted 5 years ago # -
That sounds terrifying - I have experienced similar in France so empathise about the panic and fear. Hope you are ok.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@RB have video?
Posted 5 years ago # -
Sorry to hear that, RB - are you / the bike ok?
So many horrible close passes last night. About 5 I think from memory - I'll make a compilation some time this week.
This morning, heading North (downhill) on Gilmerton Road, I was in primary, 2 metres behind the car in front, doing 30 mph easily (tailwind, woo), and the driver behind decided to honk at me. Need to review the footage to see if it's worth uploading, but probably not.
I heard back from the police about this incident - it's taken them 4 weeks, but they've finally been able to view the footage, and have said that this isn't considered dangerous or careless driving.
Apparently it's perfectly sensible to drive through a give way sign, straight towards a cyclist who has been clearly visible in the middle of the road for 4 seconds, and to miss them by 1-2 inches.
Does anyone know what actual law / section of the road traffic act covers close passes? I'm now arguing with the officer to charge it as a close pass at least.
Posted 5 years ago # -
"Does anyone know what actual law / section of the road traffic act covers close passes? I'm now arguing with the officer to charge it as a close pass at least"
None. Not specific anyway. Could be seen as Careless Driving if they could be bothered, but there's no 'close pass' law.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@EdinburghCycleCam: Did the police not take any interest in the offending vehicle's lack of VED or MoT?
But I would have thought that blatantly failing to give way to an oncoming vehicle that has priority should be more than sufficient for action to be taken. (Perhaps there should be an offence of "careless policing"?)
Posted 5 years ago # -
@ejstubbs They said "Action will however be taken regarding the no tax and MOT."
I've asked for clarification from the officer, and asked them to check with a road traffic officer - pointing out that at the very least it's a close pass of a cyclist, which can be considered careless driving.
If the officer doesn't respond in a few days, or refuses to pursue the careless driving issue, I'm going to make a formal complaint - not just because the outcome is rubbish, but the fact it's taken 4 weeks to get to this point because the officer didn't turn up to the diary appointment to see the footage or take a statement, and then took several weeks to get back to me at all, after I chased it up twice via 101.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Does anyone know what actual law / section of the road traffic act covers close passes? I'm now arguing with the officer to charge it as a close pass at least.
As far as I know it's just the general careless driving bit.
"A person is to be regarded as driving without due care and attention if (and only if) the way he drives falls below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver."
Posted 5 years ago # -
I did a quick Google and found a number of tabloid articles alleging that close-passing would soon be punishable with 3 points and a fine (the amount of the fine varying between £100 and £1,000). I assume that would have to be spelled out in legislation somewhere - though I believe it could be done as an amendment to existing regulations rather than requiring a act of parliament. And I'd have thought that the Highway Code would need to be amended to use the appropriate MUST/MUST NOT wording e.g. rule 163.
Although come to think, I have seen reports before of people being issued FPNs for splashing pedestrians by driving through puddles and such like offences, so on reflection I may be mistaken (something which is by no means unknown).
Posted 5 years ago # -
@Frenchy Ah, thanks - I wasn't sure if there was anything more specific. The problem with that piece of legislation is that it's pretty subjective (Though I'm certainly arguing that driving through a give way at another road user isn't what I'd call competent and careful).
@ejstubbs Yeah. I saw similar things, I assumed they're just talking about the maximum points and fine you can get for careless driving (Which I know is 3 points, no idea about the fine).
Posted 5 years ago # -
Pulling that manoeuvre during a driving test would lead to an automatic fail, anyway.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@Frenchy yes thanks .... was physically shaking but totally unhurt
@algo ... me too in France but never at that speed :P ... Im fine thanks
@Murun Buchstansang no video as doing a long ride, trying to ride light and my old hero2 on my lid has a battery life of a 20 minute commute and the wind resistance of an elephant on a tricycle ...
Posted 5 years ago # -
@Ragingbike Glad to hear you're ok!
Monday's cycle home compilation video, with multiple instances of close passes as must-get-in-fronts. Full blurb in the video description if you care about that sort of thing.
And the one in the video preview is my current contender for the "how did they not hit me" award.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@Edinburgh cycle can
Yes - a true compendium of head to head overtaking horrors with close passes and pointless aggression as drivers strive to get in front (only to find that they are behind again).
Noted a Welgo? van going through Holyrood Park. Lots of other commercials. I think they should charge a toll/fine with numberplate recognition. Grey VW van driver was really 'nice' cutting you up and hacking off other drivers waiting at lights. But he did wait behind ASL so you could get in front again!Posted 5 years ago # -
@LaidBack - Yeah, I really shouldn't have plonked myself in front of him again (You can hear him rev the engine and see him move forwards in the rear footage)
RE: Holyrood Park - there's a thread about that - I gather the police were enforcing it a few months ago, but no sign of more recent enforcement, and I regularly see commercial vans going through the park, because everyone (including the park rangers!) consider it a "key transport corridor" and not a park.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Close pass by private hire cab 1893 going down Broughton St yesterday afternoon. It’s always the private hire cabs.
Although not as bad as the altercation I witnessed on Viewforth Bridge last night - one car seemed to have run a red and ended up having to swerve onto the pavement to avoid a head on collision. Luckily I was on foot, and not on the side he swerved onto. Lots of honking and shouting.
Posted 5 years ago # -
I was passed slowly but closely by two learner drivers who were under tuition this morning as I returned from a loop of the mostly off-road (and one part now traffic segregated) Guild Wheel cycling route in Preston this morning.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Lots of bad passing often at inappropriate speeds on commute home, especially in the Midlothian section. Not good after a stressful day at work. A wee bit of karma though: one of the speeding overtakes was nabbed by the police in Musselburgh. First time I've seen that, often they seem to ignore or be unaware.
Posted 5 years ago # -
going into stockbridge on raeburn place, my red turned amber, then green, at which point a large van was only 50% of the way through it's right hand turn from Leslie Place--he had to have been 25m away when his green went amber!
i did a little 'oh come on!' hand wave... the hand gestures and facial expression he made in return, i swear he'd have driven at me if he'd had the time to change direction.
someone that angry should not be driving 4 tons+ in a crowded street.Posted 5 years ago # -
If you expand that link to the last couple of days you come up with:
Police investigate “insane” road rage attack near Leuchars
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/877240/police-investigate-insane-road-rage-attack-near-leuchars/Fife motorist caused crash by continuing to drive after losing a tyre
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/876625/fife-motorist-caused-crash-by-continuing-to-drive-after-losing-a-tyre/Collision between car and lorry affects rush hour traffic
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/876740/collision-between-car-and-lorry-affects-rush-hour-traffic/Car crashes into wall in Newport-on-Tay
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/875711/car-crashes-into-wall-in-newport-on-tay/Classic car driver fighting for life in hospital after road accident on A985 in Fife
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/875293/classic-car-driver-fighting-for-life-in-hospital-after-road-accident-on-a985-in-fife/Driver who exceeded 145mph on Fife dual carriageway banned from getting behind wheel
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/876612/driver-who-exceeded-145mph-on-fife-dual-carriageway-banned-from-getting-behind-wheel/...and just for balance:
Cyclist’s gruelling challenge raises £6,000 for sick children
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/dundee/874809/cyclists-gruelling-challenge-raises-6000-for-sick-children/Posted 5 years ago # -
If you are wondering what it takes to get a custodial sentence in a car:
Given the list of charges against him and the danger he created he was still only given a 12 month sentence.
Posted 5 years ago # -
"banned from driving for 42 months."
I think that's a bigger problem, to be honest.
Posted 5 years ago # -
True, although as the Fife article above shows a ban is somewhat irrelevant when you care as little as these people do.
Perhaps a mandatory custodial sentence if you are caught driving while banned would be a good idea.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@acsimpson: Perhaps a mandatory custodial sentence if you are caught driving while banned would be a good idea.
Currently not mandatory: even for a Category 1 offence (higher culpability/geater harm) the bottom of the range is a High Level community order (there's a table that explains what the community order levels mean.) Maximum chokey is six months.
CAVEAT: those guidelines apply to England and Wales. The Scottish Sentencing Council was established in 2015 and so far appears to have come up with just one, five-page guidelines document.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Close pass by private hire driver 1276 (beige Merc) on my way down Dundas St this afternoon. I *may* have screamed. It’s a terrible surface and mucky weather, of course I was going slowly. And I caught him up at both sets of lights on the way down. Twerp.
Posted 5 years ago #
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