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Today's rubbish driving...

(11337 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by Stepdoh
  • Latest reply from chdot
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  1. EdinburghCycleCam
    Member

    Black cab driver pulling out of Dundonald Street making a right hand turn into Royal Crescent Here as I was approaching the junction from the East. On cobbles. In the rain. And wind. I was in primary and clearly visible.

    Part of me wonders if it was deliberate, his slowing down and almost stopping in the middle of the road in front of me certainly seemed to be. I gave the rear panel above the wheel arch a decent punch as I swerved to avoid him, hopefully it left a dent. Driver didn't stop, honk, shout or anything in any case.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  2. Stickman
    Member

    Commercial bin lorry turned left from Shandwick Place onto Canning Street, ignoring the no-entry and one-way signs.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  3. Frenchy
    Member

    I've tried reporting a driving instructor before only to be told they'll only act if the instructor is convicted of a driving offence.

    You may have more luck, but don't hold out much hope.

    I did not have more luck:

    "The circumstances that you outline in your complaint are such that the ADI Registrar cannot get involved on this particular occasion...if you were report this incident to the Police and the individual was charged, the Registrar should be made aware."

    I don't think the footage (below) was clear enough to report to the police, and it's too late now anyway.

    [+] Embed the video | Video DownloadGet the Video Widget

    Posted 5 years ago #

  4. CycleAlex
    Member

    @Stickman The amount of commercial drivers that ignore the no entry there is remarkable. Have had a van drive at me once and then honk for me to get out of the way...

    Posted 5 years ago #

  5. wishicouldgofaster
    Member

    A private hire cab decided to overtake me this morning despite there being a traffic jam in front of me. 2 secs later I overtook him and he didn't try again.

    Felt it was my duty to point out that he may have some eyesight problems.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    https://metro.co.uk/2019/05/09/david-beckham-banned-driving-six-months-using-phone-behind-wheel-9471370/

    Posted 5 years ago #

  7. romet
    Member

    A week ago, on Friday morning, on my way to work I got hit by a black taxi. I was clearly visible, and had a right of way, as i was cycling on main (but quiet) road. The taxi drove into my left after failing to stop at the junction. His words are still baffling to me: "I wasn't even looking for you guys" (I was cycling with a friend).
    Soon after he was on his way, meanwhile i am left with concussion, sore shoulder, deep cut on me forehead and a week later loud ringing in my ears. I have stopped cycling few years ago after having few close calls with careless drivers. Started recently again only due to new job in citycenter, but after last week i don't think i will be cycling in Edinburgh ever again. This city is unsafe for cyclists.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  8. Frenchy
    Member

    "I wasn't even looking for you guys" should be enough to get his driving license taken away.

    Hope you recover quickly. Police/insurance involved?

    Posted 5 years ago #

  9. romet
    Member

    Hope you recover quickly. Police/insurance involved?

    Thanks. Police came 10min after the accident. I don't know, if they will charge the driver with anything. I wasn't in a state to argue, or really thinking about anything else than getting quickly to hospital. Too me it is clear, that anyone who drives the way he does should not be allowed behind the wheel. But it is not my call.

    I have called CycleLaw on monday, but have not heard from them since then. Definitely, will try to claim against the driver's insurance, as I have missed few days at work for which i will not get paid, and if my condition will not improve soon enough, then i might be moved to less paying position at work.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  10. wishicouldgofaster
    Member

    2 idiots today - first one a lorry in Ratho Station, driver failing to give way coming out a car park as he didn't look.

    Second one, a classic MGIF in Comely Bank. I must admit giving the driver a volley of verbals for 1) not noticing the parked car which forced me out and 2) not noticing there was actually a traffic jam which forced him to slam on his brakes immediately after overtaking me. Time saved by him 0 and I overtook him to reinforce my point.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  11. gembo
    Member

    Bad one in Balerno last night after our walk. Mrs Garto was driving slowly behind a cyclist who was taking the lane somewhat slowly to turn right down the WoL path. Good shoulder check, hand signal etc. All good.

    Suddenly we are overtaken by a person driving a massive Porsche. This was at traffic island pinch point so he/she went down the wrong side of the road and then virtually over to the pavement on the other side to overtake the cyclist.

    Cyclist was OK

    We caught up with driver at traffic lights. I tapped my index finger a couple of times against my right temple.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  12. jonty
    Member

    romet: extremely sorry to hear about that. So infuriating. I had a similar experience with a u-turning taxi a few years ago which put me off for a few months. Driver was initially cooperative and then turned abusive but CLS came through for me in the end. A few tips from my experience:

    - go to a doctor if you haven't already. This is useful both for the legal process and medically - I thought I was basically fine and didn't but it later turned out I had broken a finger!
    - I'm sure they took this off you on the phone or will do later, but make sure CLS have a full inventory of your injuries and understand the loss of earnings situation. Keep a log of any way the accident has cost you (including bus fares etc as well as job stuff)
    - I trust the police took a statement from you and the driver and the facts of the case were pretty apparent? That bodes well. However...
    - the legal processes involved with cycle compensation are very slow and at some points it will feel like nothing is ever going to happen. My experience and others suggest that positive outcomes are fairly common, but just take time.
    - good luck!

    Posted 5 years ago #

  13. algo
    Member

    @romet - nothing much to add to useful comments except sympathy - I hope you recover fully mentally and physically quickly.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  14. romet
    Member

    @jonty @algo -Thank You for the kind words :)

    Posted 5 years ago #

  15. gembo
    Member

    @romet, that is very bad. Hope you recover and do consider getting back on the bike but understand if not. Cycle Law usually excellent. Chase them up?

    Posted 5 years ago #

  16. EdinburghCycleCam
    Member

    @romet That's horrible, hope you're fully recovered soon.

    I got a letter on Saturday about an outpatient appointment that's been made for me by CLS regarding the van driver who undertook and swerved into me in November sending me flying across the tarmac. I'm not sure what medical evidence they plan to find 7 months after the incident, however...
    EDIT: According to CLS, the insurance company is denying that the driver is at fault, which my solicitor "finds utterly bizarre", so they want me to go and get examined to estimate the impact my injuries had and the amount of pain and suffering I experienced as a result.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  17. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    People in Beauly shocked to discover that they cannot drive and store their vehicles on Simon Fraser's land.

    Perhaps they should get off-road bicycles and head out that way?

    Posted 5 years ago #

  18. newtoit
    Member

    Lovely cycle yesterday, with a couple of bad driving episodes:

    Lady in white Audi who overtook uphill here - with the road much as it is on street view:
    https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.9794474,-3.2187888,3a,89.7y,105.16h,64.85t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sUjmOGnIJ00w99cDIhg8FWA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

    We were 2 abreast, me in the primary position, passing the parked car. Driver had the entirety of the other two lanes empty to overtake with absolutely 0 difficulty and nothing to wait for. Still felt the need to lean on the horn and gesticulate furiously at something. Presuming she was pointing out the lovely view, not moaning at our having the temerity to use one of the four lanes' width and not hold her up at all.

    Other was at the lights at the bottom of Kirk Brae, citybound. We were in ASL. Horn was sounded from behind, as the light changed from red to amber. Presumably irritation that the red light running cyclists weren't running the red light when they wanted to. Of course, we caught up at the lights next to KB anyway.

    Apart from that was really not too bad. Just a couple of close passes at a lowish speed, with passengers staring (particularly along Lower Granton Road and Salamander St). What on earth is the infra by the Old Chain Pier? Went past a couple of times and still no idea how or why I'm supposed to use it...

    Posted 5 years ago #

  19. Frenchy
    Member

    Other was at the lights at the bottom of Kirk Brae, citybound. We were in ASL. Horn was sounded from behind, as the light changed from red to amber. Presumably irritation that the red light running cyclists weren't running the red light when they wanted to.

    There is an advance green light for cyclists there, which is easily missed, so the driver may have been trying to let you know that you already had a green light.

    Since the advance green is approximately 1s long, that interpretation requires rather a lot of benefit of the doubt, though.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  20. newtoit
    Member

    @Frenchy There is an advance green light for cyclists there, which is easily missed, so the driver may have been trying to let you know that you already had a green light.

    There is?!

    I've noticed the one on Liberton Brae but not on Kirk Brae. Thanks for the pointer, will look out next time. Was looking straight ahead at the lights on opposite side of the junction, being right at the front of the ASL to avoid the car half in it, so may well have missed light if it's low down on the light post.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  21. Frenchy
    Member

    Yeah, they're on all arms of that junction now (perhaps not Blackford Glen Road, but I think it has as well).

    Was looking straight ahead at the lights on opposite side of the junction

    That'll be why you missed it - none of the lights "opposite" have advance greens, only the ones directly next to the ASLs.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  22. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    I saw that advance green light for the first time the other day.

    Alexa! Show me how to fritter the active travel budget on useless baubles.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  23. newtoit
    Member

    Ah, makes sense then! Thinking about it I also filtered on the right to the ASL so wouldn't have been in my line of sight at any time.

    Good idea to have the advanced green, more useful at Haymarket...

    Posted 5 years ago #

  24. jonty
    Member

    Yes the advance greens are in pretty rubbish positions, if you're in the ASL you need to crane your neck right up to see them. Presumably if you put them at the far side they look too much like full green lights. I've no idea why the council chose that style - London seems to be capable of installing mini-lights which would be far more obvious and suitable, but too difficult here?

    Posted 5 years ago #

  25. EdinburghCycleCam
    Member

    I like the concept of advance cycle lights, but not the duration. There should be at least 3 seconds from green cycle light to red/amber to discourage drivers from treating the cycle light as an advanced amber, as they frequently do on Leith Walk, which has about 1.5 seconds between cycle light and red/amber.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  26. Arellcat
    Moderator

    I think the advance greens at Frenchy's big junction are about three seconds. Trouble is, that's not nearly long enough. Downhill you might get halfway across the junction; heading uphill to Liberton Brae you're lucky to be level with the Kirk brae arm.

    I also thought the positioning as to be almost impossible to see from the ASL.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  27. Frenchy
    Member

    Checked my helmet camera footage from this morning.

    There's ~3s between the cyclist green and the red/amber, then another ~2s till the red/amber turns to green.

    I was maybe quarter way across the junction by the time the "car lights" turned green. Which is better than nothing, I suppose.

    I'm also told that the lights were relatively cheap. I asked why pedestrian phases (which are far more badly needed there) weren't done at the time, and was told that would've been significantly more expensive, so will probably only be done when the entire junction is refurbished.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  28. amir
    Member

    It is awkward to see those advanced lights.

    Is it a public holiday today? Symptoms relatively light and calm traffic in the morning but awful aggressive driving pm.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  29. chdot
    Admin

    https://www.thetelegram.com/living/most-parents-text-while-driving-but-millennials-may-be-more-dangerous-311060

    Posted 5 years ago #

  30. fimm
    Member

    I hardly ever go through that junction, but did so last night. The Advance Greens are nice and big, anyway, anyone driving a car who claims to have misunderstood them should hand in their licence for having defective vision.

    I was in a group taking the left turn from the A701 into Blackford Glen Road. Some of our group hopped on the pavement and went round the corner to avoid waiting at the lights. Myself and one other waited at the lights. It was quite a long wait and the only people who were annoyed were our friends / partners who had to wait for us. It was suggested that if we hadn't wanted to cycle through the red, we could have got off and walked...

    Posted 5 years ago #

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