[Closed] That cycling barrister/road rage story...

cheers for the link OP

Why the reluctance though for a death threat made by someon on licence for assault?

Probably didn't run a check until much later

That's a good article.

Let's hope the conclusion re: any future investigations by the Met is accurate.

You're welcoem, junky.

I found the insitiutional anti-cyclist approach/laziness scary...if we don't fight this, it won't get any better.

The driver was on a suspended sentence which didn't even get looked at after his conviction FFS!

I'm fitting up my videocam. Only a couple of weeks ago I was seconds away from being run over by a driver who didn't see his red light due to the sun being low in the sky.

good linky.

The other week I spoke to a police officer about the common problem here of drivers accelerating while staring at the phone in their lap. So they end up moving towards you on the bike with no idea you're in the road, having passed them while they were stationary. He didn't seem to think that they'd done anything wrong and told me "that's just the risk you choose to take when you ride a bike, because you're not always visible".

🙄

Certainly seems to be some institutional apathy towards cyclists, maybe they're like this with everyone though?

bails - Member
"that's just the risk you choose to take when you ride a bike, because you're not always visible".

Did he give you any advice on how to make yourself visible to people who aren't looking?

Did he give you any advice on how to make yourself visible to people who aren't looking?

Not ride a bike and don't hold up motorists on their roads, probably.

Really depressing that a barrister had such a problem getting this taken seriously.

I've considered reporting dangerous and threatening drivers a couple of times in the last week alone, think I will do it next time just to see what reaction I get.

Do drivers get worse in the run-up to Xmas? General stress levels rising? Certainly seems that way here.

I think a common problem is that the sort of cock ends that drive antisocially and endanger other road users/cyclists/pedestrians etc - dont have their cars registered to themselves, have questionable insurance etc and it makes them hard to trace. There's also the fact that its so common that the police would do nothing but investigate motorists. Plus there's the perception from prosecutors that this kind of thing is very minor in comparison to the more serious offenders/offences that also far more resource intensive. I guess it comes down to a lack of resources - however, if you insist on the police taking action, at least in terms of an initial investigation - there isn't really a way they can refuse.

however, if you insist on the police taking action, at least in terms of an initial investigation - there isn't really a way they can refuse.

I have heard this, is it enshrined in law?

I have heard this, is it enshrined in law?

Not sure about Englandshire, but in Scotland the Crime Recording standard makes it clear that when an offence is reported to or found by the police it must be recorded. It should then be investigated (some minor offences where there is no witness evidence may not be investigated.

As detailed in the article you will need to go to a station and make a full statement. If you have video evidence it does need to be certified so you may need to hand over your recording device to allow the police to get a certified copy.

you should be surprised. i can't go into detail for obvious reasons but i was at a very, very serious crime at the weekend and the cid didn't even turn up far less do the interviews which they still haven't done.

perhaps the police among us could explain if this is normal?

If you have video evidence it does need to be certified so you may need to hand over your recording device to allow the police to get a certified copy.

Just like when a shop catches a shop lifter or thief, or when cctv on the street catches a thug.

Is anyone really surprised though? Anyone else, a non-legal person would have long since given up, sighed at the hassle of it all, thanked their lucky stars they weren't injured and left it at that. That's what the police are relying on.

If you watch those Police, Camera, Action programmes, listen to the voiceover describing the punishments at the end of the show. It's always 'let off with a caution' or a few points and a fine. 🙁

There are killers out there driving round cos they've pleaded a need for their car, a momentary lapse of concentration and they get a slap on the wrist. It would be laughable if it wasn't so tragic.

I'm pretty surprised at this thread. Cyclists in the RIGHT?
So many threads about bad driving turn into, oh the cyclist was in the wrong position; he was riding too fast; she undertook a lorry; should be more observant; oh and my absolute favourite - he was looking for trouble cos he had a camera! etc. etc. etc... if effing [i]cyclists[/i] have that attitude, is it any surprise that the police/establishment/motorists have the attitude that we're a menace?

any motorist involved with or in an accident with a cyclist should have their vehicle impounded , no matter who owns it and be given a bike for a few weeks, to see what its like to ride on the roads we all pay to fund.

There was something on the local news today about some horse riders that had a suspected drunk driver run into them resulting in hospitalisation. It will be interesting to see how the court proceeding result in compared to similar cases involving cyclists. I would expect a significant punishment because of the involvement of alcohol.