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So 6.30am, normal commute along to work. Today, as usual there was a steady stream of cars more or less carefully coming past. Normal UK road. Pretty busy as it leads to a dual carriageway. The road is pretty broken in places so I'm usually in the secondary position or just to the left side of that but never in the gutter. To many potholes and cracks. Anyway... steady stream of cars come past except one, he slowed down about a metre and half away (hooray good distance) but then wound down his window and hurled random abuse at me and then drove off.
The same thing had happened a few weeks before just before xmas but in that case the driver flashed his lights, beeped his horn and both he and a passenger hurled abuse. I have no idea if it was the same car or same driver.
This morning I noted a partial number plate FD54 silver honda estate but was surprised so more worried about staying safe than getting his details.
Considering its happened twice what would you consider doing?
I'm thinking see if it happens again anytime soon and see if its the same car and if it is reporting him, but then I dont know where to report him to or if anything would even happen.
The irony is I later filtered past him at the busy roundabout. I gave him a wide berth.
What would you do? And its still the best way to work as any other route takes me way off course so, no, I wont find another way. 🙂
Camera?
Get the reg and report, if it's happened more than once its not random. If they are doing it to other people you could be corroborating somebody else's report.
f&r cameras and a twitter a/c. You can send video directly to your local force (look on twitter to see if there's an active road danger reduction officer/twitter a/c to tag) or use the national portal https://www.nextbase.com/en-gb/national-dash-cam-safety-portal/
best to ignore them. Most people are looking for you to retaliate so they can get into a bit of argy bargy with you. I think a camera is a good suggestion and get reporting...if nothing else it will arm the authorities with the stats should they need justification to do something in the future rather than chasing down an individual culprit.
I always give a cheery wave. Especially if I catch them again. Just focus on all the other good drivers who were patient, courteous and gave you room.
I ridea Similar single carriageway road outside Woking at rush hour. The inside surface is so bad you wouldn’t drive your car on it let alone a bike. I have always been treated well whilst riding down the middle of the lane, and despite oncoming traffic blocking overtaking.
I think most drivers are actually rather good. The few that aren’t have other problems that manifest whilst driving. Reporting might help, but without some form of assault, it will probably not accomplish much.
I've used the cheery wave approach a few times and on one section returning home I sometimes cycle mid lane as the traffic coming the other way is stationary and that leave very little space for any drivers to overtake so i make sure they dont.
I also agree, the majority are good drivers and i have no problem but this guy seemed to have a real issue and I think I'll have to watch my back over the next few days in case he comes past again. There's a good chance he commutes on the same road each day at about the same time.
Me, I usually just hurl abuse back. But I do have a camera in case I need to report anything dangerous.
I've had personal experience of reporting, in my case though it was revving before a fast overtake and the passenger flipping me the bird. They were a lovely elderly couple.
The local PC took a statement, admitted there was nothing they could do but promised to have a word, sure enough he came back and informed me they had been warned about their behaviour and that a note had been made for future reference.