stapfam

Friday and a member of my bike club was out with another rider and an idiot in a car decided to try and kill them. He hit one of the riders on the back wheel and then ran into the bike. The other rider stopped and found the the car aimed at him and he had to take evasive action to save the bike and himself. Not the normal thing you want to have happen on a bike ride and it was reported to the police.

Today on Facebook this was posted.

'Road Rage' update. I understand that the 'gentleman' who rammed me on Friday afternoon has had his vehicle siezed and is spending his Sunday in the cells under arrest for dangerous driving. He may think twice before trying the same stunt again. Thankyou Polegate Traffic.

Surprising what the Police can do when they have Video proof from a Go-Pro.

cranky old dude

I've long been a strong proponent of permanently confiscating vehicles from intoxicated drivers, cell phones from texting drivers, and permanent vehicle seizure in road rage incidents.

I'm thrilled to see some municipalities actually doing just that.

B. Carfree

I think video recording is going to become quite common on bikes, likely more common than mirrors. Stories like this one move us past the, "Why were you recording your ride? Were you looking for/causing trouble?"

Mobile 155

I am glad to hear the driver was caught Stapfam. But I also see this as an opportunity....to get a Go-Pro.

Banded Krait

Thank you for telling us about this incident, stapfam. I hope this dangerous driver spends a long time in jail.

stapfam

There have been several occasions when I wish I had the Video camera with me. Mainly because I think that I am a considerate rider and respect ALL other road users. But it is not only dangerous incidents like this that the driver has to be reported. Verbal abuse coming from drivers is getting commonplace over here and the Police are looking to prosecute- if only to keep their quota's up. Video evidence cannot be disputed as several highly publicised incidents in the UK have proved.

But this is only the first stage of getting retribution against an idiot. There are plenty of pitfalls that can occur before any prosecution can be made but Video evidence cannot be disputed.

I do have a Go-Pro but battery life is the limiting factor. It only lasts about 2 1/2 hours before running out even if it is not filming but is switched on ready to video so I make a point of switching it off for a spell on the more quiet roads. I also have a spare battery for the longer rides so I can switch over when the first stops working.

Daspydyr 

FIRST, glad the bike people are alive and healthy!

SECOND-what a shame that things have come to this.

Dudelsack 

I'd be interested to know what the mechanics are of submitting GoPro evidence. Do you take the camera up to the police station and trust them to pull it off their own computers?

Biker395 

Dangerous driving?!? That sounds like attempted murder or ADW at least.

Glad everyone is OK!

GaryPitts

So, if you have one camera, do you point it forward or aft???

George

Good to hear they got the guy and it's better to hear that the riders are ok.

Zinger

You know I've always assumed that auto drivers who think they own all of the road was more of a stateside thing but I guess it happens in England as well. Fortunately it doesn't happen too often but it sure gets my blood boiling to want to do foolish stuff when it does happen.....The camera is a much better idea.

baron von trail 

Asshat in a cage. He should be facing assault charges, not reckless op.

stapfam

You cannot view direct from a Go-Pro and I think the Cyclist concerned had a chat with a couple of policemen in the club on how to report the incident. There is a right way and a wrong way. Right way and it has to be investigated. Wrong way and evidence can be dismissed as it was not taken and reported correctly. In this case the incident has been "Broadcast" within the club and the members who are police will not let this one go.

And Various charges can be made. Reckless driving is just a misdemeanour over here but it is a start. The video has not yet been released as it is still evidence that has to be proved and action taken on. To a certain group of individuals over here and a criminal record for assault etc. is a badge of honour. Taking their car and licence away is major to them. Not that it would bother them as they will still drive while suspended.

Sixty Fiver

This.

Come after someone in a vehicle and it should be automatic charge of attempted murder.

Zinger

Did he know they were cops when he was talking to them ?
If he did he's obviously a genius.

rydabent

Glad to hear reports like this.

qcpmsame 

It was the cyclist that was the target talking to club mates that were policemen, not the reckless and deadly driver. Hos relating the circumstances got them to folow through with an official action,I believe.

Bill

berner

It is worry-some enough that some drivers are careless and are a mortal danger to cyclists. Then there are sick people who would deliberately run us down. There is no simple answer to this.

stapfam

Bill got it right.

The policemen in the club advised the rider how to report the incident and where. Just file a report at the local police station and it will get lost or will not be processed correctly or the Police will come back at you and advise you that Video Evidence taken without the culprit not knowing he was being filmed is a breach of his rights so no further action will be taken. Too many police do not understand the Law and nothing will be done.

volosong

While realizing that procedures and requirements differ across jurisdictions, (and countries in this case), what is the "right way" to report an incident, at least where you live? That is, if you can you say.

stapfam

Depends on the officer involved. Reports like this can be a lot of paperwork so it doesn't get far down the line before it gets "Lost". Locally we have a Traffic unit that I did not know existed. Report direct to them and action is taken- providing it involves vehicles. Report to a local Police Station and it can take some while to get through to the Traffic Unit. By Having a "Friendly" policeman in the cycling club (Or two actually) they put the report on the right track from the word go.

There is enough "Interest" in this matter now that if it does not get a "Result"-Then it will be known that there is something wrong with our Police Service.

Zinger

I see. "The cyclist concerned".....duh. I plead exhaustion after my ride yesterday.

VNA

In public places such as roads one can take any pictures or videos without any consent or release forms--otherwise there would not be many news papers or 6 o'clock TV news!

In public places there is no privacy! And in the US like most everywhere else one can take pictures from a public area into a private one--Otherwise paparazzi would not have much of a business!

Biker395 

It's not quite as crystal clear as that. There are circumstances in which a the taking of a photo or video in public can be actionable. And some states have passed laws against Paparazzi behavior, which, so far, have survived appeals.

I have heard of DAs using such laws to threaten citizens who obtained video records of police abusing their authority. Bad enough there are rogue police, but rogue DAs trying to suppress evidence against them? Despicable, really.

Here's a decent summary of the subject under California law:

https://articles.ehlinelaw.com/filmin...-legal-or-not/