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news
Near Miss of the Day 677: “My closest call yet,” says cyclist who slammed on brakes as motorist drove across his path
A cyclist who had to slam on his brakes when a motorist drove across his path has described the incident as “my closest call yet.”
The incident in Buckinghamshire happened as the motorist, apparently recently qualified, drove across a main road from one side street into another, with a driver to her right having stopped to let her through.
Lyndon, the road.cc reader who sent in this clip, said: “I think this was my closest call yet. I was headed home from work today, about 3.30pm after some light rain.
“I freewheeled heading up to the pedestrian crossing at about 30kph after coming down the long descent into Marlow.
“I had two lights, one flashing and one steady high beam for off road riding, as well as a bright top on.
“What I imagined happened was the driver looked to her right, then her left, and did not check again before driving across the road.
“I managed to skid to a stop on the greasy road, turning my front wheel to avoid hitting the car.
“She looked quite shaken, looked quickly at me then drove off.”
The motorist was also displaying a green probationary P-plate on the rear of her vehicle, which drivers in Great Britain can display to show that they have recently passed her driving test.
Unlike restricted ‘R’ plates in Northern Ireland, which must be used for a year after a driver has passed their test, there is no requirement in the rest of the UK for ‘P’ plates to be used, and if they choose to do so, they can keep them on for as long as they wish.
Lyndon said: “When I saw the ‘P’ on the back of her car I figured no need to report this one, as I hope she got enough of a fright and will look more carefully in the future.”
He added: “For anyone who’s curious, Schwalbe One Addix 28mm tubeless tyres, 52psi.”
> Near Miss of the Day turns 100 - Why do we do the feature and what have we learnt from it?
Over the years road.cc has reported on literally hundreds of close passes and near misses involving badly driven vehicles from every corner of the country – so many, in fact, that we’ve decided to turn the phenomenon into a regular feature on the site. One day hopefully we will run out of close passes and near misses to report on, but until that happy day arrives, Near Miss of the Day will keep rolling on.
If you’ve caught on camera a close encounter of the uncomfortable kind with another road user that you’d like to share with the wider cycling community please send it to us at info [at] road.cc or send us a message via the road.cc Facebook page.
If the video is on YouTube, please send us a link, if not we can add any footage you supply to our YouTube channel as an unlisted video (so it won't show up on searches).
Please also let us know whether you contacted the police and if so what their reaction was, as well as the reaction of the vehicle operator if it was a bus, lorry or van with company markings etc.
> What to do if you capture a near miss or close pass (or worse) on camera while cycling
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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62 comments
I remember reading something, years ago, which essentially said that road infrastructure should be made so as to minimise the chance of somebody dying if they - or someone else - make a mistake.
What was it someone claimed on here earlier in the year to do with a cyclegaz clip - that it is polite and good practice to let people out of sideroads. Some nonsense like that.
sadly plenty of drivers believe that to be the case, Ive even had people driving along a road, just stop solely to let someone out of a sideroad.
and its weird because more than once Ive been close passed, only for the same driver to then let someone out of the very next sideroad.
and it's weird because more than once I've been close passed, only for the same driver to then let someone out of the very next sideroad
This is a well known phenomenon- cyclists are viewed as sub-human, and the malevolent driver who has just passed you within inches will often display exaggerated courtesy to others. Do not be deceived!- these drivers will still display '666' in tiny characters just inside the hairline
One of the things that drove me nuts when teaching my kids to cross the road was clueless if well intentioned drivers waving us across.
I seldom wave across schoolkids since I fear they will assume it is safe to cross. However if a beleaguered parent is with them I do. Sorry if that was you trying to learn your cubs never to trust car drivers, but most seem only too relieved to have someone finally give them a break in the endless stream of traffic.
Ha, so it was you! I suspected as much....
I learned that lesson recently, allowing a schoolboy to cross in front of my car. Despite me positioning my car in the middle of two lanes to block them the driver behind managed to squeeze down my left side and the lad had to step back out of the way.
It's horrible when it happens, but you don't forget it
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed just how many NMOTDs there are recently? Pretty much one a day. Not good.
I made a point a few months ago that they'd dried up and less than a week after the comment the NMOTD floodgates opened, it's been that way ever since. Proof if any was needed that driving standards have nosedived.
you're a jinx!
The evidence is there. Burn the witch!
(Sorry, just finished work. Bit punch-drunk)
I dont think its changed that much, Ive averaged 1 close pass per day for the past 5 years, if anything its quietened down as I dont ride to the office in peak commute times now due to all the covid restrictions weve had.
Ah yes - she'll have been far too busy looking to see whether she could squeeze through past the parked cars on the other side. Not helped by the idiotic oncoming driver flashing her out either.
you mean the cars stopped for the crossing?
the crossing is a factor here, because if the crossing is clear the cars on the other side blocking her view would be driving away leaving the view clear, but if the crossing is in use, then no one can come the other way. Only because the crossing has only just cleared is there potential for a road user to come from that side without being seen.
Also if a car had been waiting at the crossing they would not have reached the junction quickly enough, having started from stationary just as the cyclist rolls across.
Hopefully they will pick up the learning point - never trust the driver who has flashed has accurately assessed whetehr you can cross the other lanes.
No. I mean the cars that are always parked all along the westbound lane of Wethered Road.
https://tinyurl.com/4fw2swju
Also, she hasn't actually started pulling out by the time we see her, by which time the cyclist is well past the crossing. In fact, it's several seconds between her starting to pull out and stopping - one can only assume that at no point in those 3-4 seconds did she actually check for any traffic in the lane she was creossing
But, as you say, hopefully she's learned something from this.
The driver flashed because that side was stationary and they where letting them out. Thats common courtesy. If someone does that (to me) thats not saying everything is clear both ways. That checking both ways is up to me .
Also as you pull out you'd want to be aware someone might be filtering down the side to your right as well..
Just inexperience / possibly poor learning. My driving instructor advised against flashing others as a "go ahead" signal and emphasised it was my responsibility to evaluate the road in these situations. Bit like not just blindly following the car in front like we've seen in some of the very recent overtake videos here.
Likewise - my instructor made the same point. So, I'll leave a gap if appropriate, but NEVER flash / wave, whatever - 'cos then you are in effect taking responsibility for what happens. Just leave a gap and then it's up to the driver what they do.
Plus - 's'wat the HC says.
Same here
Rule 110
Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.
Rule 111
Never assume that flashing headlights is a signal inviting you to proceed. Use your own judgement and proceed carefully.
Going against the highway code can only increase risk for road users.
Thanks for quoting HC chapter and verse. That's a big help.
It could hardly be any clearer, could it, yet still so many people do it.
Exactly - if you leave a gap then you are making it easier for them to cross if they check and decide that it is safe for them to do so. You are not accepting any liability for whether it is safe or not or even advisable.
Ogmios is also a big propoent of leaving gaps when stopping at junctions. Although I think he does flash. He definitely does parp the horn occaisionally but hates doing it as it seems rude.
Indeed, the only thing you can infer is that the driver who has flashed will wait, (although even that is not a given now with flash for cash crashes). However a lot of drivers take the flash as a signal all is good and they can go, making no further checks.
As I said hopefully this driver will not make this error again, and with no harm done this time.
Well held! Glad you were OK, best to avoid hospital food whenever possible!
Good to know that Provisional driver took the observation part of their training seriously...Oh no, wait, I was let out by another driver, so I DON'T NEED TO LOOK.
Fuck's sake.
Yep and they had clear line of sight as they rolled up to the junction, if they'd bothered to look up the road past the crossing.
Good job on Lyndon for anticipating it, the warning signs were there with the car flashing its lights and he was on the brakes just in time.
Last April on a same type of junction in the same type of traffic conditions I was hit by a car, and the driver is blaming me for him being waved out by a statinery driver and me not giving way to him. Even with CCTV footage showing the driver was at falt he still won't put his hand up and admit liability. I'm looking farward to my day in court to see what he says under oath.
I would hope he'll start with "I'm a f-ing idiot!"
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