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news
Near Miss of the Day 621: “What a w*nker!” – Angry van driver accelerates past group of cyclists with hand on the horn
“What a wanker!” – That’s the description a member of a group of cyclists gave of an angry van driver who drove post the riders with hand firmly on the horn after they pulled over to the side of the road to let him past, and from the video, it’s hard to disagree with that opinion.
Andrew, the road.cc reader who filmed the footage, told us: “Ignore the timestamp on the video – this took place on Saturday 7th August at about 10.30am on Broadcommon Lane near Hurst in Berkshire. I’m a member of 700cc cycling club out of Windsor and this was a regular route we do, usually trying to stick to quieter roads.
“As you can see from the video, we saw the van driver a long way down the road and all slowed and moved across but he (assume the driver was male) actually then accelerated past us with his hand on the horn. It was pretty scary, especially for those at the front.
“I’ve reported it to Thames Valley Police via their online portal, although other members have told me that unless anyone is actually hit and/or injured they won’t take any action.
“Seems a pretty poor approach to me, but then I’m just a lowly cyclist,” he added. “Perhaps the new Highway Code will force some changes in attitudes for the police as well as drivers.”
> 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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36 comments
DVLA had it's Revenue weight as 3500kgs. So does that mean maximum weight it can hold, or the weight of the vehicle as sold?
It's the MGW. As in, total weight of a fully laden vehicle. So for instance it can't go over a 3T MGW weight restriction, irrespective of how much it actually weighs at the time.
That is the maximum total weight the vehicle can be (excluding a trailer) so it should be lighter than that almost all the time. many vans capable of carrying more are registered as 3500kg max so that the driver doesn't need to sit an additional C1 test (unless you are an old far with grandfather rights) they can then only be prosecuted for being overweight/unlicensed etc) if thee vehicle is actually put onto a weighbridge).
I am on a number of moorhome groups and incerdibly some of these roll out the factory at 3300 kg with 4 seatbelts a locker for 2 gas bottles and an empty 100 litre water tank. then you have to add on whatever is in the cupboards plus a couple of e bikes.
not surprising there is much discussion on fitting air suspension fittied and getting the vehicle recatgorised but then youngsters cant drive it unless they sit the test
They can be prosecuted for being overloaded if they are weighed and found to be above MGW.
But they can be prosecuted for exceeding a posted weight limit purely on the basis that they are there, since the limit is based on MGW not actual weight.
If the max gross weight of the vehicle is 3.5t, it doesn't matter whether the vehicle is laden or not, it's a 3.5t vehicle, and therefore is not permitted on that road. Good luck getting the police to act on that.
I believe that all vans (know what I mean, transits, sprinters etc) are classed as 3.5t. Caddies, Kangoos etc are classed as cars. Note I believe, I'm sure some knowledgeable individual will be able to clarify/correct etc
I have also had success with TVP - but you need to chase it up via 101 phone call. They are pretty reasonable. Just ring up and ask if the NIP has been issued.
Mention the road weight limit, the tax being unpaid, and that there were several cyclists put at risk. The use of the horn shows intent.
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