Ran off the road

[Andy Hamilton]

Just coming back from work earlier and I was nearly run off the road by some blind bloke in a people carrier.

Now I am not entirely sure of the events leading up to the incident but there were a good few seconds when he was driving me right into the kerb and I had to do the best I could to stay on my bike. In fact I have lost a load of skin on my arm where his car was rubbing against my arm.

I say I am not sure as it is all a bit of a blur now, I don't think that I was undertaking him but he did all of a sudden pull into where I was cycling which was the cause of the incident.

I wrote down his registration, is it worth reporting it?

[Muddypause]

Entirely up to you, but you have sustained an injury, which the police are likely to take fairly seriously. With the registration, they may go and have a chat with him, but because you don't have a clear memory of what happened, it is unlikely to lead to anything more. Moving up on the inside of a line of traffic is not, AIUI, illegal, but there is a greater onus upon you to avoid an accident precisely because traffic is not necessarily expecting you to be there.

Did you talk to the driver at the time, or was he unaware of what had happened?

But take care of that arm, and don't start thinking that all drivers are like this.

[wulf]

He probably wasn't blind (no need to diss the visually impaired)... but, yes, I think it would definitely be worth reporting. It's a minor incident in that you didn't suffer any long-term damage but, even if it is only worth 1% of a serious injury in terms of getting more safety awareness of cyclists, it's better to do that through lots of small incidents than one fatal one!

If the driver gets a caution from the local police and drives more cautiously in future, that's a small but worthwhile victory.

Wulf

ps. glad it wasn't more serious!

[Muddypause]

It wasn't this guy, was it?

[legendaryone]

Just what i was wondering

[Shirley]

I would report him... if his car made contact with you then he is in the wrong.. whether it was accidental or roadhog style driving... either way, he should be made aware of his error.

As a car driver I do understand how easy it is to miss cyclists... but I do really 'think bike' as the old advert said... and even if nothing more comes of your report than for him to 'think bike' then it's worth reporting it, don't you think.

[Stonehead]

Definitely report him, but don't necessarily expect action!

We were stopped at a pedestrian crossing a few years back, handbrake on, people on the crossing and a bus stopped opposite. The OH, who was driving, looked in the mirror and said "Oh s***".

Then "Bang". I was thrown forward into the seatbelt andback again, suffering severe whiplash while the car was thrown forward onto the crossing. The OH, with enough time to brace herself, was uninjured.

She later told me - and the police - that she'd see the driver of the car looking at another woman in the passenger seat and talking 90 to the dozen. Witnesses said the car that hit us never braked.

We called the police, who interviewed the other driver and sent us a letter a few weeks later to say there weren't prosecuting as it wasn't in the public interest.

But when I called a police sergeant I knew to ask why, he admitted the other driver had done this twice before since getting her drivers licence six months earlier! Every time it was decided it was not in the public interest to prosecute - ie budget!

When I asked what would have happened if we had not been stopped there and she'd ploughed through the pedestrians, I was told that was a different matter.

Still, you should complain because that way it will be on record even if nothing further is done.

And now to playgroup!

[Shirley]

Stoney - that's disgusting!!! I'm amazed that the police didn't prosecute.

[Boots]

Dear Andy,
I think you are suffering significantly from post traumatic stress and are clearly minimising the sustained injuries in an attempt at coping with this life threatening event I am amazed by your attempts to rationalise your threat to life and the dangerous driving of a road user. *feigns mock horror - * Clearly you are suffering from shock...

As the Aus justice system is based on the British system, I would imagine a similar response would apply?

Most definately photograph your physical injury and visit your local doctor or general hospital tomorrow to report your injuries, which include memory loss/ poor short term recall, disassociation, blurred vision, confusion and of course, note diminished ability to write/type etc. (Writers livelihoods require use of his/her hands/forelimbs). Request a certificate from the attending doctor which records time required off work (which also notes time you are unable to look for work if you are unemployed).

You may also want to record any other problems (difficulty sleeping, flashbacks etc.) that develop in the long term, and have your partner or brother revisit the doctor with you for a follow up visit and report any further developments.

Your doctor may decide he has a duty to report this incident. If not, do so yourself, and use the words... " I wish to initiate a charge of dangerous driving." Those who uphold the law are required to act upon and prosecute offendors if instructed to do so, and presented with due cause - however - a report does not form an instruction and as many people tend to simply 'report incidents' these reports are often followed by the recommendation that Stoney received.

I hope you are feeling better soon and that fair and reasonable compensation is offered/awarded you. You clearly deserve it.



P.S. 10% will be just fine!