[Closed] Van driver tries to hit cyclist

Unbelievable! and surely enough for the police to take action?

- Endangering life on a Public Highway
- Driving without Due Care and Attention

With Intent...

err - why didn't the rider just not slow down and get out of the situation in the first place?

take it to the police. theres enough evidence to warrant them going and having a word with the retard at the wheel.

err - why didn't the rider just not slow down and get out of the situation in the first place?

The rider should report it and hopefully the van driver will be prosecuted, however I expect he'll also get some words in his shell-like about making the situation worse. When the van pulled out initially it looks to me like the rider could easily have slowed enough to stay behind the van instead of shooting up the inside (which seemed like a pretty dangerous thing to do).

I guess he saw red and wanted to have words - don't really blame him.

Drivers who use their car as a weapon need to be taken off the road. There is no difference from walking round threatening people with a knife, a gun or any other lethal weapon. Doesn't matter if he actually intended to hurt the guy or not.

After the first swerve into the cyclist, I'd have held back and then got the rozzers in.

Scary that people like that are on the roads.

Sadly have to agree, best not to go up the inside of someone already driving like a ****. Wonder if that guy's paid his drive like a **** tax tho...

Cyclist is riding like a suicidal retard.

both were in the wrong there. i think the cyclist may have been out looking for that seeing as he had a helmet cam on, cant really see why you would have one on the road otherwise

No the van driver is a c@nt I would have panel beat the van with a u lock

[i]Cyclist is riding like a suicidal retard.[/i]

No, he's riding like someone who's just been pissed off by an inconsiderate pr1ck. I would've done the same.
So many brainless ****ers in vans around here (I work near there). Probably all over the country, actually.

You're right about the headcam - there isn't anything else to film around Gosport but idiots in vehicles.

the guy on the bike held his temper well, i would of at least taken the wing mirror off ...... maybe im just an angry person.

To the OP - when you say 'what an idiot', to whom are you referring to?

I think the rider didn't do anything too bad before the van pulled out (apart from being slightly too close to the parked cars). Swerving fast inside the van was pretty poor, and the red mist has obviously descended hence the banging on the back of the van and shouting. Thereafter its just a plain road rage argument with lots of testosterone.

Guessing the van driver reads the Daily Mail, given the 'road tax' comment... 🙄

I would open the back door

Incredibly poor roadcraft from the cyclist. Some of the worst I've seen. Another thing - if you go out looking for trouble like he obviously was then you are certain to find it.

The van driver would have been looking for cars and large vehicles, the cyclist should have know this and expected the van to pull out in front. Anything that happened after it did is 50:50 and the cyclist has a deathwish.

the red mist has obviously descended hence the banging on the back of the van

shut up Obi, you're trolling

Obi_Twa - Member
Incredibly poor roadcraft from the cyclist. Some of the worst I've seen. Another thing - if you go out looking for trouble like he obviously was then you are certain to find it

The van driver would have been looking for cars and large vehicles, the cyclist should have know this and expected the van to pull out in front. Anything that happened after it did is 50:50 and the cyclist has a deathwish

Eh? I can't believe you criticise the actions of the cyclist first over the moron driving the van.

He was making good progress, positioned well, in clear view of the junction, he anticipated that the van driver could be a complete moron and pull out and was able to stop.

WTF about the van drivers Roadcraft!!!??

Especially given his reaction, van driver clearly saw him and decided it was ok to pull out forcing the cyclist to brake to avoid a collision.

Cyclists (over)reaction not the cleverest but understandable given the circumstances.

So what would you have done in the same situation? Slowed and let him force his way out presumably? Given him a cheery wave 😉

Anything that happened after it did is 50:50

Why bad roadcraft? The only possible point where that is the case is the initial move up the inside, however it's far from clear to me that wasn't simply to avoid running into the back of the van given the speed it pulls out at and how quickly you can stop a bicycle - there's certainly no concerted attempt to overtake on that side. Otherwise the only thing I can see to criticise the cyclist about is the shouting, but given the behaviour of the driver and that he didn't even swear, then I don't really see the problem with that either.

he wasn't trying to undertake him. the Van driver was trying to force him to pull along side of him so he could ram him. The driver clearly pulled out on him. had the rider been a car, i think the driver would have had a little bit more respect - it shows the attitude of some drivers towards cyclists and its unwarranted but people like arguments! Fair play for the road Tax comments.
I agree that the Cyclist should have maybe taken it on the chin as an uncourteous van man being a prick but sometimes we can't help ourselves, myself included.

The van driver shouldn't be on the road, but as a cyclist you have to ride assertively [i]and[/i] defensively, this one was just riding aggressively and comes across as a ****t.

obi thats rubbish, its 50/50 when the van is swerving left and slamming his brakes on is it? Its never 50/50 when vans or cars and bikes have a disagreement is it? One can kill, the other cannot. As bakes said, stop trolling

I agree with Obi. Loads of stuff like this (and worse) happens on my daily commute. You've just got to go with it, while those 2 were bitching a real accident could have happened, while they're not concentrating on the road. Driver is a cock - but some are, and as a cyclist you can't afford the red mist.

EDIT

Loads of stuff like this (and worse) happens on my daily commute

Don't be a roadie stick to the hills. Sorry I'll head back to my cave.
Ps show the fuzz the video they know best

I cant see it being anyone's fault but the van drivers.
The cyclist has the option to slow down and let the van out, this is true.. but he didn't and the Van cant assume he will. The van driver is truly outrageous after this point, easy to be a big man tucked up inside a metal box while the cyclist is exposed.

Being ultra critical of the cyclist I would say he could have handled it better, simply for his own safety.

Drivers who use their car as a weapon need to be taken off the road. There is no difference from walking round threatening people with a knife, a gun or any other lethal weapon. Doesn't matter if he actually intended to hurt the guy or not.

Well done for the reasoned response " road tax hasnt existed since 1937" I can only ever manage expletives. Also very good video quality.

You should report the incident, it will be interesting to see what the police do. Keep us updated.

Ok - i'll put it another way. Two wrongs dont make a right. We all know that people drive like bell ends, so we should make allowances for this and not be surprised and act angrily when it happens.

Obviously the van driver's fault... But I'd never in a million years go up the inside of him like that, if I ever fall for something like that it'll be the last day I ride on the road. It's not enough for it to just be someone else's fault, that doesn't unbreak you.

Or to put it a different way, when your entire protection consists of a layer of lycra, don't get in a fight with 2 tons of steel, no matter who's in the right.

gavinb i was referring to the van driver idiot being the most flattering description of him I could think of. I dont think the cyclist should have shouted at the van when it pulled out but considering what happened after I think he kept pretty calm someone in the van threw a bottle at him as well

imo, yeh i would of stayed behind the van until it was clear to take over but when he trys to get round him the 2nd time the van should not of made matters worse.. defo report him, you got his number plate! nice cam btw

Once you start banging on people's vehicles, be prepared for the consequences. Up until then, nothing had really happened. The van driver was far from blameless, and things escalated badly, but I do get the feeling the rider was looking for something to take offence at.
Deep breath and let it go - part of being a good road user is making allowances for others' cock-ups.

Just to give another story of cycling and other road users. I was out on the road bike last week, turning right at a roundabout. A taxi was coming the other way, and I could tell he hadn't seen me (his attention had been taken by a man running across the road with a young boy, even though there was a crossing 50 yards up the street). So I slowed right down, and sure eneough he entered the roundabout, and only saw me at the last minute, slamming his brakes on. he said sorry through the glass, but I just scowled at him, as I was a bit pissed off (just as much with the guy crossing as with him)

50 yards up the road (on an uphill) he stopped the car, got out and as I passed said he "was really sorry mate". I smiled said no problem, it happens, and we both went on our way, happy, so its not all bad on the road 😀

'There is no difference from walking round threatening people with a knife, a gun or any other lethal weapon'.

As FB said, there is. A vehicle is by far the best way to attack someone. Very safe for the driver and you get off VERY lightly.

Hear too many cases of people deliberately driving into (even over) people, causing serious damage, leaving them, getting caught eventually and getting off with just a fine and points of license!!!!!

Madness I tell thee

What a psycho! typical roadcyclist haters popping up to have a go. Banging on side of van may not have been the best idea but Id have been tempted and if you look the van swerves right over to the left before the rider does anything. Lets face it the guys tapped the van panel with his hand, why does he deserve the attempt to injure/kill him with over a tonne of van?
Riding the other week a van driver slammed on and nearly pulled over to remonstrate with/hit me, why? cos I gave him the finger when he suggested I should be riding over in the gutter - presumably so he could overtake me without slowing whilst approaching a blind bend. Fortunatley there were two of us so he changed his mind and sped off.

BTW the "road tax doesnt exist" argument might be true and valid but saying that to meatheads in motors isnt gonna get you anywhere - and you sound like a bit of a ponce, better of just saying "yes I do I've got a car aswell" or "I pay by co2 emissions same as everyone else ie zero".

Regardless of what the cyclist did, and whether it was stupid or not, private individuals do not have the right to attempt to inflict capital punishment on others purely because they have been inconvenienced.

if you go out looking for trouble like he obviously was then you are certain to find it

Surely the cyclist should have run into the back of the van knocking himself unconcious, allowed himself to be prosecuted for causing damage and then be run over by following motorists.
Followed up by a public flogging and an apology to motorists everywhere for being on the road! 🙄

The van driver deserves a visit.

Donk

What a psycho! typical roadcyclist haters popping up to have a go.

I am not a roadcyclist hater - I do way more road miles than offroad miles and would hazard a guess that there arent many people on here do more road miles than I do.

I'm with obi-twa on this, Ok cyclist got cut-up but there's no point looking for trouble.

Driver clearly an idiot but do you think an argument with a cyclist will change him?

why are we all arguing?

The video clearly shows a cyclist riding along, a van driver pulling out, obstructing the traffic with right of way. FAIL.
The van driver immediately tries to push cyclist off the road. FAIL. The van driver deliberately drives in the middle of the road to entice the cyclist up the inside, so he can again batter him off the road, and then throws a bottle at the cyclist!

This is not a SMIDSY, this is clearly a deliberate attempt to halt a cyclists progress on the public highway. Get that va driver arrested or something!

Why are cyclists on a cycling forum arguing about god knows what in relation to this and not supporting the cyclist?

You made an issue out of nothing by banging on his van and shouting.

More here:

http://ipayroadtax.com/?p=415

Why should we automatically support the cyclist when he is giving cyclists a bad name?

?

So you'd be happy to be rammed off the road?

Jolly hockey sticks and all that?

Are you Ghandi reincarnate?

is it because the van driver was in the wrong?
We cant all be a turn the other cheek pacifist like you smee

Those arguing against obi are missing his point, you need to try being objective, remove your blinkers and use common sense.

I had to stop this morning to avoid being hit, I could have chased after the driver for an argument, I decided it wouldn't get me or anyone anywhere to do so or get upset about it (and I probably wouldn't have caught her) and my day is a lot less stressful as a result.

It has nowt to do with being a pacifist. It has to do with the realisation that people are morons and that there are a hell of a lot of things out there that can kill me on the roads.

Would I like to be rammed off the road? No.

Would I do everything in my power to avoid being rammed off the road? Yes.

Problem is the van driver thinks he got away with driving badly in the first place, I agree that the rider's reaction didn't help but looking at the video I reckon the van driver commits more than 6 separate dangerous and prosecutable offenses whereas the cyclist commits one (undertaking) almost forced to by the van driver. I'm sure if a copper saw this happening in the flesh the van driver would be in trouble.

Sadly you can't educate people like the van driver and often the 'red mist' that takes over just makes it more dangerous for the rider.

In hindsight the rider should have backed off and then reported the incident to the police, if the van driver does this once he'll do it again and the police will deal with him (hopefully).

A few years ago I was riding up a narrow hill when a white van overtook me, slowed down and shouted "Use the ****ing cycle lane you c**t". I caught him up at the top of the hill where he'd pulled in and explained I would use the cycle lane once it was actually finished, even more ironically he was one of the contractor's building the cycle path! I reported him to his employer and got an apology letter back, I doubt it changed his driving habits but I bet it pi**ed him off!

The van driver pulls out, not good but leave it at that. Why even go close to undertaking. The driver could have been drunk or anything.
Van driver is the bigger nonce, but they're both playing a dangerous game regardless of blame that's no way for either of them to behave.

I begin to question why people wear head cams all the time, like that fella on the news the other week.

Edit, I agree with one point there leftboy, no point in recording bad drivers if you don't act squeeky clean yourself.

Things like that were an almost daily occurance when I lived in London, best just to leave it and take an number plate if really bad.
The guy could have just got out and battered the cyclist, you don't know who you're shouting at so best to be on the safe side.
I'm not saying eithers actions were right but it's better to let it slide.

Fair point, but I don't see this guy racing down the road, in fact he just seems to be cruising, and the van seems to be slowing, in the middle of the road, deliberately trying to knock the cyclist off.

How is that not a seriously stupid move by the van driver. If this had been me, My Switzerland persona would have been replaced by an exceeding angry austrian/german country from the 1940s!

I am not saying the cyclist is a saint, but that van driver is intent o causing bodily harm to the cyclist! How can you look past that!

This is not normal behaviour I would expect from anyone on the road.

Nowhere have i said that what the van driver did is defensible - he needs banned for what he did. My point is that it was the cyclist who escalated it.

From the video it looks to me more like the cyclist was annoyed at the driver not getting going (hence the "well go on then") and goes up the inside of the van, who then pulls back across. The cyclist should not have gone up the inside of the van and when the van pulls left it *could* have been argued to have been to give the cyclist room on the outside (though it probably wasn't). Beating on the van does nothing but enrage the driver, who then sees red and attempts to knock the cyclist off. No-one comes out shining in this video, but given the more vulnerable nature of the cyclist, you'd hope he'd remain back from the van and out of trouble.

i think the cyclist may have been out looking for that seeing as he had a helmet cam on, cant really see why you would have one on the road otherwise

I use a helmet cam on my commute, every single time. I wipe the video at each end if nothing happens, but I have it as backup of my and their actions if I get knocked off, regardless of fault. I'd have on in my car if I could. It doesn't matter if the cyclist was out looking for these things, they shouldn't happen and he's right to highlight them (if he doesn't make the situation worse with his own riding/on purpose for the video).

I am not saying the cyclist is a saint, but that van driver is intent o causing bodily harm to the cyclist! How can you look past that!

I think the whole point is you have to look past one persons bad actions and not ignore the others escalation of it, it's called seeing both sides of the story rather than being biased. Sure the driver was a dangerous, threatening menace, but the cyclist should be aware of their faults too.

OK, so not long ago a motorcyclist was making his way, hopping past cars on an A road. Not blatting past in one go, but overtaking when safe.

One car driver takes offence to being overtaken and as the motorcyclist came level, during the overtake, without warning the car driver rammed the motorcyclist, who lost control and spent a good amount of time in hospital.

The outcome was jail time for the prat in the car.

Cyclists are more agile than cars and vans, and in London, or any big city, they overtake where ever they can. Does that make them an excusable target for this kind of behaviour? NO!

If we have less of these dangerous numpties on the road, then more people would cycle, or ride motorbikes.

There is no excuse for such a lack of respect for life.

Proportion of blame is on the van driver for being an arse, agreed and his actions are clearly dangerous.
But as I said just let it go, he could be a smack head nutter 😯
Having had a lot of stuff like this happen it's better just to stop and let them go.
This probably sounds weak but I'd rather not get in a fight or knocked off.

Oh and that looks like a Yoshimura sticker on the back of the van suggesting the driver may possibly be a biker which makes his action even worse.

we all react differently to bad driving i ignore it on my commute as I will see them day after day so no point having people having a vendetta against me. However it is clear the van driver broke the law, drove very dangerously and we can be sure if the cyclists was a copper on his bike he would have driven very differently. Yest he cyclist could have avoided it by say driving a car 🙄 or nbot getting annoyed when someone tried to kill him but, whilst not fully exonerated, he was not the cause of this scenario.

Sorry officer I was slowing down looking for my turning and some cyclist tries to undertake. What I mean is the cyclist is making it dangerous just by getting involved.

I know what it's like, my commute was from Hemel Hempstead down to either Leicester Square or Saples Corner that was 'fun'
How long does it take as a cyclist before you realise that some of the time/ a lot of the time this is going to happen? We just don't count in some peoples eyes.
Edit. I drive now, not that commute and almost every one I see riding a bike (they are all cyclists) is utterly rubbish i.e pavement-road-pavement, light jumping, undertaking, no signals, wrong way in one-ways and no lights in winter. I think we don't help each other.

No junkyard, but put yourself in a car driver situation rather than a cycling situation - if someone pulls out in front and makes you slow, do you race up their arse and try to undertake, nudging their van to let them know they were doing something stupid? Or do you just yell/beep and back off, reducing it to nothing more than a slight slowing in your daily commute? Which seems the more sensible approach here? Are we not constantly complaining that car drivers are in too much of a rush and their own world, regardless of risk to others?

Why do some moron car owners believe that the car tax they pay is for the use & up keep of the roads, it is a mere stealth tax for owning a vehicle. It is your community/poll tax that pays for the up keep and gives you access to use the public highways so every person over the age of 18 pays to use the roads etc.

action dan - youre preaching to the converted here mate! It was historically named road tax, even new drivers call it road tax - it's just a convention that tends to make people assume it's to pay for roads.

suspect the van driver would have done similar to a car driver in similar situation - in the past i might have reacted and banged the back of the van but best policy is imagine hands are gaffer taped to bars

worst bit about the driving is around 49secs just after bottle thrown out - van is driving erratically down centre of road while someone with kid on tagalong is coming towards him

@action dan because I think years ago it was a road tax and it kinda stuck, much in the same way we all call our vehicles horseless carriages.

Why are cyclists on a cycling forum arguing about god knows what in relation to this and not supporting the cyclist?

Because it would be totally stupid and childish to ignore the cyclists cockups in the situation. You don't need to be ghandi to back off from someone who's pulled out on you and slowed you down a bit, you just need to put it into perspective - something I'd hope most adults could manage.

@oldgit - we still use horsepower - an anchient term replaced decades ago with better units. We still use miles, and feet and inches, despite a large chunk of the world using the scientific standard metric system.

Live and let live....just let the van go!

Sorry to keep harping on, but I would have waved that van out. The van was way over the lines already you can see that miles off, he is half commited so not being prepared to slow down shows lack of experience and to keep on going and trying to dive under...well?

whats the video titled on youtube so i can look on my phone? youtube banned at work.

Well its interesting that a lot of people have no insight into road riding, mind it is STW.
The van clearly pulls out deliberately in front of a cyclists, then trys to hit him.
Police should take action against the driver, if they did so more then it would make [b]CYCLING[/b] safer for all.

Edit:- having watched it again its all the cyclists fault, he isn't wearing any gloves.

Its titled "Gosport" search by upload date and its the 3rd one down.

Hope the driver gets owned with bombers!

I think the rider was very restrained there. In all my cycle commuting I have never seen a driver do that kind of thing. Admittedly, the final undertake was asking for trouble.

Well its interesting that a lot of people have no insight into road riding, mind it is STW.
The van clearly pulls out deliberately in front of a cyclists, then trys to hit him.

What a stupid comment, almost as bad as "you don't pay road tax" - because STWers are all mtbers with no road experience... The van is already mostly out of the junction, he pulls out slowly and MILES in front of the bike (into a crowded bit of road) and slows the bike. A minor inconvenience there, but nothing too worrying. Everything that follows is almost without doubt because the cyclist came up his inside and banged on the van. Van is a danger to the public reacting like that, but it was triggered.

In all my cycle commuting I have never seen a driver do that kind of thing.

Probably because you dont dart up the inside and bang on vans. Or you're riding in a very quiet area, I see people doing things like that pretty much every time I ride, and I'm occasionally guilty of the darting up the inside and getting angry. [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/bucklevision/3541487337/ ]This[/url] video reminded me to ride in a more central position on the road as I think the micra would have spotted the rider earlier and not just "darted" had they been further out, and the Ford was very careful but at that point the rider was being overtaken by a car and so couldn't go wide.

The van is already mostly out of the junction, he pulls out slowly and MILES in front of the bike (into a crowded bit of road) and slows the bike. A minor inconvenience there, but nothing too worrying

Are we all watching the same video? 🙄

No junkyard, but put yourself in a car driver situation rather than a cycling situation - if someone pulls out in front and makes you slow, do you race up their arse and try to undertake, nudging their van to let them know they were doing something stupid?

coffeeking, I see your point....sort of, but the highway code clearly states that any vehicle waiting at a junction can only pull out if they do not present themselves to cause other road users to take avoiding action. So for that reason alone, the van driver is in the wrong, compounded by his immediate attempt to block the cyclist from going up the inside, and then on to attempted manslaughter. No innocents in the video, granted, but the van driver deserves no benefit of the doubt, and a heavy sentence!

coffeking, I ride into central London, it's not that quiet. I have to say I do undertake vans if I consider it safe. I have also been known to bang on things - mainly bus drivers windows (not my proudest moment). Still, that van driver's behaviour was extraordinary.

AndyRT - I agree, van shouldn't have pulled out, but we've all done it and thought "ooop, go go go", and I'm looking at it from a legal point of view - the cyclist COULD have slowed plenty to avoid the whole thing, instead of wasting my taxes in the courts. In the first instance, to hte cyclist, it wasn't obvious that the van driver was a dangerous moron intent on killing.

It's not attempted manslaughter is it (genuine Q), its either attempted murder (intended to kill) or manslaughter (never intended to kill but did), if you can prove either. Safe to assume that knocking a bike off at 5mph probably wouldn't be intended to kill, but would be some other form of attempted assault/injury for sure.

coffeking, I ride into central London, it's not that quiet. I have to say I do undertake vans if I consider it safe. I have also been known to bang on things - mainly bus drivers windows (not my proudest moment).

Sorry, really not sure what your point is here. Undertaking moving vehicles is a very stupid move and removes your right to complain when they do something stupid (unless they are changing lanes without looking or are stationary and you're passing at a queue)

Coffeeking Vacillating eh ?
Pulls out slowly and miles in front, you need glasses boy

Edit wasnt you driving was it you should have gone to spec savers 😆

My immediate thought looking at the video is that you could [i]see[/i] from a fair way that the van was going to pull out, so, riding defensively, I would've anticipated this, slowed a touch and avoided him, probably then passing up the inside and laughing as he was stuck in traffic...

I'd agree that the rider did escalate the situation, but the van driver had no right to then use his vehicle as a weapon... big man there... had a cab do that to me once, he ended up with a smashed drivers window and missing a side mirror as I took to his car with my d-lock... yes, I lost it, but he genuinely tried to kill me (in my mind) and I flipped! Not that proud of it, and it certainly means that the cab drivers view of cyclists was made worse... or maybe it taught him a lesson, though I doubt it!

Everything that follows is almost without doubt because the cyclist came up his inside and banged on the van

Wrote this ages ago forgot to click send.

Or do you just yell/beep and back off,

I've lost my temper like most people when my life has been endangered by a selfish driver. Its easy to be high and mighty on a forum but its frightening and the potential for serious injury when coming into contact with a car is high.
I take the view that bad driving should be challenged and I wouldnt criticise people taking reasonable direct action against drivers who commit acts that could endanger life.
I am often staggered by the "gives cyclists a bad name" apologists brigade and take the view that being "walked all over" (or driven in this case) does not get us more respect next time.
Challenging idiots and those with no consideration is more likely to make drivers think twice before engaging in the type of behaviour exhibited in this video.