Todays run in with Rozzers ...

[meeeb]

The van was clear ahead of the police car at all times, which should have dropped in behind it. discourteous driving IMHO. I would have phoned the van company and offered them the video footage.

To what end? The camera is a helmet or shoulder mounted one operated by someone apparently not directly involved and the motorcyclist has a chuckle when the van is stopped, so maybe he knows more than is shown on the clip.

 

[Bellow]

To what end? The camera is a helmet or shoulder mounted one operated by someone apparently not directly involved

Because it is evidence from an independent witness which may be of use to the van driver if he has been charged with any offence.
It would prove that he had little option but drive as he did when the police squeezed him towards the bus lane which jeopardised a cyclist's safety.

and the motorcyclist has a chuckle when the van is stopped, so maybe he knows more than is shown on the clip.

Maybe he's just a chuckling kind of guy. An assumption of course - like all the others painting the van driver as a bigger menace than Myra Hindley at her worst.

 

[Blowpipe]

Been there done that, toadied to the jumped up little hitlers but not in this case.

Think there's a certain mindset coming out there...

 

[meeeb]

Because it is evidence from an independent witness which may be of use to the van driver if he has been charged with any offence.
It would prove that he had little option but drive as he did when the police squeezed him towards the bus lane which jeopardised a cyclist's safety

He had another option. As he was changing lane it was incumbent on him to give way, or if necessary stop.

"If you need to change lane, first use your mirrors and if necessary take a quick sideways glance to make sure you will not force another road user to change course or speed. When it is safe to do so, signal to indicate your intentions to other road users and when clear, move over."

 

[flango]

That's not a lane change its a lane merge two totally different things altogether the van had right of way the focus should have backed off as it was behind the van at all times he jus tried to be a smart ass in closing the gap and failed miserably

Incidentally they don't do that around here they merge from right to left and then start the cycle lane

Just shown this to my traffic pal who agreed focus at fault and like others suggest the stop may not have been related to the incident captured

 

[markjay]

Why did you not tell the coppers that you spotted them and sounded the horn in order to attract their attention to the offending cyclist...?

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Why did you not tell the coppers that you spotted them and sounded the horn in order to attract their attention to the offending cyclist...?

Who?

 

[renault12ts]

Am I the only who saw the van driver was more interested in avoiding the bike on his left than the car on his right...he should have held back, whereas he started to veer to the right immediately he moved off.

Also...it looks like a time controlled bus lane...what time of day was it? Did he have to change lane...or was he like all the other lemmings out there...avoiding bus lanes even when not required to.

Or, put another way...if it hadn't been a police car would the Focus have had more sympathy from some of you?

 

[John Jones Jr]

No your not, see post #31. I really think this has a bearing on the overall situation.

 

[poormansporsche]

I recall reading another thread involving 'poormansporche' in which, if my memory serves me correctly, he acknowledged having a bad attitude toward the police and was regularly 'pulled'. My impression then, and it remains, was that because of his behaviour, in the widest sense of the word, he is targeted by them. I think that he further acknowledged that he is his own worst enemy in that regard, and I suspect that there may be more to the current incident than meets the eye.

A lot of conclusion jumping in the thread though.

I have been pulled twice since incident mentioned in the previous thread (where I could quite possibly been killed by the bad driving of a copper) and todays incident and had no issues whatsoever with the cops.

I do not really care if you think im some form of ranting nutter because the facts speak for themselves

ive been driving vans for 23 years since the day of my 17th birthday and in that time I would estimate I have been stopped at least 50 times by the cops for "random checks" which have had absolutely nothing to do with my driving. And of those 50 times I have sworn at coppers twice but never had a ticket, producer or been arrested. How many people on here would keep their cool if they had been pulled as much as me just because of the vehicle they drive ????

 

[219]

First thing to note - I drive a SWB transit (the Pikeys favorite mode of transport) and I am pulled on a regular basis and everytime its just so the Coppers can have a shufty in the back and I always take it in good grace and often end up having a bit of banter with the cops, the reason for being pulled is always the same "spate of burglaries in the area" etc etc and it really is no bother.

But today this copper was literally 10 yards from the cyclist when he gave me the finger and cannot have missed that the cyclist had jumped a red light. The copper from the outset was arrogant with me from the first word that came out of his mouth. Was obviously in a strop due to having to stand in rain I should imagine.

Simple fact of the matter is he knew he was in the wrong because otherwise he would have arrested me - its not the first time this has happened to me (check my previous posts !)

A written complaint to his inspector might result in an attitude adjustment course for him , and an apology .

 

[meeeb]

That's not a lane change its a lane merge two totally different things altogether the van had right of way the focus should have backed off as it was behind the van at all times he jus tried to be a smart ass in closing the gap and failed miserably

Incidentally they don't do that around here they merge from right to left and then start the cycle lane

Just shown this to my traffic pal who agreed focus at fault and like others suggest the stop may not have been related to the incident captured

I'm willing to have my opinion changed Flango, so would you explain your version of the difference between a lane change and a merge? That's surely just a play on words. By what 'authority' did the van have right of way? Either way the van is moving into the lane already occupied by the police car and so in my view (a retired traffic cop, just to put me on a par with your traffic pal) needs to comply with the Highway Code lane changing guidelines.

As stated in my previous post, I don't dispute that the police car was not being driven very well, but as I also stated previously, I suspect there's more to this stop than we know.

There's little difference in principle between the manoeuvre of the van in the clip and what it would need to do if there was a lane closure due for example to road works, à la motorway. Would you argue that he had right of way in those circumstances?

 

[poormansporsche]

I don't know if was the same ones but there was a couple of coppers on the roundabout on my way home.

Gave them a toot and wave as I went past

 

[sjmaxwell]

I don't know if was the same ones but there was a couple of coppers on the roundabout on my way home. Gave them a toot and wave as I went past

Good boy

 

[nb_racing]

Also the van clearly gives the cyclist a safe gap too.

Am I the only who saw the van driver was more interested in avoiding the bike on his left than the car on his right

No.

if it hadn't been a police car would the Focus have had more sympathy from some of you?

Well that's a tricky question to answer in some ways, as if it hadn't been a police car, the van would not have been pulled over by, er, the police car... and so we wouldn't be talking about it.

Had we been talking about it anyway, I'd say the same. The van had his nose in front, indicating would have been courteous, lanes merge, police car appears to accellerate into a closing gap.

 

[John]

The van had his nose in front, indicating would have been courteous, lanes merge, police car appears to accellerate into a closing gap.

It does looks as though the cyclist holds up the van preventing it from merging right, and whilst held up, the police car I guess presumes the van is dawdling and tries to jump ahead, by which time the cyclist is not holding the van up and it merges right, and then the cop car has to stop.

 

[markmifsud]

On the TV right now they are showing the alarming number of Cyclists that are getting killed on our roads, with particular emphasis on the round about at Elephant and Castle.

Just up the road from there where I work, near the Oval it is an almost daily occurrence where a cyclist or two just races through a red light and just misses me. I know some cars run a RED at times and would cause me as a pedestrian much more damage but they really should look at educating cyclists to protect not only others, but themselves.

 

[C36fan]

Bloody cyclists!

 

[Bellow]

On the TV right now they are showing the alarming number of Cyclists that are getting killed on our roads, with particular emphasis on the round about at Elephant and Castle.

Just up the road from there where I work, near the Oval it is an almost daily occurrence where a cyclist or two just races through a red light and just misses me. I know some cars run a RED at times and would cause me as a pedestrian much more damage but they really should look at educating cyclists to protect not only others, but themselves.

But their helmets will save them.....

I cycle to collect a newspaper on a Saturday morning weather permitting. I wear gloves (always, riding anything as it is an involuntary action to stick hands out in the event of a fall) as my sole concession to 'safety'.
One particular morning as I approached the junction to join the main road two cyclist were stationary at the road's end to my right - they had just exited the main road and stopped. Lycra tarts the pair, shades and helmets - all the gear. Just as I came level with them one without looking pulled into my direct path. I swerved around and gave him a mouthful, carried on, joined the main road for the 50 yards before turning into my driveway. As I dismounted the tarts came past shouting safety advice to me in the form of ''Get a helmet''. Get a helmet? - I just about did - bell end!

 

[jonnyboy]

I have to say that after enduring 5 hours of traffic hell in London yesterday I was appalled at the standard of cycle riding. They really do seem to have a couldn't care less attitude. Interestingly though, I reckon I was able to tell which ones were also car drivers - their anticipation of other road users/conditions was just so much better.
How I didn't kill one of them I will not know - undertook me on my left, between me and a bus as we were moving off, swerving in front and across to the third lane for some unknown reason.
No doubt there will be those who will say that it was my fault...