Wiltshire Police arrest driver after video of car swerving at cyclist goes viral

If only one of the victims (or non-victims as the (police) case may be) was non-white, then any of us could claim it was a racist attack, and all hell would be unleashed on the driver.

Ah! Wear a turban instead of a helmet. Then you could claim it's racially motivated and would produce a response.

Anyway, the case filmed is an assault by the definition of the crime:

An assault is carried out by a threat of bodily harm coupled with an apparent, present ability to cause the harm. It is both a crime and a tort and, therefore, may result in either criminal or civil liability.

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/assault

Here's an idea: If this is going to get thrown out because of some lack of proper driver ID, I propose a novel solution...

We can already ID the driver. By the car.

So take the car and have it scrapped. If it was the driver, he loses out financially. If it was driven by someone he knew, let him go after them himself.

It might actually encourage people to drive responsibly rather than performing ludicrous and dangerous stunts because they think they can get away with it.

In my ideal world, people who do this kind of thing just wouldn't be allowed drive or hold positions of any importance. It's the lowest form of scum that does this kind of thing. I've never had to "dangerously overtake" cyclists to get anywhere, I've never been held up by bikes anymore than any other kind of traffic, and I've never found the urge to drive head on at someone for a bit of fun. If he had hit him, and not knowing he had a camera, I'm sure the "I didn't see him" or "A dog jumped out of a hedge" defences would have been wheeled out.

While I'm not a fan of helmet cams because a lot of youtubers wearing them seem to be deliberately antagonistic on the roads, in these circumstances they are great and the courts should come down so hard on offenders.

And what will happen? fuck all probably.

Didn't the leicestershire lot say the same with a similar driver? heard nothing after that, probably didn't even find them.

Wouldn't have taken much on either part for the outcome to have been much more tragic.

The driver deserves to be banned as they are clearly not mature enough to be in charge of what is essentially a deadly weapon (and was being used as such in this case).

Or if you want to be a bit more extreme, give Darwin a hand and sterilise them - I'd rather not have those genes continue for another generation.

There is less chance of anything happening to the driver than there is of England winning the World Cup.

I think the point is... 'may', they 'may' be guilty of an offence.

They 'should' IMO be guilty of perverting the course of justice as standard. What reason could there be for this not being the case?

What strikes me as odd is that if you threaten someone on Twitter, the police are all over it. If you threaten someone on the road then ... meh.

It absolutely drives me bananas that the following seems to be absolutely acceptable to the UK justice/police system...

Police officer: "excuse me sir, are you the registered owner of this car?"

Car owner: "I am indeed"

Police officer: "Great, this vehicle was seen committing x offence on y date, was it you driving?"

Car owner: "no, sir, not me"

Police officer: "Ok, as registered keeper could you tell me who was driving on y date?"

Car owner: "gosh.... no, sorry, I have absolutely no idea officer, it could have been anyone"

Police officer: "OK, fair enough, looks like the drivers got lucky and got away with it this time... thanks for your help, you go have a great day"

How... just how can this be OK?

Make him cycle the wrong way down the motorway for a couple of junctions, if he makes it, let him go. TRIAL BY COMBAT.

Surely this is similar to a speeding case? The registered owner is liable unless he can prove he was not the driver?

Would Wiltshire's finest have pursued this without the social media storm?

Will Wiltshire's finest take this any further?

Will the CPS take this any further?

What will the driver be charged with?

What punishment will be handed out if any?

Is the arrest just an attempt to pour oil on troubled waters until the fuss has died down?

All questions, no answers.

String 'em up!! It's the only language they understand! No. Hang on. 'Anging's too good for 'em. Luvva duck.

Happy notfastenough?

"I want to reassure cyclists in the county that we take all matters involving their safety on the roads extremely seriously", "If any cyclist or member of the public witnesses a similar incident, I would strongly urge them to report the matter to the police as soon as they can" & how many of us done this & got nowhere with the UK Police force?
I think it was only acted on due to it doing the rounds on social media not coz the Police cared. I've tried reporting a few to Police & it went nowhere.

If driver, sorry registered owner doesn't fess up then plod should say that since he refuses to tell them who was driving then they believe the car to being driven whilst uninsured, that he conspired to allow this then seize and impound his car. Ha-ha! If then he still doesn't tell who the driver was then crush it and bill him for it as well. But if the footage is good quality it might well be possible to zoom in on the driver and his mates….. Bingo! Also charge him and them with attempting to pervert the course of justice. Lets hope he gets properly punished for what he has done. What a complete tosser!

Living and cycling in Leeds i have the occasional car swerve towards me including a group of young lads in a 4x4, informed the police they said there was little they could do.
Be interested to see what if anything happens other than a £30 fine.

The first two comments are far too sensible, where's the ones demanding that he be hung, drawn and quartered?

Ooh comments are open on this one, can I restrain myself, can YOU restrain yourself? Lets assume justice will take its natural course and the erroneous gentleman will reenter society sufficiently chastened to avoid further complications. Perhaps Karma would be the removal of his drivers licence, he may gain an appreciation of cycling then.

I am guessing this is going to get closed, but anyway,

here's hoping that if the arrest is actually the offending driver. That the CPS and the courts treat this with the seriousness that this deserves.