Video: London cyclist sent flying as motorist drives through mini-roundabout

Mini roundabouts are crap.  They're retrofitted into junctions to increase throughput at the cost of making any actual bloody sense.  They never reshape the pavements around them, they just pick a spot in the middle of the junction and draw a big circle and go home.  It's invariably in a stupid position so then people drive over the top of it or even practically the wrong way round it.  They suck balls.

Not saying this has anything to do with the video above, but A-pillars are thicker than they used to be and they're not transparent. When you're on a bike moving slowly across a mini-roundabout you can be hidden for quite some time, and at the critical time, behind the driver's A-pillar.

I learnt this the hard way (fortunately only a bent wheel as the passenger spotted me last minute).

But now I always make sure I'm not behind the pillar, even if that means stopping on the roundabout. If you can't see the driver's eyes...

Perfect example of existing radar tech easily being able to stop this from happening. Yet it's being offered as a paid for 'option' on new Fords/Volvos.

Basically the driver in question was simply ignoring the roundabout entirely, which happens far too often near where I live - too many close shaves whether I'm on the bike or in the car.

Dangerous driving I think should be the charge here.

US 4 way stops feel much safer than mini roundabouts.  Although mildly annoying in cleats.

Piis poor driving, but I doubt a mobile phone played a part.

If it did, then the driver is a total nutter, approaching that roundabout at that speed, whilst texting or whatever.

I believe it was a simple case of not looking... I can visualise that the drivers first priority will be looking at the car approaching (camera car) and judging if they can negotiate the roundabout ahead of them (its all a race after all!). Once established that they can make that gap, their next priority is looking right to see if there is anything coming that she has to give way to.

This right check has to be done quickly as her speed needs to be maintained in order to 'beat' the camera car (even though she has priority)... 

The cyclist sadly sits bang in the middle of these two visual focus areas, and unfortunately, because they are travelling relatively slowly, will not have drawn the attention of the driver. 

Its not so much a case of SMIDSY, its a not looking in the first place.

This to me is careless driving, which deserves prosecution and a driver training course.

I think the drivers reaction was fairly normal post crash. Why would they not be in shock as well? I think its a bit rich to expect them to morph instantly into a paramedic when they just demonstrated an inability to carry out basic driving functions.

I guess what I am saying is... terrible driving yes,, but thats all we can say for definite... to make assumptions on the drivers character, motivations, conduct beyond that is over dramatising things to say the least. 

Really horrible to watch.

It looks to me like it was borderline whether the car in front (grey Toyota) should have entered the roundbout too - the cyclist was already on it and seemed to have to ease off the pedals slightly to allow the grey car to pass in front of her. Having seen the Toyota go straight over roundabout, the driver of silver car may have had false impression that roundabout was clear and would then (assuming she was looking at all) have been looking at the entry to the roundabout rather than halfway across it. A-pillar visibility issues could also have come into play. Even giving all that benefit of the doubt though, the approach speed looks entirely inappropriate.

Clearly the driver has made a major error and is at fault. Personally I think she was stretching across the back seat to fetch her highway code to check how she should deal with mini-roundabouts. I know this because any hypothesis fits the lynch mob mentality of many posters.

I do hope the ccylist is okay and makes a speedy recovery.

Fuck me, that's going to give me mini-roundabout nightmares for months. I hate the bastard things as people either grind to a halt or fly across like that utter cunt. Frightening to think that could be YOU. You could be lit up light a xmas tree and some twat could end your life because liking a cat in a halloween costume is more important.

Also, as mentioned, the shear lack of any real sign of concern from the motorist is also triggering me. The twat can't even be bothered to even get to the floor level to help.

Also, as mentioned, the punishment will probably be the driver has already been stressed enough by the incident so no need for any thing other than a week off work and a kitkat.

What the hell was the driver doing?  They were not paying attention to the road at all.  The first attempt at braking that they made was at the time the cyclist was already on the deck.

The driver was in shadow on the whole approach to the roundabout and also up to the point where they are on the roundabout, therefore cannot use the "I was blinded by the sun" excuse that they will undoubtedly try.  Or the I went from shadow to sun excuse.

This is not careless driving, it is dangerous driving.  On the approach to the roundabout she barely adjusted her speed.  I hope the courts throw the book at her, but I would bet it will be a 3 points and £100 penalty for careless driving.

I am agreeing with most that I think the driver on the car was definitely on the phone/texting at the time of the accident which is the only reason I can see for the complete lack of concentration from the driver.

Having lived in Croydon for 13 years, and knowing that roundabout very well, I can state with impunity that it IS a dangerous roundabout...  but it's dangerous because the people that live or drive through Thronton Heath are, in the main, absolute cunts.

I hope that the CPS request usage information from her mobile phone provider.

Don't forget the old "Well, it's only a bike, I have seen them and I know it's their priority, but I'll pull out anyway because I'm sure they'll slow down rather than hit my car/bus/lorry". (at least, that is what I am presuming is going through their heads...).

I pass a mini roundabout on my early morning commute where I regularly see oncoming drivers turn right, totally ignoring the central marking effectively driving the wrong way round the roundabout to gain access to the Driving Test Centre!

If this driver doesn't get the book thrown at her by the police and CPS, then I am definitely starting a revolution, starting with torching her car.  Perhaps I'll do it anyway.

another driver approached the junction without slowing down, and apparently without EVEN BLOODY BOTHERING TO LOOK FOR APPROACHING TRAFFIC.

FTFY

Happened to my Dad on a straight road with the motorist not looking.

Still waiting for a reply from their insurer as the bike was wrecked and worth £2k.

You have to look out!

I'm just amazed that no one has pointed out the accident was probably encouraged by a vigilante camera-wielding motorist just looking for trouble. 

What a feckin moron driver, the license should cut up and stuffed down the driver's throat. The feckin bastard.

Jesus, that's horrible to see. As well as the slow reaction from the driver (Who shouldn't be driving) getting out of her car like others have said, the camera car occupants take a while to get out, maybe slightly shocked? Equally none of the cars approaching the roundabout stop to help, they just carry on as if no one is there. people just don't care anymore, they just care about getting somewhere and not if people are lying potentially fatally injured along their route need assistance. I didn't get hit by a car on a mini roundabout but came off after hitting oil on one (not the painted bit weirdly) and faceplanted right in front of a bunch of cars, cut my face up, grazed the inside of my mouth, smashed my knee into the road. Not one person asked if I was okay or needed assistance, they all just sat in their cars waiting for me to get out of their way. Makes me wonder about the kind of world I've bought my children into. I hope the Lady that was hit by this imbecile was not badly injured and has a speedy recovery.

Loads of British drivers don't seem to do the "round" part of roundabouts and just barrel straight across. At first I thought that was the law here. 

A more elevated central island would slow down forcibly most drivers.