Near Miss of the Day 46: Police invite submission of footage

A road.cc reader who copied in Surrey Police’s Twitter account when submitting a near miss video to us earlier today has been invited to send the footage to the force.

David Ladkin tweeted footage earlier today of a driver pulling out in front of him while he was on his commute at a crossroads where the cyclist had right of way.

Sorry. Mate. I’m. More. Important. Than. You. #smimity #dangerousdrivers #getthemofftheroad #commute @SurreyPolice @roadcc pic.twitter.com/gv3ulSNmDw

— David Ladkin (@iLadders) October 25, 2017

A Twitter user replying to that tweet copied in the Surrey Police Roads Policing Unit, who asked David whether he had reported the incident.

My simple response to this is what a massive prick. @SurreyRoadCops

— Scott S (@sasmojo) October 25, 2017

I agree! I was wearing fluorescent clothing, with flashing lights, so he knew I was approaching.

— David Ladkin (@iLadders) October 25, 2017

Has this been officially reported?

— RPU - Surrey Police (@SurreyRoadCops) October 25, 2017

Hi!, no, how do I go about reporting it?

— David Ladkin (@iLadders) October 25, 2017

A tweet from the main Surrey Police account told him what he needed to do.

Call 101 or at https://t.co/tyfQRZ3NyC and mention that you have footage

— Surrey Police (@SurreyPolice) October 25, 2017

The force’s Roads Policing Unit regularly uses Twitter to debunk myths held by some motorists about cyclists and the law, winning it fans among bike riders who use the social media platform.

One example came earlier this week when it replied to a Twitter user with a locked account who appears to have asked whether it was compulsory for people on bikes to use cycle lanes.

Nothing to do with different rules. There is no legal requirements to use them, most are not appropriate for a road/race bike.
The road is…

— RPU - Surrey Police (@SurreyRoadCops) October 22, 2017

…as much their road as it is yours.

We’d like all to #ShareTheRoad

— RPU - Surrey Police (@SurreyRoadCops) October 22, 2017

Wrong attitude.
Road tax doesn’t exist - motor vehicle pay an emissions tax, some (like EVs) don’t pay as they have no tailpipe emissions…

— RPU - Surrey Police (@SurreyRoadCops) October 22, 2017

…like a pedal bike.
Insurance is compulsory for motor vehicles due to the significant damage and harm they can cause - yes a pedal bike can…

— RPU - Surrey Police (@SurreyRoadCops) October 22, 2017

…cause harm, but it’s very rare and they don’t cause infrastructure damage, which can be very £££.

Most cyclists have insurance anyway, as…

— RPU - Surrey Police (@SurreyRoadCops) October 22, 2017

…it’s included with most house insurance policies.

— RPU - Surrey Police (@SurreyRoadCops) October 22, 2017

A great example to set, and one that any cyclist would welcome all police forces adopting.

Over the years road.cc has reported on literally hundreds of close passes and near misses involving badly driven vehicles from every corner of the country – so many, in fact, that we’ve decided to turn the phenomenon into a regular feature on the site. One day hopefully we will run out of close passes and near misses to report on, but until that happy day arrives, Near Miss of the Day will keep rolling on.

If you’ve caught on camera a close encounter of the uncomfortable kind with another road user that you’d like to share with the wider cycling community please send it to us at info [at] road.cc or send us a message via the road.cc Facebook page.

If the video is on YouTube, please send us a link, if not we can add any footage you supply to our YouTube channel as an unlisted video (so it won't show up on searches).

Please also let us know whether you contacted the police and if so what their reaction was, as well as the reaction of the vehicle operator if it was a bus, lorry or van with company markings etc.