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news
Video: Driver who knocked cyclist off bike falsely claimed rider had jumped red light
A motorist who knocked a cyclist off his bike in south London then falsely claimed that the rider had run a red light has been sent on a driver improvement course.
The road.cc reader who sent it in to us, asking to remain anonymous, said it took place at the junction of New Park Road and the South Circuar Road in Brixton on 7 August.
It was 7:50 and a clear summer’s morning,” he told us, and “the end of the first half of my daily commute from Thames Ditton.”
The footage clearly shows the cyclist going through a green traffic signal and heading across the junction when a driver turns right across his path, knocking him from his bike,
“I had some a few cuts and bad bruising on my side,” he told us. “Nothing broken.”
But he continued:”I had some post-accident trauma. I got very emotional when I spoke about it.
“I’ve never been knocked off my bike before,” he said. “I consider myself an experienced cyclist - I think I’m very good at spotting danger.
“This came out of nowhere though, and it’s shaken my trust in other road users. I don’t use that junction any more.
“The worst bit about it was that the driver from the outset blamed me.
“In the aftermath of the crash he was arguing with me as I was still on the ground (I haven’t included this because there are a few witnesses and I don’t want to impose on their privacy).
“Later I saw him checking his car for damage. In his statement to the insurance company he said I had jumped a red light and ‘come out of nowhere’.
“The insurance company (Aviva) were pretty good and paid what I considered reasonable compensation.
“The police communicated well, he added
“The driver has been offered a day’s ‘driver improvement course’. I’m not sure if that will have any influence on him as he hasn’t accepted he’s in the wrong.”
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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33 comments
Following up on this, the driver improvement courses are supposed to be offered to people who have been charged with driving without due care and attention. The rules say they can be offered where there has been a collision but should only be offered where the driver admits responsibility and is at the lowest end of severity. I would suggest that anything that involves injury does not meet the second point and the driver in question does not meet the first.
In the interest of balance i thought i would just post and say i've never been sent on a speed awareness course.
You took the points then?
No, i am a complete saddo who drives within the speed limit (and/or have been lucky enough never to be accidentally caught out in my 20 years of everyday driving)
Just found it a bit weird that everybody else on a cycling website seems to have driving convictions.
I haven't (never got round to learning to drive, though).
Having taken the option of a speed awareness course means that you don't have driving convictions. You only get the option if you're at the low end of the scale.
I had 30 clean years and drive like a loon (an a lot), this, of course will upset a few. But fast does not equal impatient, discourteous or plain bad.
Me too! That said, I've only been driving for a year and a half... And my insurance company has fitted a telematics box to my car so I get a cheaper renewal for driving safely.
I saved a grand on my insurance renewal though by having the highest possible driver score - that bought a quarter of my Canyon
If the driver made the (wrong) statement to his insurance company about the cyclist jumping a red light, then can't the cyclist open a libel case against him?
Also, the insurance company might be interested in prusuing a fraud claim against the driver for knowingly putting incorrect information.
They could but what would the damages be? You'd have to be very well known to claim loss of earning etc as a result of the lie.
IANAL, but you can claim for damages to personal integrity which wouldn't rely on being well-known. There's also the possibility of claiming that the accusation would increase future insurance fees, though that probably wouldn't generate much cash.
Even if it's a nominal amount that gets awarded, it would be satisfying to see the aggressor found guilty and then have to confront his insurance company lawyers for a fraudulent claim.
Just a depressingly expected turn of events on Britains dangerous roads.
I wonder if Aviva went on to cancel the driver's policy as he gave misleading info following a loss.
Unfortunately, modern speed awareness courses are classroom only. No going out on the road.
I have done both. Over a very extended period I might add.
On the classroom one, at least one obnoxious git spouted on about cyclists blocking the way. Par for the course - he of course had been unlucky to be caught speeding and it wasn't in any way dangerous.
But on the one ten or so years ago, out on the road, the DRIVING INSTRUCTOR told the person doing the driving practice that they should pass a road cyclist with only a foot to spare because there wasn't room to overtake with more space and the cyclist "looked like he wasn't going to wobble".
At which point I realised that selfish driving has been institutionalised.
I've done a speed awareness course (56 in a 50). There were a mix of people in there - including some who seemed to take great pleasure in the fact they'd been able to 'game' the system several times by attending multiple courses over a number of years, and were waiting to get points off their license (presumably so they could speed again and not get banned)
There were a couple who were contrite about it, and seemed to actually get something out of the course - but most literally couldn't give a toss.
We also had a 'debate' about cyclists (the course actually had a section about cyclists and horse riders) - general consensus was it's all 'our' fault when we get knocked over as there are always cycle lanes we can use and why don't we ever stop at red lights.
Thoroughly depressing.
Surely the driver should be sent on a cyclist awareness course?
I attended a speed awareness course a couple of years ago.
The vast majority of those present were thick as pig sh*t, arrogant, unflinching in their belief that they had done absolutely nothing wrong, had zero hazard perception and didn't know any of the fundamental elements of the Highway Code. In fact, just to complete just about every neanderthal driver cliche, we even ended up debating whether cyclists were 'fascists' courtesy of one bald pr*ck.
So, given the circumstances, I reckon a drver awareness course sounds about right.
Me too. My lot were actually alright. We even had a brief talk about cycling and safe passing. Even unnecessary passing in traffic and early indicating to boot. Took place in Kent as well.
I’m still a bit giddy about it 3 years on.
I went to one and a guy called Toby wouldn't believe in average speed cameras. The teacher asked who'd been nicked by average cameras and four people put their hands up but this thick toff still didn't believe it.
It was hilarious listening to the excuses as well. I just said I was in a hurry and had a clear road but there were some right tales, like my dog was sick in foot well, I was trying to get my interior heater working quicker. Over half thought dual carriage speed limit was 60 as well.
To my eternal shame I've also had to attend one (34mph in a 30mph limit) and my group kept quiet generally. I think most wanted to get it over as quickly as possible. I found the course to be a quite good reminder of speed laws and the highway code.
Me too... 2003 to be exact. The content was only useful if one admitted one had done something wrong (plenty didn't and thought the whole thing a waste of their time, but "better than getting points"). We went out to drive in threes while being observed for about thirty minutes each. I will never forget the rudeboy in my group jumping into the driving seat, putting the seat back as far as it would go, winding the window down and putting his shades on, then driving like a complete twat. The observer/instructor made him stop after five minutes - it was that bad.
I would have thought he'll have ended up back on the road one way or another. Scary.
Yep, I had to do a speed awareness course too. There was a wide range of people there and some were indeed, as thick as pigshit. One van driver said he never worse his seatbelt on country roads because he wasn't going more than 50. It was pointed out to him that country roads are the most dangerous parts of the UK road network, but he didn't want to change his practice. There was some discussion about cyclsits and motorcyclists and the attitudes and ignorance there were worrying as well. Most drivers were unaware that filtering is legal in the UK for example and were completely in the dark about safe passing distances or that cycle lanes are not mandatory.
"Motorbikes just come out of nowhere," one bright spark commented. It was pointed out that if he used his mirrors more often, he'd see them coming.
The driving portion of the course was pretty good, a refresher.
But did you turn up, a hot sweaty mess, head to toe in lycra, then ask the guys running it where you could get changed and why there was no decent, secure bike storage?
If you're going to do it, do it right: https://www.strava.com/activities/918488021
What's the usual charge for attempting to pervert the course of justice?
Driver improvement course for knocking someone down in broad daylight? Surely this should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law before this driver kills someone. At the very least remove his licence until they've taken an extended test.
The law doesn't just punish people believe it or not.
Even when offenders get to court, especially if they are under 18, they are given chances to undergo rehabilitation. Only as a last resort are they chucked in prison.
As this f***wit didn't kill anyone he's been given a chance of rehabilitation. Obviously if that fails then he will be banned.
He hit someone and lied about it. If i hit someone with my fist and lied would i be sent on a manual awareness course? Surely he has shown his unfitness to drive and should thetefore not be permitted to do so?
I thought driver improvement courses were only for crimes where there has been no harm. Speeding, seatbelts, phone, red lights etc where no one apart from the driver has been involved? Not running someone over.
Sadly not, I got knocked off in Feb, broken collarbone and shoulder in 4 places now have metal plate holding it together as well as bike written off, his SMIDSY punishment was a days driver improvement course.
Police said it was for the greater good if he becomes a better driver.
Would have been for the greater good to have banned him and had one less motorist.
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