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news
Near Miss of the Day 299: White van man in ultra-close pass
The latest video in our Near Miss of the Day series shows an extremely close pass by a white van driver who then goes on to rub salt in by making a very unnecessary beep on his horn.
It was filmed by road.cc reader David has he travelled south along the A212 towards Thornton Heath, South London.
He told us: "The driver appears to resent my existence. You can see just how close it is as he doesn't leave the lane (there's an oncoming bus) and the road is narrow even before the parked cars.
"We didn't exchange words and I haven't reported it as I was on holiday for two weeks from the following day," he added.
> What to do next if you’ve been involved in a road traffic collision
> Near Miss of the Day turns 100 - Why do we do the feature and what have we learnt from it?
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.
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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20 comments
A brake check is classed as dangerous driving and is a six pointer. Even Cheshire police, renowned for doing nothing at all for cyclists, jumped into action when I got brake checked.
I’m not trying to inflammatory but you were hugging the kerb and inviting a pass and a consequent close pass. True, this bellend would have taken ‘defensive’ riding as blocking but getting crushed against the kerb isn’t quite so satisfying as getting this car-choreography right
I don't think he/she was screwing wth the cyclist by braking I think he/she wasn't sure they could get through the gap between the oncoming traffic and the parked car. This is urban cycling you aren't whizzing round leafy lanes in Surrey.
Hey, I've got a bridge to sell you.
Lol
Horlicks!
That was a blatant and obvious example (well, three of them) of the Lesser Spotted Brake Check.
Bull. The driver was deliberately edging the cyclist even before the shitty pass. They were going sufficiently fast enough to bugger off to whatever cave they came from. Each brake check was at the parked cars to force the cyclist to stop as there was no escape route. They knew exactly what they were doing.
He/she may wellhave seen the pavement parking mark as a cycle lane and I've seen much harsher brake testing than that. Outrage would be better kept for more serious offences.
Yeah, let's save it for when the driver kills someone.
Definitely seems worth reporting.
Taking the lane may be good plan along that stretch of road...
Isn't that a illegal vehicle - I know it looks like a van, but it appears to be a estate car thats been butchered into being a van with the rear windows blanked off with white plastic sheet... didn't even bother removing the now useless rear window wipe, but you also can't see out the rear.
So please report this - the number plate is legible and there are multiple things the police ought to have a chat about with the owner/driver and if its a illegal vehicle then it needs to be off roaded asap.
+1
There's something very odd about that vehicle, that's for sure.
Though as there are no rules about tinting your rear window, presumably there's no rule against completely covering it? As with lorries and their blind-spots, it appears that there are a lot more rules about standards for vehicles when it comes protecting their occupants than there are about protecting anyone outside, e.g. by the driver being able to see what's around them.
The vehicle is not illegal, it’s an Astra van. Older model, the current one just has the rear seats removed with a flat floor and cargo barrier installed but all the windows intact.
Apparently also deleted in this particular vehicle was any sense of intelligence on the part of the driver. Should have the car taken from him and crushed, clearly the driver lacks the temperament to be driving.
I disagree.
The driver should be taken from the vehicle and crushed.
If only Legs11 was still in the UK. He'd have dragged that scamp from his vehicle and given the rotter a damn good thrashing.
Another incredibly impatient motorist suddenly discovering that their brakes do actually work.
And wasting their ever so valuable time.
Admirable restraint from the cyclist!
With the multiple brake checks from the van as well as the close pass you'd probably have a shot at prosecution for careless driving. I understand its probably too late now though.
Pretty nasty intentional stuff there. Also threw in two brake checks at the parked cars. Good bike handling to avoid hitting the back of the vehicles. Shame the reg is badly distorted. If not a dangerous driving charge the police could uncover a host of other motoring offences.
The vrn is CP07GTY.
I reckon there was 3 brake checks, nasty stuff going on.
A daily occurance when you commute by bike.