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news
Near Miss of the Day 462: Maserati driver zooms past cyclist in "blink-and-you’ll-miss-it" close pass
A road.cc reader has shared the moment he was given a "blink-and-you’ll-miss-it" close pass by a Maserati driver on a stretch of road that he says was used by motorists to drive their cars at speed during lockdown.
Richard, who submitted the footage, told us: "Here’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment by a Maserati on the Beachy Head road near Eastbourne.
"He had the whole other side of the road to use but chose to do this at speed.
"During lockdown this stretch of road (which is popular with cyclists) became the focus of boy racers as it was relatively empty apart from cyclists.
"Unfortunately a lot of them are still using it as their playground despite an increased police presence."
He added: "This incident was reported to [Sussex Police's] Operation Crackdown and an advisory letter has been sent."
> 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.
> What to do if you capture a near miss or close pass (or worse) on camera while cycling
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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32 comments
Typical boyracer lout showing off in a Maserati outfit.
Just as typical of cops neglecting their duties in stamping out this unruly dangerous behaviour.
Report someone running around with a perceived wepon, an army of cops will be all over it, arms in hand and trigger happy.
Typical boyracer lout
The trouble is that 'boy racer' and 'lout' are just 'laddish' terms to people like this. He's actually a dangerous, careless, thoughtless, potentially-murderous b******. The mis-named Sussex Police Operation Crackdown is clearly Operation Hopeless Dithering Wet Constabulary. Should have been immediate prosecution for a number of offences.
Lovely noise of a wild Italian engine being given a good workout.
An advisory letter? Wasted opportunity there to deal with a dangerous driver
Keith's various occupations on Companies House include "ambulance driver". He also raises money for the East Sussex air ambulance.
You really couldn't make it up - raising money for the service that he will probably land up using himself (or putting another person in) in the event that it was him driving the car - which is an unknown at this point.
It could have been a test drive though hence giving the benefit of the doubt - but Plod should be deciding that not sending a letter and then putting their feet back up on the desk.
Have I missed a post somewhere? Who is Keith?
The horse ?
Keith is the name of the guy who was selling the car, his Facebook profile was visible from the advert linked below. I think he has made it private now for some reason.
Of course we don't know who was driving, but if claims he handed the keys over to someone for a test drive but hadn't got thier details (insurance/driving licence etc) before the test drive then at the least he deserves to be done for failing to nominate the driver, though he should consider himself lucky to still have the car if that is the case
It would be a shame if multiple people contacted the seller to book in a time/place for a test drive and then never showed up. Just sayin'
it doesnt feel like a blink and miss it if you can still get the number plate IMO
quite weird how the engine sound echoes for fair old while after the car has departed the scene
Advisory letter? Saying what exactly? Don't speed excessively while passing dangerously close to people on bikes? That has to be worth an NIP.
Yes it's an illegal plate because the spacing is incorrect regardless of the veracity of the actual registration number. The laws around number plates specify the size, spacing and font of the letters and numbers. This must have recieved some attention from the police in recent years as I seem to see fewer plates with italic letters etc. Although spacing still seems to be an issue.
I'm surprised given that there is more than one offence that only a warning letter has been sent. I would have thought that a fine would have been appropriate in this case.
I suspect that was a stock response and they have done nothing. If the DVLA doesn't appear to have details of the car, how do they know who owns it. And as it is up for sale as of 13 weeks ago, I suspect the driver will state it was being test driven by a stranger.
This is my footage. As it happens the car stopped in a lay-by a bit further up and they swapped drivers, so maybe it was being test driven
If you have video of that part. keep it as well, especially if faces can be pulled. I would also confirm with the Police what is actually happening with this if possible as there are multiple things illegal happening there and should be NIP and not warning.
Correct, the laws around number plates specify the size, spacing and font of the letters and numbers. But there's no coppers to police it. If it's a false number plate how did they know where to send the warning letter too?
I think the spacing rules only apply to the newer plates (post 2000) of the format XXDD XXX - where there must be spacing between the date code and the 3 random letters and you are not allowed to split up the DD date code.
This is an older "vanity" plate XXX DD X and I'm not sure the spacing regulation applies. That will be a 1967/8 plate (ends with an F)
The spacing rules differ depending on the age of the plates, but rules still apply to all plates, no matter the age. In any case, it's the date that the plates were fitted that matters, so even if the registration was issued decades ago, if it was transferred to that vehicle since 2001 it would still have to comply with the modern spacing rules.
does the knob jockey's door actualls say "Imagine all people living life in peace"
Ever so slightly ironic I feel
Indeed it does, well spotted. It stopped in a lay-by a bit further up and I saw it on the other side as well (this was my footage btw)
the sticker is part of a bodykit available for those who wish to ruin their car...
https://libertywalk.co.jp/bodykit/lb-works/maserati-granturismo/
My maserati does one eighty five
I lost my licence, now I don't drive.
Life’s been good to [you] so far.
Get MAS5IF reported if you haven't done so already!
Is that number plate legal? I have tried several different options on the .gov website but don't see to be able to get a hit.
Needs reporting for driving like a twat as well.
Is that number plate legal? I have tried several different options on the .gov website but don't see to be able to get a hit
Good point- I didn't try. You would think that only a real dimwit or a thief would try a false plate on a conspicuous pillock's car like that.
Same, can't get a hit off MAS 51F which is showing.
However maybe they can be contacted via this facebook page
https://en-gb.facebook.com/marketplace/item/662821694281748
Not just the pass but the noise of the engine would have been more scary as well. If he had done that to a horse rider the national papers would be all over it.
MAS 51 F - comes back as a Maserati but no details on Tax or MOT
Where is that from? I have tried on the Vehicle Tax and nothing. The Facebook pic seems to show an errant full stop which might have made it an E but that is a 2004 Landrover.
BTW, the police might also be interested that there is no obvious front reg on the car as well which is also illegal.
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