Near Miss of the Day 895: Cyclist close passed by multiple drivers in space of seconds, including shocker from lorry driver

I had 3 the other day. One slow speed pull in forcing me out of the way on the approach to red traffic lights, inconsiderate but not realy dangerous, they say they will take action. Two close passes on a 50 road, but I think they were faster, could have been killed but no action from the police. Completely pointless passes as they just joined the queue at a road works red light a few seconds earlier. The driver before these two slowed down, waited behind and went to the other side of the road to overtake.

I disagree about driving in built up areas though. In my experience most drivers are giving me more room and slowing down but the aggressive drivers are probably worse now, especially since the pro driver stance from the government.

...that one day cycling along a road like the one in the film will be a requirement for passing the driving test?

I think the problem is that many motorists really have no idea what it feels like for a cyclist to be close-passed like that. It's not something that a motorist, sitting comfortably cocooned in his/her vehicle, will intuitively be aware of. When driving it's very easy to think that if you don't touch the cyclist, then where's the problem? And even if you brush against them they're probably not going to come off. And even if they do it's not the end of the world: a little fall's probably not going to do any real harm.

It's only when you've ridden yourself that you know how easy it is come off and that even a little fall is quite likely to result in serious injury or worse.

john_smith wrote:

...that one day cycling along a road like the one in the film will be a requirement for passing the driving test?

I think the problem is that many motorists really have no idea what it feels like for a cyclist to be close-passed like that. It's not something that a motorist, sitting comfortably cocooned in his/her vehicle, will intuitively be aware of. When driving it's very easy to think that if you don't touch the cyclist, then where's the problem? And even if you brush against them they're probably not going to come off. And even if they do it's not the end of the world: a little fall's probably not going to do any real harm.

It's only when you've ridden yourself that you know how easy it is come off and that even a little fall is quite likely to result in serious injury or worse.

Because they simply haven't related it to why there's a yellow line set back from the edge of railway platforms...

Good summary. Many obviously have no idea what it feels like to be close passed and currently this kind of driving is seen as ok. There isn't enough public education, and there is almost zero enforcement. Presumably all these drivers will face NFA.

It's south Yorkshire police, so they will be prosecuted.

It's South Yorkshire police, so they will be prosecuted

I think that's rather too optimistic! You're thinking of Sheffield NW NPT and one enthusiastic cycling Inspector who, I suspect, is regarded as a leftie cycling weirdo by the horde of standard cyclist-despising coppers elsewhere in SYP- those can't all have migrated to Lancashire or Scotland. The number of vehicles close passing in succession on this video suggests that drivers in the vicinity are not too worried about the possibility of police action- they may have heard about some special operation back in 2021, but they know they get away with this hostile driving all day, every day. I think close-passing is getting worse, and it definitely isn't getting any better. Passing like this is routine in Lancashire

https://upride.cc/incident/sf56wfc_hyundaitrailer_closepass/

https://upride.cc/incident/b5hol_tanker_closepassdwlcross/

https://upride.cc/incident/bg61ugv_vwcaddy_closepassillegalload/

and although the speeds on the roads I endure are not generally as high as on those roads west of Sheffield, (not always, though and there's no speed limit enforcement around here)

https://upride.cc/incident/sd15ulz_bmw_speeding/

we do have our own Death Highway where you can be sure LancsFilth couldn't care less about offences against cyclists

https://upride.cc/incident/pe69ooc_clio_closepassspeed/

I hope the OP, Ann, tells us about what the police actually did and whether they are treating her like a victim, or merely a witness!

I think, at least part, of the issue is that the cyclist is seen, by the police, DPP, as only a witness. It reminds me of being a young boy walking through the park and Mr Flasher masterbating in front of me. No harm done only someone behaving badly. No lasting fear. Crack on.

john_smith wrote:

I reckon that after a couple of those I'd have moved into the middle of the lane or beyond and stayed there until I got home. Those people are nuts.

Thats all well and good but I get plenty of bad passes with absolutely no reason to them. Empty roads. Like some of those in the above video. Being in the middle of the road won't make those people give you any more room. They are either doing it intentionally and you just piss them off more or they are just unaware that they are passing you dangerously and will do the same whereever you are on the road.