- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
news
Road rage driver tries to ram cyclist off bike (screenshot Kionne Potter)Shocking footage of road rage driver repeatedly trying to ram cyclist off bike
On December 15th last year, road.cc reader Kionne Potter went on his usual one-hour lunchtime training loop, the footage he sent us today shows the shocking road rage attack that followed from a driver who repeatedly tried to ram the West Midlands cyclist from his bike.
The motorist involved admitted driving without due care and received three penalty points and a £100 fine after West Mercia Police downgraded the report from assault to dangerous driving, and then once more to driving without due care, saying there was insufficient evidence for a more severe prosecution.
In his own words, Kionne reacted to the unnecessary dangerous close pass on the A491 Kidderminster Road in Hagley, instinctively throwing an arm up in frustration.
"The motorist then slowed down and as I approached him he wound down his window and shouted abuse at me and instructed me to ‘get off my f***ing bike now’.
"He continued this abuse throughout the incident but you cannot hear most of it. He then deliberately prevented me from getting back into the lane I needed to be in, if I increased my speed so did he and if I slowed down he did also. He made four or five attempts to hit me which I had to avoid and then he tried to pin me into the gutter whilst still shouting ‘get off your f***ing bike now’.
> What to do if you capture a near miss or close pass (or worse) on camera while cycling
"When I got in front of him he then tried to hit me from behind, you can hear the car rev hard and hear wheelspin from the hard acceleration, he then made one last swipe to the left before driving off.
"I tried really hard to get away from him but he did everything he could to prevent me escaping. Although the camera got some decent footage it still missed a lot that happened, and because the GoPro Hero 8 is so good at image stabilisation it smooths out a lot of my evasive manoeuvres so it looks a lot less dramatic than it was."
The driver was apologetic once the police were involved, citing relationship problems for his uncharacteristic behaviour, and after the report was twice downgraded by West Mercia Police, he was fined and given penalty points.
road.cc has contacted West Mercia Police for a further comment on the footage.
Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Dan has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too.
Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously, when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace, or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family. Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way, he's a bit strange like that.
Latest Comments
- whosatthewheel 26 min 57 sec ago
Not too long until she discovers the challenge of getting a driving licence, getting her own brum and how driving everywhere can give her even...
- S.E. 22 min 52 sec ago
Yes, the 2'999 euros carbon-Di2 is a bit less colorful... They also have a carbon gravel bike with SRAM Rival AXS for that price... Nuroad C:62 EX
- Mr Blackbird 40 min 40 sec ago
To counteract the gentrification of cycling, I often stop to wee behind hedges and spit and clear my nostrils, while riding.
- Oldfatgit 1 hour 48 min ago
I got something that'll beat you all .....
- chrisonabike 2 hours 31 min ago
Aggrieved motorists?...
- wtjs 4 hours 29 min ago
The fact that such self driving cars don't BMW/Audi drivers do exist is proof - as if it were needed - that Gods don't exist
- Johnny Rags 5 hours 23 min ago
Wouldn't generalisations about generations be, I don't know, "generationalisations"?
- ErnieC 6 hours 27 min ago
No chance of that ever being a human being.
- Rendel Harris 1 day 2 hours ago
No idea if Cancellara was using a motor or not, I hope not as I greatly enjoyed him as a rider, but the tech was certainly available, I can...
Add new comment
98 comments
pretty sure he's got cause and effect back to front. "Uncharacteristic" is probably also a bit of a lie.
Kionne, I feel your frustration. It's happened to me. These people don't care. This could've gone badly. He needs to pull over and calm down.
That's why I have a bottle of pepperspray in my handlebar bag. Spray him and brakes on. Take another route.
Change your route for a couple of weeks too (after the event).
What country are you writing from, Fignion, because in the UK that would be treated as assault and you'd be the one getting arrested...
Not self defence?
If you're carrying pepper spray in the UK, it would be a firearms offence before it becomes an assault. If caught, you'd bein the same shit you'd be in if you were carrying a gun.
Not even that. If you grab a rock or a stick to protect yourself that's fine. If you carry something that can inflict harm that can be deemed as premeditated. From what I can make out is if you squirt your bidon or lash out with your pump you would be fine. Though that could escalate things more. I usually fall back on the stand-off (5mins is my record) or quickly take a turning while behind. Also don't recommend passing if catch up at lights at risk of being doored.
If you carry anything with the purpose of using it as a weapon, even in self-defence, it becomes an offence. Pepper spray is, itself, illegal; carrying hair spray, or a comb, or your keys between your fingers for the purpose of protecting yourself is illegal.
Apart form that, defending yourself is not:
‘get off [your] f***ing bike now’ ... that, sir, is the last thing you want me to do.
Pepper spray is illegal in the UK, though if for example you squirted WD40 or chain lube in the driver's face that would be deemed self defence as cans of WD40 or chain lube are not weapons and are also something a cyclist would reasonably be expected to be carrying.
Ask Bertrand Gachot, he got six months.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/37146829
As others have said - almost certainly you'd be in the frame and likely get a far harsher punishment than the driver (even if he'd killed someone).
Rule #1: don't make threats (even on social meeja). It's not very classy and also on occasion the police like collecting this. All admissible in court I believe.
Rule #2: as is noted (and illustrated by the sentence) if you want to do ill to someone and not do the time for it just use a car...
Rule #0: spending your time in a homicidal rage - or even just being a powerful keyboard warrior - isn't a good use of your life. Unless you happen to be in charge of a major world power. Even then you probably get ulcers and have sleepless nights about your subordinates or the thought of large parts of the world cackling at memes of you riding bare-chested ...
There is an identification spray that is legal to carry in the UK. Might help the police if the vehicle owner fails to identify who was behind the wheel!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ANM3624
The reviews on Amazon have someone saying they got in trouble even for using that stuff.
Typical British situation of legal to buy, sell, or own, but not to use...
It's legal to buy and own, but if you use it, you would be committing a common assault (unless used in self-defence). Same as squirting water or throwing an egg. The only downside is the impact of a purple face and car interior is probably greater, so it might be taken more seriously.
Some people just deserve to be beaten to death... with a wet fish.
Seems harsh.
What's the fish ever done to upset you?
What have you got against wet fish? Molotov cocktail his car and/or house preferably with him in it.
Wet presumably to avoid charge of battery? With a suitably big fish though you could pollacks someone with a single blow and leave them dace-d.
Ah fish puns - keep reeling them off...
Cod have mercy upon us all.
May the piece of cod that passeth understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of cod.
Personally, I think I'd go for a pike as my weapon of choice. Or possibly a sword(fish).
It was Colonel Mustard, with the pipefish, in the aquarium. The sadist probably uses a filefish, or for deniability just pull a triggerfish and hide the body in a trunkfish.
Presumably after using a sawfish and perhaps a hammerhead to make it fit?
Not really surprising he's got relationship issues: he's an arrogant, selfish bully.
The angry apparition in the mirror is the stuff of nightmares...
That face deserves a cleat mark.
A Class.
Enough said.
GLA, the poor mans SUV, but it does have the three pointed star so he can use it as a penis extension.
Would have got a bullet to the chest in Texas...
In this country the psychos just run people over.....
Pages