good day for the helmet cam

DavidTQ

well had a few incidents to make use of the helmet cam today, none of them bad enough to make me shout, but all of which could have been dangerous to an inexperienced cyclist.

first we have a HGV overtaking on a left hand bend to face oncoming traffic then pulling back across infront of me whilst braking hard to avoid the collision. To his credit he chose a bad place to overtake but he did at least give me space and avoid a collision on either side when he messed up. I do believe had I not taken primary the outcome could have been very different!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN-lORKr6qs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuxQOhpBiB0

Then we have an example of why undertaking a bus in the cycle lane could be a very bad idea. to start with it looks as if theres room to squeeze by, but experience tells me that a right hand bend will see them take up the cycle lane entirely. So I hang back and wait and catch the moment when the bus driver blissfully unaware of the cyclist behind him encroachs on the cycle lane in a way that could be fatal to any cyclist using it.

Then we get the response of drivers to an emergency vehicle coming the other way, needlesly they all budge over to the left - the ambulance didnt need them to at all. Many of them without even checking enter the cycle lane, never a good idea to be inside of a vehicle when theres an ambulance around!

Then we have the motorist who thinks the cycle lane is a handy buffer to use when reversing on to a major road, and thinks speed is the key to making the manouvre safe. she doesnt of course check for cyclists before doing so. Lucky I spotted her soon enough to make sure an escape manouvre was safe first...

How many of you cringed when you thought I was going to go up the left hand side of that bus I see people do it...

Mog Uk

That bus drifting over is just plain scary..... :shock:

Out of curiosity, what setup are you using for the helmet cam ?

DavidTQ

Mog Uk wrote:

That bus drifting over is just plain scary..... :shock:

Out of curiosity, what setup are you using for the helmet cam ?

I knew it was going to happen When I first started cycle commuting I nearly lost my life to a bus driver there, despite the fact that the bus driver had overtaken me on that occaision (I wasnt as fast back then) I had to bail onto the pavement to avoid death that time .

ATC2000, still working on camera positioning todays shots the camera was pointing to low and affected the light of the shot in a bad way, still working on the best camera angle to make the most of light etc.

The ATC2000 is a decent priced waterproof camera, its not the best in the world but its cheap and its better than no helmet cam

DavidTQ

Forgot to add another clip, comedian in a car jumping a red light :-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHCRZV-uNWI

Quite a commute this morning

odd the video dissapeared then reappeared with a new link :-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuxQOhpBiB0

OK that cips bouncing around seems to dissapear and reappear from my videos constnatly

Mithras

I've just been issued with my helmet cam for work. Can't wait to get out on my bike and start using it. The advantage I have over most is that I can use footage as evidence to secure a conviction for offences I catch!
Roll on Feb 4th.

DavidTQ

Mithras wrote:

I've just been issued with my helmet cam for work. Can't wait to get out on my bike and start using it. The advantage I have over most is that I can use footage as evidence to secure a conviction for offences I catch!
Roll on Feb 4th.

ooh whats the secret how come you can use it as evidence? would love for my stuff to be considered as worthy of evidence.

Gussio

Mithras wrote:

I've just been issued with my helmet cam for work. Can't wait to get out on my bike and start using it. The advantage I have over most is that I can use footage as evidence to secure a conviction for offences I catch!
Roll on Feb 4th.

If you are Old Bill, I don't know nothin' about no missin' wing mirrors 8)

Gussio

Gussio wrote:

Mithras wrote:

I've just been issued with my helmet cam for work. Can't wait to get out on my bike and start using it. The advantage I have over most is that I can use footage as evidence to secure a conviction for offences I catch!
Roll on Feb 4th.

If you are Old Bill, I don't know nothin' about no missin' wing mirrors 8)

Actually, forget I mentioned the wing mirrors....

redddraggon

My morning was a bit like yours, a few close shaves (as always)

But coming home, I thought it was one of the best commutes I've had - dry roads, sun, well behaved drivers, wonderful.

Mithras

DavidTQ wrote:

Mithras wrote:

I've just been issued with my helmet cam for work. Can't wait to get out on my bike and start using it. The advantage I have over most is that I can use footage as evidence to secure a conviction for offences I catch!
Roll on Feb 4th.

ooh whats the secret how come you can use it as evidence? would love for my stuff to be considered as worthy of evidence.

No big secret, it's just easier for police to get the ball roling so to speak. Anyones CCTV can be used as evidence, however to be used you still need to get a lot of info on camera.
To be honest, I've viewed a lot of You tube stuff and 99% of the footage I've seen doesn't show enough to prove much at all.

If anyones does get footage of DANGEROUS traffic offences and it does contain the vehicle index and preferably a facial picture of the driver. Then apporach your local police station and ask for an oppinion. Try to soeak to a traffic officer, they are more likely to respond favourably than your normal bobby.

DavidTQ

So clearer footage, numberplate and preferably driver face, then take it to the station and ask for a traffic officer and see what happens?

Mithras

Try it, I can't promise you will get the response you need but the better footage the better chance you will have of getting somewhere.
Times, dates locations etc. also required (you can write those down)