A close shave for a mother and child

snooks

This morning I saw a lorry squeeze a mother and child into the curb.....Be for I send a letter to the lorry's owners is there anything I should add/clarify or correct?

To whom it may concern,

This morning I witnessed what could have been a serious fatality were it not for the quick thinking of the cyclist involved. The driver of your white lorry registration number XXXX XXX came only inches (unfortunately I’m not exaggerating) away from hitting a mother and her child on their bicycle.

The incident happened here:
http://www.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&ll ... 2&t=h&z=18

At approx 09:15 this morning traveling from west to east along Chelsea Embankment.

I was behind the mother and child, also on a bike, we were waiting behind the advanced stop line for the lights to change on the west side of Chelsea Embankment. Your lorry was behind us. As the lights changed the lady in front pushed off and got across the junction ahead of the lorry, closely followed by myself. On reaching the other side your lorry started to overtake the lady, but instead of leaving a safe distance to do so, he squeezed the lady and her child leaving her no option but to brake to avoid a very nasty accident.

You might want to print out the follow link below from the highway code and give it to the driver in question, to ensure he is aware of how to overtake cyclist and other vulnerable road users in a safe manner.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTr ... /DG_070314

There was no reason for your driver to use the might of one of your vehicles to squeeze a mother and her child into the kerb, only to stop 200 yards down the road to turn left.

I’d like to think your drivers are usually courteous, and this was a one off, but HGV’s cause too many fatalities among cyclists, and the driver of the above vehicle might not be aware of how close he came of causing a serious accident this morning.

Yours sincerely

Blah blah


So what are yer thoughs?

G

Sea_Green_Incorruptible

Pretty good I reckon. A couple of comments:

'might' rather than 'mite'.

Finally para maybe sounds a bit preachy. Danger is that it will immediately spark 'cyclist loony' images in the reader's head leading them to dismiss all the sensible things you say. How about changing it to something a bit more practical. Something like...

'A careless or hasty maneuver may save your driver 10 or 20 seconds on his journey. But as the above example illustrates it can often do so at the risk of death or injury to those on two wheels. I would be grateful therefore if you could point out the the vulnerability of cyclists on busy roads to all your drivers, and (re)emphasise the necessity of giving them enough space when passing.'

Is that preachy too? anyway, use or ignore as you see fit!

mm1

I would be inclined not to mention that you were cycling, an approach from a concerned member of the public might be more persuasive. You could also quote relevant text from the highway code as well as including links.

First para "serious fatality"? Is there any other kind? Stick to what you saw, rather than speculating on possible consequences. This was either dangeropus driving, or driving without due care and attention. Your final para is probably strong enough on what might have happened.

"Might" rather than "mite" in your penultimate paragraph.

Also, refer to cyclists and "other vulnerable road users" in final para.

If you have vehicle registration, I would also report to plod.

secretsam

1. let plod know - may be on CCTV (evrything else that we do is)
2. last para a bit preachy, agreed - perhaps word it that in general HGV drivers are more road aware than other users (which is true - they have to be due to size of vehicle and stopping distances)
3. Which company was it? Send to Chair/Chief Executive as well as "to whom it may concern" (this info is easy to get, either they should tell you or contact Companies House)

snooks

mm1 wrote:

If you have vehicle registration, I would also report to plod.

There were a couple of cycle cops at the end of Vauxhall bridge (RLJ catching I guess) and thought about telling them...or at least asking for a pen and a bit of paper so I didn't have to keep repeating the reg no. but the lights turned green so I rode on

I couldn't think of anything they could/would do. I have the reg, and the company name and got the details from Google...and no one was hurt (this time)

will adjust the mite/might as well :0)

mm1

Snooks,

I had a similar discussion with a clubmate who is also a serving police officer, after almost getting wiped out on a training ride a few weeks ago. Her advice was to report to her collegues and to complain to the company. Don't expect anything to happen, especially if there are no other witnesses, but that doesn't mean that reporting and complaining aren't the right thing to do - they are!

batch78

Sounds alright to me, proof read it though there's a couple of spelling mistakes and 's missing.

snooks

Thanks to everyone...I've nicked/altered and copied suggestions...it now reads like this:

To whom it may concern,

This morning I witnessed what might have been a fatality were it not for the quick thinking of the cyclist involved. The driver of your white lorry registration number XXXX XXX came only inches (unfortunately I’m not exaggerating) away from hitting a mother and child on their bicycle.

The incident happened here:
http://www.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&ll ... 2&t=h&z=18

At approx 09:15 this morning travelling from west to east along Chelsea Embankment.

The lady was waiting behind the advanced stop line for the lights to change on the west side of Chelsea Embankment. Your lorry was behind. As the lights changed the lady pushed off and got across the junction ahead of the lorry. On reaching the other side your lorry started to overtake the lady, but instead of leaving a safe distance to do so, he squeezed the lady and her child towards the kerb, leaving her no option but to brake to avoid a very nasty accident.

You might want to print out the follow link below from the highway code and give it to the driver in question, to ensure he is aware of how to overtake cyclists and other vulnerable road users in a safe manner.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTr ... /DG_070314

There was no reason for your driver to use the might of one of your vehicles to squeeze a mother and her child into the kerb, only to stop 200 yards down the road to turn left.

A careless or hasty manoeuvre may save your driver 10 or 20 seconds on his journey. But as the above example illustrates it can often do so at the risk of death or injury to those on two wheels. I would be grateful therefore if you could point out the vulnerability of cyclists on busy roads to all your drivers, and (re)emphasise the necessity of giving them enough space when passing

Yours sincerely


I'll update if I hear anything...but I won't be holding my breath...thanks again :0)

hamboman

snooks wrote:

This morning I witnessed what could have been a serious fatality

is there any other kind of fatality?

snooks

Just to keep y'all up to date...The reply:

Thank you very much for taking the trouble to tell us about this matter and for the detailed information and links you have kindly provided. We appreciate that it was probably both distressing and irritating for you to witness what sounds at first blush like a piece of inconsiderate or careless driving and we much appreciate the measured tone of your email.

We invest a considerable amount in training all our staff and we work hard to instil in them a strong sense of responsibility and consideration for others. We are thus very surprised at your account but certainly not sceptical or complacent – not only can mistakes always happen but attitudes and standards can sometimes slip. We will therefore immediately investigate what you have reported and let you know the result. Retraining and re-motivation of the individual concerned is our normal approach but if necessary disciplinary proceedings will also be commenced.

from the group MD


More than I thought I'd get back, and a lot less dangerous than trying to catch the driver up and explain the error of his ways from the safety of my padded shorts! :0)

mm1

Reads like a well rehearsed reply, so probably not the first complaint that they've had> Time to report to plod>

snooks

There's more....I received this email this morning..

Further to our exchange of emails yesterday we have investigated the matters you kindly brought to our attention. Not only have we interviewed the driver and his crew directly about the incident, but we have also held confidential discussions with other trusted senior operatives and supervisors who have shared a vehicle with this particular driver over the last few months.

The interviews with these passengers clearly established that he is a mild mannered, non-aggressive and considerate driver who normally complies with speed limits and road markings and directions.

When interviewed the driver, who is fully trained and qualified, was genuinely horrified to hear what he had nearly done. He was genuinely unaware of what had happened and that made him equally concerned. We have made clear to him the full seriousness of the incident but in all honesty this was not necessary in the sense that he was deeply shocked to hear what he had nearly done and has personally committed to redouble his efforts and attention on cyclists and all activity on his nearside. We do not feel that re-training or disciplinary action is necessary in this case.

If you feel that we should do more than we have, please let me know. Once again thank you for telling us about this. Your care and conscientious action have helped us straighten out this driver and remind him of the need for extra attention to cyclists on the nearside

From the Executive Vice Chairman

This reads less like a script, so maybe there is one more lorry driver looking out for cyclists....one down umpteen more to go...

Gussio

Snooks - well done indeed and thanks for posting the response.

alfablue

That is an excellent response, it sounds genuine and if so, you have really made a difference - very well done!

It is a lesson to all of us to make such complaints whenever relevant, despite our (perhaps sometimes justified) cycnicism, there can be positive outcomes, and some companies can behave responsibly.

woodford2barbican

I agree - good response.

It must have made your blood run cold to see this.

snooks

woodford2barbican wrote:

I agree - good response.

It must have made your blood run cold to see this.

Thanks...it did...it was very (insert your own expletive) scary to watch it unfold in front of me, and frighteningly easy to happen...and just the thought that through no fault of her own she and her child could have been a statistic, not good which is why I made the effort. It's not as if she crept up the inside and put herself in danger either

Not wanting to sound selfish, but if she hadn't been there it might have happened to me, and with a little extra speed I had I would have been 5 metres ahead where there really was no room :shock:

Not something I really want to dwell on...

jedster

their response rings true to me - you'd have to be a complete nutter to use an HGV to indimidate a woman with a child on the back and IME HGV drivers are seldom nutters so it's more likely to have been an error.

well done for reporting it

J

mrchrispy

good result - well done that man.

Chewy Cheeks

Good to see a result with no amatuer dramatics, ranting ,raving and a company with a positive attitude to address issues.

now back to the shouting and gesticulating

snooks

Chewy Cheeks wrote:

now back to the shouting and gesticulating

I did my gesticulating on the way home (no shouting tho..I need all the air I can get) It was just a gently pushing a cabbie back out of the cycle lane. Far more refrained than I can manage in my car :twisted:
.

batch78

Good effort, glad to hear of a positive outcome for a change. And multiple peeps highlighted of the dangers, lets hope it helps us all witness less danger in the future, unfourtanely I doubt it will but lessons can be learned from this episode.

Pat on the back and a beer!

Babbsy

Good work and as good an outcome as one could expect. As well as being dealt with in a timely fashion, the response from the company seems reasonable, I'm sure in part due to your 'measured' letter. Can you name the company invloved, or at least indicate whetehr this was a small, medium, national firm?

BentMikey

What a result, well done mate! Pity you didn't have a helmet cam recording that.

snooks

BentMikey wrote:

What a result, well done mate! Pity you didn't have a helmet cam recording that.

At 9:15 I guess I'd have been 35 mins into my ride....Total time one way is around 45-50 mins

Dunno whether a helmet cam would still have been rolling, how long can they record for?

alfablue

I think you can get a couple of hours out of them.

secretsam

I must say it's fair play to the company for dealing with it promptly and effectively, and for keeping you appraised. Credit to them, sounds like it was a one off - but you'd rather it was a none-off, IYSWIM

afelstead

Just caught this post. Motorists and lorry drivers always squeeze cyclists into the curb on that particular bit of the embankment after the lights (going east). They misjudge the curve in the road, and consequentially drive straight ahead rather than round the bend. I have had a few near misses there. Credit to you for pursuing it, and seems you got a result, well done!