Overtaking when a cyclist is coming towards you

Kieran_Burns

Is this illegal?

Happened to me twice now (as in the car was alongside of me while overtaking) this week

The first one wasn't clear due to rain on the lens but todays should be visible - so is it worth reporting?

the_fuggler

Happens quite a bit to me round here. Usually it's drivers overtaking bikes, horses or pedestrians round blind bends on narrow lanes. I had a run of having to jam the anchors on at least once a day for a while to avoid a car coming head on at me.

Not sure about cars overtaking cars and the legal position. Sounds like dangerous driving to me. And, at the very least, like a lack of common sense.

bails87

They shouldn't be overtaking when there's something coming the other way assuming it's a normal road. if there's room then I guess they can, but it wouldn't be very wise.

tailwindhome

bails87 wrote:

They shouldn't be overtaking when there's something coming the other way assuming it's a normal road. if there's room then I guess they can, but it wouldn't be very wise.

Depends on how far away the vehicle coming towards you is when you make your manoeuvre.


In my experience the vehicle overtaking while coming towards a cyclist is doing so because he hasn't seen the cyclist or has misjudged the cyclists speed or distance

bails87

TailWindHome wrote:

bails87 wrote:

They shouldn't be overtaking when there's something coming the other way assuming it's a normal road. if there's room then I guess they can, but it wouldn't be very wise.

Depends on how far away the vehicle coming towards you is when you make your manoeuvre.


In my experience the vehicle overtaking while coming towards a cyclist is doing so because he hasn't seen the cyclist or has misjudged the cyclists speed or distance

Well, yes, I took 'coming the other way' to mean close enough to cause genuine concern for whatever it is that's 'coming the other way'.

I'd agree witht he second point too, I don't think they're seeing cyclists and thinking they can fit through or that the cyclist should get out of the way. More likely they just haven't seen the cyclist.

suzyb

It's happened to me a few times as well. Even had a lorry overtake a tractor as I was coming the other way. He just made it back to his own lane before he hit me as well.

prawny

There was a guy from the forum killed a few years ago in this way, scares the bejesus out of me. You'd have no chance, if you've got footage I'd pass it to the police even if they just have a word with the guy it might make them think in the future.

This is one of the reasons I like to have a good front light.

tailwindhome

I find this to be more of a problem when cars are overtaking from behind me.

The first car goes past nice and safely, the second one goes by no problem. It's the third car who tries to squeeze past too which scares the bejesus out of you.

Wallace1492

Was cycling with a mate through Glen Coe a few years ago. I was a little in front, heading down the Glen, line of cars coming up toward us on the other side. The third car in line pulled out as it was level with me and overtook the two ahead of it.

I never really noticed this, but my friend looked up and saw car accellerating towards him, wheels on the edge-of-road whilte line on HIS side, and immediately threw hinself left off the road. I looked back and froze as I could see no sign of my mate who was there just a few seconds before.

He emerged up the small incline, cut, bruised and shaken, but in one piece. No cars stopped. Scary biscuits! Oh and bike was ok too....

Kieran_Burns

prawny wrote:

There was a guy from the forum killed a few years ago in this way, scares the bejesus out of me. You'd have no chance, if you've got footage I'd pass it to the police even if they just have a word with the guy it might make them think in the future.

This is one of the reasons I like to have a good front light.

That would be the flashing Hope Vision 2 I had on when this happened on Wednesday....

Kieran_Burns

Oh, and I've fired an email off to the local beat bobby for the area (Kelly)

RowCycle

TailWindHome wrote:

bails87 wrote:

They shouldn't be overtaking when there's something coming the other way assuming it's a normal road. if there's room then I guess they can, but it wouldn't be very wise.

Depends on how far away the vehicle coming towards you is when you make your manoeuvre.


In my experience the vehicle overtaking while coming towards a cyclist is doing so because he hasn't seen the cyclist or has misjudged the cyclists speed or distance

I find this a lot, a lot of motorists seem to think cyclists are going slower than they are.

petemadoc

Wallace1492 wrote:

Was cycling with a mate through Glen Coe a few years ago. I was a little in front, heading down the Glen, line of cars coming up toward us on the other side. The third car in line pulled out as it was level with me and overtook the two ahead of it.

I never really noticed this, but my friend looked up and saw car accellerating towards him, wheels on the edge-of-road whilte line on HIS side, and immediately threw hinself left off the road. I looked back and froze as I could see no sign of my mate who was there just a few seconds before.

He emerged up the small incline, cut, bruised and shaken, but in one piece. No cars stopped. Scary biscuits! Oh and bike was ok too....

This really bothers me.

Cars overtaking other cars when you're going in the opposite direction to them. Scary stuff, I think it's happened to me twice. One time the road was wide enough for me to move over and I couldn't help giving the overtaking driver two fingers. Other time I had to bail into the grass verge.

thiscocks

On A roads It's fine as there is always enough room. Most b roads its ok too as long as the car keeps over a bit. On narrower lanes it obviously becomes more of a problem.

I don't see how it is more dangerous than a car overtaking you when another car is coming the other way as long as the driver has seen you.

Kieran_Burns

I reviewed the vid when I got home last night and the number plate isn't clear again (came too fast and the image is blurred)

It's actually quiet funny watching as the driver kind of realises he's got a choice of me or lorry and appears to to pick the lorry and moves REALLY close :roll:

It actually wasn't as 'bad' as I thought, bloody close though. :?

Jay dubbleU

I had a bus do that to me the other day - got halfway past me and spotted the car coming the other way and pulled into my side - I had to mount the kerb to avoid him - had a few words with the driver when I passed him at the next stop - his excuse was 'I didn't see the car' - I pointed out he'd do less damage hitting the car than hitting me

wyadvd

Makes you realize that close overtaking really isnt the danger on rural roads, although it feels uncomfortable. The Real danger nealy always comes towards you or from the side.

Happened to me the other day. I was in the prmary position having rounded a downhill left hander at about 27mph. The car clearly saw me because he was gesticulating to me to get out of his way. The fact i was there didnt really figure in his decision to overtake the (fast) cyclist coming the other way. Lucky I was in the primary or Id have nowhere to go!

There are som blankers out there!

wyadvd

and keiran, you havent posted the yourtube link to the vid?

Kieran_Burns

Here you go

http://youtu.be/5Ktb3qzSeqc?hd=1

I added another stupid moment that happened on the way home that same day. (girls crosses road after parents / siblings and simply doesn't even look at all. Just assumes that if they've walked out it's perfectly safe... yeesh)

EKE_38BPM

The car didn't look great, but I've seen worse. Doesn't mean it wasn't brown trouser time though.
The kid was just stupid, but then, kids are stupid. You did the right thing with letting her know you were coming. Elbowing her in the face as you rode past would have been more interesting though!!

graham.

The kid looked old enough to know better.
Graham.

Kieran_Burns

I'm not sure how clear the bell comes across on the vid - but it is very clear when rung, so it wasn't like I wasn't trying to warn her.

It's just the look of utter shock when she realises I'm there. :roll:

DrLex

Kieran, any update on your complaint against Mrs Marie Scott of "Walk that Dog (but Drive like a Blind Mole)" of Kegworth?

Kieran_Burns

None I'm sorry to say

Not sure if I should (or can) chase it up

DrLex

You should have been given an incident number by the officer/civ. liaison. Without it, it's a little harder, but should be discoverable searching on name, date and point of reporting.

Otherwise, if you've a mate with m4d w3b sk1llz, set up a website along the lines walkthatdogsucks, complete with video and details and use SEO to put it on the first page of google for dog walking in the Kegworth area...