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news
glos coach close pass - credit Matt Coldrey Gloucestershire Police reopen investigation after cyclist who suffered close pass was told "maybe you should trade your bike for a Hummer"
Gloucestershire Constabulary has reopened an investigation into a close pass after reviewing a telephone conversation in which the cyclist was told: "Maybe you should consider trading in your bike for a Hummer."
Matt Coldrey contacted the force with footage of a close pass executed by a George Young’s Coaches driver.
After reviewing the video, an officer told Coldrey that the driver responsible had not committed an offence because both cyclist and coach had continued on their journeys smoothly.
Coldrey told road.cc that he had taken the comment about trading his bike for a Hummer as a joke, “but as I was trying to explain to the police officer that having a coach pass me so closely that I can touch it, as traffic is travelling in the opposite direction, is at the very least careless driving, it didn't seem particularly appropriate response to my legitimate concerns."
He also says he was accused of having "a vendetta" against George Young's Coaches, because he had reported a similar incident against them in the past.
After we featured the incident and initial police response on our live blog yesterday, Gloucestershire Police's social media team said they were "looking into" the comments that were allegedly made by the officer.
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Constabulary subsequently told road.cc: “A senior officer has reviewed the telephone conversation between the police officer and the cyclist. We believe that certain comments made by the officer during the call were unacceptable and do not represent the Constabulary's approach to road safety.
“In the call the police officer made comments they said were meant to be humorous, however it was inappropriate in the circumstances and we completely understand why the cyclist was unhappy with the conversation.
“Since this was brought to our attention we’ve reviewed the footage and believe the cyclist’s complaint is legitimate and that our initial assessment and closing of the investigation was wrong. We’ve now reopened the investigation and will look into this further.
“The senior officer has been in contact with the cyclist who has been made aware of this recent development and we have apologised for the inappropriate comments which were previously made to him.
“The officer in question will be given words of advice.
“All road users have equal rights to use the highway safely. When overtaking a cyclist, motorists are advised they should allow as much distance between them and the bike as they would a car, which is a minimum clearance of 1.5m (approximately a car door’s width).”
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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29 comments
If I threw a brick at a Police car and jogged away, and they chased after me in said Police car; can I claim I had not committed an offence because both
cyclistbrick thrower andcoachplod had continued on their journeys smoothly?Are they encouraging diving as seen in football?
"He also says he was accused of having "a vendetta" against George Young's Coaches, because he had reported a similar incident against them in the past."
Perhaps, George Young Coaches, the best thing to do, rather than accuse people of having vendettas, is to tell your drivers to STOP DRIVING LIKE DICKS!
Still - when your local plod obviously don't give a shit, why bother.
I like to hold my lovely wife up as an example of 'the other side' from time to time
I read this story out to her at the weekend.
She huffed and said she thought it was ridiculous. "You mean that the police had to look at it again?", says I. "No - that the cyclist thought that the police should do anything about it!".
I explained that the coach had gone against the Highway Code guidance, terrified the cyclist, and that was surely careless driving? "No, the cyclist wasn't harmed, was he?" Yes, but passing that close there's a great deal of turbulence, what if the cyclist had been sucked under the coach?. "But he wasn't - the police shouldn't have to look into every single little thing just because this cyclist had a camera. You always say you hate cameras, anyway!" (True, I do).
I replied that nevertheless the cyclist *did* have it on camera, which is evidence of the careless driving, so what should he have done? "Complain to the company about it - the police should have their time wasted on every little thing... Before long, everyone will *have* to have a camera, won't they?".
About this point I decided to leave it, as the kids and the dog came piling in...
It's the same when the police muck around trying to catch plotting terrorists. What's the point if they haven't done anything yet?
Thank you! I'll remember that for next time
"We've now reopened the investigation and will look into this further."
At least they have admitted fault but it means very little unless the driver is prosecuted and all similar incidents are treated professionally in the future.
we need that delete option for all these multiple posts
we need that delete option for all these multiple posts
we need that delete option for all these multiple posts
Also hate to say it ... it feel's mean after Gloucestershire Police re-open their investigation, and apologise for their officer's foot-in-mouth idiocy. BUT ...
And it's a BIG but ...
How many thousands of cyclists had very similar experiences today? A tiny minority reported? A miniscule minority had a response?
But none had the media exposure? So no action
.
IF however
- Goucestershire Police signed up to, and implemented, West Midlands Police's Close Pass Cycling Initiative?
Well, for me, that would be a wee, tiny win. Not overwhelmed - I don't live in, or cycle in, Gloucestershire.
- Every other police force in the UK also signed up to, and implemented, West Midlands Police's Close Pass Cycling Initiative?
Now THAT would be something.
Kinda sad that such a no-brainer would be cause for celebration ... but
Every other Police Force except my area's force, Humberside. It can't afford a close pass initiative but can afford to provide a Traffic car & 3 Traffic motorcycles to accompany the Cheif Constable when he does his annual charity bike ride.
Ha! Yeah loads have signed up for it, but don't ACTUALLY do anything when video evidence supplied, Cheshire is one of those..........
Also hate to say it ... it feel's mean after Gloucestershire Police re-open their investigation, and apologise for their officer's foot-in-mouth idiocy. BUT ...
And it's a BIG but ...
How many thousands of cyclists had very similar experiences today? A tiny minority reported? A miniscule minority had a response?
But none had the media exposure? So no action
.
IF however
- Goucestershire Police signed up to, and implemented, West Midlands Police's Close Pass Cycling Initiative?
Well, for me, that would be a wee, tiny win. Not overwhelmed - I don't live in, or cycle in, Gloucestershire.
- Every other police force in the UK also signed up to, and implemented, West Midlands Police's Close Pass Cycling Initiative?
Now THAT would be something.
Kinda sad that such a no-brainer would be cause for celebration ... but
Well done Gloucestershire police.
It would have been so easy to brush it under the carpet
Well done Gloucestershire police.
It would have been so easy to brush it under the carpet
Well done Gloucestershire police.
It would have been so easy to brush it under the carpet
Highly trained professional driver, often with responsibility for the care and safety of 40 children. Definitely could do better.
I'm wondering if the inappropriate commenting officer would be prepared to make racist jokes to someone who had suffered racist threats against them.
Hate to say it ... but it happens.
DAMHIKT. Please - because it's a condition of the settlement that I reveal nothing about it.
Bottom line? White, middle-aged, well-educated, middle-class male can get "resolution". It took five years, but it was resolution.
But God help anybody who doesn't tick each and every one of the white, middle-aged, well-educated, middle-class, male boxes.
Result!
6a00d8347a49a469e2019affd5f1b9970c-600wi.jpg
What I love about that image is that you even have a left handed squirrel playing a left-handed bass guitar.
That's some quality squirreling right there.
Thanks, people often don't appreciate the time and effort that goes into setting up a photo-shoot; they think that squirrel photography is just a life of glamour and fast-living.
You mean like Paul McCarney
You mean like Paul McCarney
[/quote]
Wasn't he on ryhthm guitar?
Paul McCartney's not a grey squirrel.
He's a squirrel who's retained the natural lovable moptop colour of his youth, except nowadays a little bit at the front, even though he's well over 64.
*Citation needed*
870f905cfad5fbe246a827960ba02e5e.jpg
Good on them for admitting they got it wrong and doing something about it.