- 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
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
news
Near Miss of the Day 501 (UPDATED): HGV driver said he had to cut corner because of fast oncoming traffic
*Update (November 24): The driver has been suspended by his firm, pending further investigation*
*Update (December 4): The driver has left the firm following a disciplinary process*
Today’s breath-taking near miss sees the driver of a builder’s merchants lorry cutting the corner when turning into a side road and almost flattening a cyclist in the process. The manoeuvre itself is only half the story however.
The incident occurred on Thursday on Stoke Road in Sonning Common, at the junction with Gravel Hill.
Secret_squirrel writes: “I had some new kit arrive – ironically a fluoro gilet – and an hour to kill so I thought I would take it for a test ride. Turns out all the fluoro or lights in the world means nothing if the driver doesn’t look or has some very iffy looking wing mirrors.”
Secret_squirrel said that even after he stopped and shouted, the driver continued, forcing him to get out of the way.
“When I challenged him on his driving, he replied that his view had been blocked by the silver deflectors on his wing mirrors, and that he had to turn quickly as the oncoming traffic tended to be fast.
“After exchanging a few more words, he left without leaving any contact details.”
Secret_squirrel has submitted the footage to Thames Valley Police and also to the business in question. He was told that the firm would investigate which driver was involved and get back to him.
“The white 4x4 driver was really nice,” he added, “as was a lady from a nearby house who offered me a cup of tea.”
> Near Miss of the Day turns 100 - Why do we do the feature and what have we learnt from it?
Over the years road.cc has reported on literally hundreds of close passes and near misses involving badly driven vehicles from every corner of the country – so many, in fact, that we’ve decided to turn the phenomenon into a regular feature on the site. One day hopefully we will run out of close passes and near misses to report on, but until that happy day arrives, Near Miss of the Day will keep rolling on.
If you’ve caught on camera a close encounter of the uncomfortable kind with another road user that you’d like to share with the wider cycling community please send it to us at info [at] road.cc or send us a message via the road.cc Facebook page.
If the video is on YouTube, please send us a link, if not we can add any footage you supply to our YouTube channel as an unlisted video (so it won't show up on searches).
Please also let us know whether you contacted the police and if so what their reaction was, as well as the reaction of the vehicle operator if it was a bus, lorry or van with company markings etc.
> What to do if you capture a near miss or close pass (or worse) on camera while cycling
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.
Latest Comments
- chrisonabike 0 sec ago
I can only imagine how it is for his family and sister to deal with this....
- kinderje 28 min 57 sec ago
Have you tried Garmin customer service? My charging door woudn't close properly and would shake loose on every ride. A call to Garmin and they put...
- Pot00000000 42 min 46 sec ago
That's a great looking bike. Shame it's a Bianchi
- ktache 9 hours 26 min ago
The Cure, 1989 day was fantastic, what little I got to hear. I think the BBC is wonderful, not perfect, but I'm so glad we have it.
- Ride On 10 hours 11 min ago
I ended up using Parcelforce - paying online and printing off a sticker - then drop off at the post office. I came across a couple of things worth...
- Rendel Harris 10 hours 17 min ago
Reckless doesn't exist as a charge in the UK, it's either careless or dangerous.
- mattw 10 hours 41 min ago
First Degree Assault in Maryland is serious - intent to cause serious injury, regardless of whether injury caused. A firearm makes it First Degree...
Add new comment
75 comments
Or you could come to a stop before proceeding in a spot that allows you to turn as safely as possible.. You could even sound your horn.
Or you could actually turn into the correct lane in the first place.
Doesn't look possible for a large vehicle to make the turn without encroaching. Poster Chris mentioned buses in that corner earlier.
Far from ideal for HGVs to make this turn at all. turning right here requires turning through 160 degrees. Far better for the wagon to have taken the previous right turn (Gallowstree road). With this junction being only 2km away from the vehicle owners premesis the drivers should be familiar with the junction and not use it.
Lorry driver is guilty. The police will try to ignore it because you weren't even run over. Don't let them! Complain, and continue beyond the first stage where they don't respond, beyond the second stage where they say they will 'have a word with the driver', beyond the third stage where the second officer says that the first officer was correct etc. etc. etc.
I'm intrigued to hear how this is going to be blamed on the cyclist...
Me too. I'm sure it's my fault some how
Oddly, I didn't see any oncoming traffic, let alone any fast ones.
Wow. That is spectacularly incompetent. Par for the course is for someone to pitch in with post hoc insight like, "It was obvious what was going to happen", "The cyclist put himself in a dangerous position", "He should have slowed down", "He should have taken primary". You've heard it all before. Personally, I can see nothing whatsoever in mitigation for the driver.
I'd be minded to claim against them for personal injury - that's going to stay with him a very long time. This speaking as the innocent party in a hit and run - we're not victims now, just witnesses, you will recall.
Section 170 - If the PRESENCE of the vehicle causes harm or injury to persons or property - details MUST be provided - check over the bike (& you) for harm, & discuss claim with BC/CUK?
You could have popped into their site down the road and reported it directly to the site manager.
I'm sure they'll be aware of the junction and maybe tell their drivers to try not to kill cyclists there because it's bad for publicity?
I was in no condition or desire for a possible confrontation at the site - just wanted home & cup of tea ASAP.
These guys
PEPPARD BUILDING SUPPLIES LIMITED
Licence details (OH2016512)
Directors
Arthur Nicholas John Butler
Richard Lance Butler
Licence type
Standard National
Licence status
Valid
Continuation date
31 Dec 2023
Traffic area
West of England
Contact details
Address
Peppard Building Supplies, Bishopsland Farm, Dunsden, Reading, RG4 9NR, GB
Operating centres
Operating centre
BISHOPSLAND FARM, DUNSDEN, READING, RG4 9NR, GB
Vehicles 8
Trailers 0
Transport Managers
Name
RICHARD LANCE BUTLER
Not on CLOCS Register?
Class 6 mirror looks a bit askew. Class 1 mirror patched up with an alloy plate bolted on to front face - DVSA might take an interest? Often a detail gets them interested & they start looking more closely
CUK had a case with the regulator in Kent, where a Company started using a farm site down a narrow lane with a width restriction - had no planning permission for change of use, and no one had raised access issue on O Licence application. The number of truck movements was restricted to 2 per day per truck, and they were given a directive to move to a more suitable location. Same with company whose manager was driving truck that killed at The Bank - using a farm as operating base, and licence prohibited use of specified lane to access the site
Stoke Row Road cuts the corner vs staying on B481, looks a bit narrow for regular through HGV traffic. Perhaps a case of 'Except for Access' condition
It would cut the corner if the lorry had been approaching from the south and turning into Stoke Row Road, but in the case almost certainly longer as the lorry was coming from the north. either he was delivering onto stoek row road itself, or using this junction added 600m to the journey. Perhaps he missed the previous junction.
Squirrels have a bad rep on this site. Expect no sympathy!
Pages