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Near Miss of the Day 843: Cyclist on receiving end of "one of the fastest close passes I have ever experienced" on busy urban street

The Nottingham driver was travelling too fast for the rider's camera to get a clear shot of the number plate...

Perhaps we should have added some extra advice to our latest feature on what to do if you capture a near miss, close pass or collision on camera while cycling... perhaps something like: cross your fingers the vehicle is not being driven too fast for their number plate to be visible.

That's the situation road.cc reader Samuel found himself in after this high-speed close pass in Nottingham back in November.

He optimistically "reported it to the police through 101" in the hope that CCTV might be checked, but has not heard anything back other than being given a reference number.

> Near Miss of the Day 842: Passenger jumps out of car to remonstrate with cyclist… after driver cuts corner and almost hits him

Samuel recalled the events of the 30th November, at around 22:26 (the time is out on the video) to us, explaining how "a driver went too close to me and I think it was one of the fastest I have ever experienced".

"It took my breath away," he said. "Sadly, the driver was going so fast that my Cycliq 6 was unable to record a clear shot of the number plate despite pausing at numerous frames. I have reported it to the police through 101 and I was given a reference number. 

"They didn't report it as a crime as the driver is not identifiable. I reported it in the hope that they will be able to check CCTV. I am guessing that if a police officer warrants it being reported as one, they will get back in contact.

"Will they actively go to all means to identify the driver? Or will this be another road crime swept under the carpet?" 

> 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.

> Here's what to do if you capture a near miss, close pass or collision on camera while cycling

Dan is the road.cc news editor and has spent the past four years writing stories and features, as well as (hopefully) keeping you entertained on the live blog. Having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for the Non-League Paper, Dan joined road.cc in 2020. Come the weekend you'll find him labouring up a hill, probably with a mouth full of jelly babies, or making a bonk-induced trip to a south of England petrol station... in search of more jelly babies.

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13 comments

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism | 1 year ago
2 likes

I'm pretty sure he was only accelerating to that speed to beat the obvious lights from turning red. So a double fine bit of driving from him there. 

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Hirsute | 1 year ago
5 likes

Assume that is a 30 not a 20.  Looked 45+ so if it was in the band C fine for excess speed, then I'd expect some action.

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HoarseMann | 1 year ago
2 likes

At least Samuel has previously experienced the police catching a dodgy driver...
https://youtu.be/64uWJHQ-sFQ

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HoarseMann | 1 year ago
3 likes

Probably way too late now (14-day NIP and all of that) but there does appear to be council CCTV at this location. You could quite reasonably put in a GDPR request for the footage captured.

https://goo.gl/maps/ZXEA76unkmHsWski7

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nosferatu1001 replied to HoarseMann | 1 year ago
2 likes

14 days wouldn't apply here - the limit can be exceeded when there is reason to do so, such as the police not being informed in time. 

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wtjs replied to nosferatu1001 | 1 year ago
1 like

14 days wouldn't apply here - the limit can be exceeded when there is reason to do so, such as the police not being informed in time

Ho! Ho! It's one of the favourite police dodges, so they will always apply it if they think they can get away with it

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hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
4 likes

I think the only workable response to these kinds of shenanigans is to raise it as a complaint against the police force responsible. If they don't want it reported as a crime statistic, then they'll get it as a complaint statistic and hopefully, someone senior will either realise their mistake or get sacked and someone competent can be brought in.

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wtjs replied to hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
3 likes

I think the only workable response to these kinds of shenanigans is to raise it as a complaint against the police force responsible

Yes and no. If you're in an area with a duff PCC, then complaints are almost useless. We don't have a crim as PCC (as far as I know) but we do have a buffoon- elected at a time when really extreme buffoons and liars were popular in elevated positions

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mattw replied to wtjs | 1 year ago
1 like

Notts PCC.

Ha bloody ha !

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wtjs | 1 year ago
7 likes

I am guessing that if a police officer warrants it being reported as one, they will get back in contact

The charming naivety! It went straight in the bin the day it was received

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ShutTheFrontDawes | 1 year ago
7 likes

Not a crime because the driver isn't identifiable? What the actual f×ck?

"We're really sorry your mum was found dead with multiple stab wounds, but it's not a murder because we have no idea who did it" - The Police (probably)

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JustTryingToGet... replied to ShutTheFrontDawes | 1 year ago
5 likes
ShutTheFrontDawes wrote:

Not a crime because the driver isn't identifiable? What the actual f×ck?

"We're really sorry your mum was found dead with multiple stab wounds, but it's not a murder because we have no idea who did it" - The Police (probably)

A pretty cynical attempt to keep crime figures down and no shits given. Win win

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Krd51 | 1 year ago
6 likes

The police don't give a fcuk about road crime unless it's an easy win, and they care even less about cyclists unless you're on the pavement trying to save your life.

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