Dangerous HGV Pass - Matthew Kibble Transport

A road with obsticles such as vehicles parked in cycle lanes and pedestrian reservations presents the HGV driver with a challenge when passing cyclists, which this driver overcame with speed over sense. This was a close shave as he floored his articulated truck to pass me before the road narrowed as he would have had to wait a whapping 20 yards until it widens out again and passing becomes so much safer for drivers of all vehicles; and of course cyclists!

Oh, for the record, 85 seconds later I was back in front at the next set of lights and I never saw him pass me again, so the risk taken was a complete waste of time. Reg LK3 MJK.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Pointless
• Dangerous
• HGV
• LGV
• Pass
• Matthew
• Kibble
• Transport
• Overtake
• cyclist
• heavy
• goods
• vehicle
• urban
• truck
• Romford
• Road
• Woodgrange
• Park
• A118
• matthewkibble
• aggressive
• driving

[pcandyhk]

It doesn't look TOO close to me, may be it is the camera angle?!

[kmcyc]

@pcandyhk

I can assure you it was close enough to be one of the most frightening experiences in 15 years of cycling. This professional driver chose to blast through a narrowing gap, closing in on me just to make that pass before the pedestrian island, when for no additional time on their journey, they should have waited until after the island. It doesn't take much for them to see how much wider the road is there and it doesn't take much for a vehicle that size to end a cyclist's life.

[romfordtony]

I really cannot believe some of the comments that you have recieved on this video.What road and fuel tax would have to do with a dangerous manovure is beyond me but just goes to show that some drivers think that cyclists are fair game.From my own experiences i have found that drivers pass far too closely but when its a 40tonne artic it is truly terrifying.For the record i am just an ocasional leisure cyclist and i always abide by the rules of the road.These videos show what cyclists put up with

[drsquirrel0]

If he has to indicate, so does the lorry.

And thus in your logic, the lorry would have overtaken whilst what it is over taking, overtakes... which will find you on the wrong side of the law.

Considering it is only slightly into the road, as long as the cyclist is in the middle of the road (which is legal, and recommended in dangerous circumstances) why should they need to indicate?

If anyone has a clear view of a road, it is a car/lorry behind a cyclist, unlike a car/lorry behind a car/lorry.

[kmcyc]

@pcandyhk

Initially I mounted this ATC3K on my helmet but it was far too heavy for comfort. I have since replaced it with a much smaller and lighter camera mounted on my helmet but TBH, I don't think any camera would really give the true sensation of having a HGV pass at speed so close and yet closing in further as it does so. Feeling the drag trying to pull you closer to those massive trailer wheels is not something you forget easily.

[pcandyhk]

@pcandyhk *helmet camera

[pcandyhk]

@kmcyc I cycle on road too. I guess this was a close call, but just the camera wideness doesn't show the real situation. May be a helmet would be better?! I mounted a camera at the front bar, and recorded a near-miss with another cyclist without lights at night! but the recording doesn't really give the audience the same feeling/impact compared to real life.

[kmcyc]

@danno191

Congratulations on passing your tests!

I'm certain that this driver was aware of me too and don't doubt he had faith in himself. It's just that when the margin for error is so small and the road was clearly going to be more than wide enough immediately beyond the pedestrian island, regardless of his confidence he should not have made the pass. It's not just down to the driver, the rider must be competent too. What if I'd been a novice and lost control in the draught from the trailer?

[danno191]

@kmcyc I respect your views mate, I just watched it again. I'm quite sure (in my own opinion) that the driver saw the gap and had faith in his abilities and experience that he could pass without hitting you. That's just my view. I personally would have waited behind you, because I've only had around 4 weeks experience since passing my HGV tests. I wouldn't have been confident I could make a safe pass in that distance/time.

I do think the driver was aware of you.

[kmcyc]

@danno191

Fully aware that small gains or losses can build up to big ones but that still doesn't justify taking such a risk when the driver could clearly see a wide expanse of road directly after the pedestrian island.

Say it wasn't "just about enough room" and he hit me? I could easily have gone under the wheels. What then? I'm either dead or barely alive. Even if the driver didn't notice then, Matthew would have noticed the law suit that would follow and the press would have had a field day.

[danno191]

@kmcyc Just to make you aware small gains in time like that can really make or break a drivers delivery window. waiting at traffic lights for example could waste around 5 minutes on your journey and that could be the difference in a customer refusing a load.

Also looking at the video there was just about enough room for a safe pass. What stopped you from slowing down to allow him to get past????

[kmcyc]

@tomojacko141

I was recently followed by a Stobart driver on a road with pedestrian islands one after another. The driver knew he would not be able to pass for 1/2 a mile or so. He came no closer than 30 feet to my bike for the whole stretch, only moving up to make the pass safely once the road was wide enough. If drivers are required to drive as shown in this video then delivery schedules need rethinking so public safety is not compromised.