20110901 Excellent AA recovery driver

Most impressed with this driver's care and patience. Email sent to the AA:


Dear Mr King,

I'd like to pass on my compliments on one of your drivers whom I encountered yesterday on the A233, northbound, at around 16:30 in the afternoon.

You can see the video here:
http://youtu.be/c1q433Dvp24

As a cyclist, I was impressed by this driver's care, patience and foresight in waiting behind until it was safe to overtake me. He (or she?) placed no pressure on me, and drove exceptionally well, clearly appreciating why a cyclist was taking the lane in this narrow twisty section of road. Unfortunately my cameras didn't capture his number plate, but did that of the driver behind who was travelling with him (OU10EOE). Both drivers were excellent of course, but it was the large lorry recovery driver with a campervan on the back that impressed me the most. I very much hope this information will be enough to identify him?

I'd like to request that this email be passed to the driver's manager together with my thanks. I'm sure he'll remember me as I was riding a low black recumbent bicycle with an incredibly bright tail light.

Best regards,
Mikey.

• Category

  Autos & Vehicles

[SABAZ1979]

Well, that is a surprise in today's gota get there now lifestyle

[CyclingMikey]

To be fair, most drivers are like this AA driver, although his driving was extra good. He didn't lose any time either, since he got to the queue at the bottom of the hill a few seconds later and didn't have to wait as long.

[simpsons790]

did you get to know if the driver got your message?

[CyclingMikey]

I know Edmund King got it as he replied, but have not heard from the driver. I hope he gets the credit for this lovely driving.

[qtipsue]

There is nothing impressive with this AA driver's care and patience; he was simply obeying the Highway Code. This section of road had solid white lines which prohibited him from overtaking, but there was nothing stopping you from pulling over out of his way as you was holding up traffic due to the slow speed you were driving at. I noticed as he legally overtook you on broken white lines, you had the nerve to illegally , and momentarily drive in the bus stop area. you should get a £120 fine.

[CyclingMikey]

p.s. I meant to add that you're wrong, the driver's driving here is lovely and patient, much more so than the average motorist.

[CyclingMikey]

It doesn't prohibit the majority of drivers overtaking me, and is only illegal because I'm travelling at more than 10mph. It's also not illegal to ride in a bus stop, only to stop in it. The narrowness of the lane is what prevented me from pulling over to allow him past, and knowing that an overtaking opportunity was coming up in seconds, I didn't need to anyway.

You can't have a driving licence surely - your knowledge of roadcraft is appalling.

[CyclingMikey]

Sure, it's in the description. I'm not sure my writing is such a good example though...

[pritch1988]

Shame the patrol behind lost his STC

[Curtis Mayfield]

Highway Code Rule 129

"You may cross the [double white] line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less."

A bit ambiguous - I've always understood that as meaning you can overtake a horse or bike, or a road maintenance vehicle doing 10mph or less.

[Curtis Mayfield]

WRONG! A surprising amount of motorists live by this fallacy. Highway Code Rule 129 states you CAN cross a double white line when overtaking a bike (or a horse, or a road maintenance vehicle doing less than 10mph).

The AA driver either didn't know this either or it wasn't safe to overtake.

He didn't have the "nerve" to illegally drive in the bus stop - he was showing consideration in order to facilitate overtaking; something he didn't have to do.

Hats off to the AA driver for his patience.

[XEirexX]

Good stuff.

[radfordred]

bravo