Today I got Road Raged….. – Page 2 – Bike Forum

mikewsmith · 2013-04-02T05:39:55Z

Went out for a road ride with the missus an her friend this morning, all nice and good, beautiful sunny day. Heading back into town there is a dual carriageway section of road, with a parking lane on the side (rough potholed & full of rubbish and parked cars) It's all quiet with not many cars as there seems to be an unofficial Easter Tuesday holiday going on. I'm riding happily in the left lane 1/3-1/2 way out few cars coming past etc. I hear a car come up behind and slow down guess they must be stopping/pulling in etc then some loud blasts of the horn. Look round to see someone trying to get me out of his way, room to use the other lane just too lazy to actually pass me. I give a "What you on about shrug" and he starts to get really close behind, I'm getting a bit worried so checking where he is and slowing down a bit. He then runs into the back of my bike (we had slowed down thankfully) I stop get off and suggest he needs to stop and talk/exchange details. He tries to drive off so I put my bike in front of the car as he heads for the parking lane. At this point I'm fumbling for my phone to get a pic of his registration. The missus and her friend have turned round and are coming back. Another car who was following stops and watches on. He gets out, comes over & pushes my bike away. Ranting about how I shouldn't be in the road, was in the wrong place etc and starts to push me. Trying to stay calm I roll with it and let him push me back away from the road. Ask for his details and calmly ask why he ran into me (he denies it) Tell him I will call the police. He then flings a right hook (in a very lame way) and hits me on the lid (glad I was wearing one) and probably decides he had better leave, get pics of his car and the paint from his number plate on my back tyre. As he leaves the other driver gets out and is happy to be a witness. We ride down to the police station to find him waiting there, ignore him go in and ask to report Traffic accident and assault. Woman at the desk has just heard his complaint tries to suggest as it's a bit of hassle both ways just to leave it, turns out he had just accused me of starting on him and threatening him, he only hit me in self defense. Also said there was a chance they would charge me if we took it further. Sticking to my guns point out the 3 witnesses and that I never touched him. After a quick conference they agree to listen to me. We could hear them interviewing him and after about 5mins the guy talking to me goes out looks at the bike and the car and suggests that the long paint line must have been caused by him hitting me, which he was denying. He goes off on one and then the breathalyser comes out which calmed him down a bit... Short version after taking our statements and reading the other guys the guy thought there were 5/6 things they could do him for and that he had no doubt that we were telling the truth. Just need to drop the bike down in the shop to be looked over properly and wait and see what the police do. In the end I was amazed I was so calm and resisted the urge to hit him.

edlong

Posts: 4097

Free Member

It does seem to be a feature of many stories I read online, both road ragey and bike thefty, that the default position of the police seems to be that you're being a nuisance and there isn't anything that they intend to do about what's being reported.

I know "Da Fedz" have a hard job, are under-resourced and that the criminal justice system is broken (if the CPS even let things get as far as formalities in court) but surely there will come a point where people just lose confidence in the police / system and stop reporting things?

It's not a big leap from people having no confidence in the police and them deciding that they'll be better sorting things out for themselves...

Posted : 02/04/2013 2:19 pm

lazybike

Posts: 0

Free Member

Good on ya....

Posted : 02/04/2013 2:25 pm

nicko74

Posts: 6151

Full Member

I was wondering how the OP managed to find a Police station with a real live officer inside until I read it was Australia.

Nah, you just have to go into Sainsbury's now, don't you, find them in their little booth? "Morning officer, pint of milk please. And can I report a crime?"

Posted : 02/04/2013 3:19 pm

mikewsmith

Posts: 52609

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Topic starter

Well todays update...

they have interviewed all the witnesses, the guy who stopped didn't see the punch to me but probably confimed most of what I said, my friend who was with us confirmed what I said and saw the punch thrown. Same policeman interviewed her as spoke to me yesterday. Result he is going to be charged.

and for balance a pic from the better bit of the ride - this is why riding on the road in Oz is worth it
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8612283253_54c444ea87.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8612283253_54c444ea87.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikewsmith/8612283253/ ]Out in the orchards with liz @squizardo and Celia[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/mikewsmith/ ]Mike Smith 79[/url], on Flickr

Posted : 03/04/2013 3:40 am

GrahamS

Posts: 31206

Full Member

Result he is going to be charged.

Good work mike!

Posted : 03/04/2013 9:47 am

[Closed] Today I got Road Raged.....