More drivers getting convicted from helmet camera evidence

thelawnet

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9039859/Helmet-camera-catches-driver-threatening-to-kill-cyclist.html
Martin Porter was cycling from Berkshire to London in November 2010 when he was abused by Scott Lomas who tried to overtake him in his car.

Mr Porter captured the incident on his helmet camera and pressed charges against Mr Lomas.

In the footage, Mr Porter asks Mr Lomas whether he had threatened to kill him. "Yeah I did, yeah," Mr Lomas can be heard saying.

West London Magistrate's Court fined Mr Lomas £250 on January 18 for using threatening words or behaviour towards Mr Porter.


Fuller detail and video here:
http://road.cc/content/news/50682-persistence-pays-cycling-lawyer-motorist-who-threatened-kill-him-convicted

Another story here:

Motorist asks cyclist if he 'wants a fight', is prosecuted, fined £25 (!) + £105 costs and banned from driving for 2 weeks.
http://road.cc/content/news/51269-birmingham-motorist-pleads-guilty-following-road-rage-incident-caught-helmet

BBC News report here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af4n6wZCgs0

Another here,five points on his licence after throwing a bottle at a cyclist he pulled out in front of:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94vzorR8fFM&feature=player_embedded#!

I'd get one of these cameras, if only I had a helmet to put it on They run from about £15 for a cheap Chinese model to £200 for a top-of-the-range 'GoPro'. Battery life is the main problem, as little as half an hour on the cheapest, no more than 3 hours on the best.

Trebor16

If it was for the car then powering it shouldn't be an issue. Strider 590 has one in his car though all it shows with him is a driving style that is "alternative":D

rev_henry

That's good to hear. If motorists, no, not motorists, I'm a motorist as well and I can overtake cyclists properly. If people who can't drive start to get the message that cyclists have these cameras and they ARE being used as evidence in court they will think twice about performing stupid manoevres and being abusive.

I've seen cheap cameras with handle bar mounts as well as helmet and windscreen mounts...
Never been able to justify it myself as my cycle commute is only 2 miles. It would take too long to mess around with at each end.

Though you might all be interested to see this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uTEBQBerU4

Which I filmed when I happened to be on a bus.

ariba10

As much as I dislike French drivers when driving in France. They cannot be faulted in their attitude to cyclists.

I have cycled many miles over there and their attitude is totally different to drivers over here.

Strider590

rev_henry wrote: »

That's good to hear. If motorists, no, not motorists, I'm a motorist as well and I can overtake cyclists properly.

Followed a slow (35 in a 60) driver this morning, came across a cyclist, the car in front squeezes through between the cyclist and a bus, less than a few inches from the cyclist. I slow down, wait for the oncoming traffic to clear, then overtake the cyclist.... Less than 200 yrds down the road i've caught up with the slow driver again.

Not only was the numpty too incompetent to drive appropriately for the road conditions, but he/she was also too impatient to wait 5 seconds.

What goes through these peoples minds?

rev_henry

Strider590 wrote: »

Followed a slow (35 in a 60) driver this morning, came across a cyclist, the car in front squeezes through between the cyclist and a bus, less than a few inches from the cyclist. I slow down, wait for the oncoming traffic to clear, then overtake the cyclist.... Less than 200 yrds down the road i've caught up with the slow driver again.

Not only was the numpty too incompetent to drive appropriately for the road conditions, but he/she was also too impatient to wait 5 seconds.

What goes through these peoples minds?

I suspect very little, hence the behaviour.

vax2002

I wonder if car drivers should get them and report every cyclist that undertakes on the inside then complains when you are turning left ?

rev_henry

vax2002 wrote: »

I wonder if car drivers should get them and report every cyclist that undertakes on the inside then complains when you are turning left ?

Fine by me.

Norman_Castle

Any good review sites for the cheaper cameras, or do I just take my chances on ebay?

Cars with cameras?, fine by me as well. If all cars had them finding evidence would be easier.

wr1ght

gopros are awesome

ariba10

On the other side of the coin, as a car driver I have fitted one of these in my car.

http://www.roadhawk.co.uk/?gclid=CJPMp7yc8qwCFcsmtAodI1YhQA