Minor RTC on lane merging to left

bod1467

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/51%C2%B026'40.7%22N+3%C2%B011'56.0%22W/@51.4442646,-3.1990006,180m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0

Are the traffic lights just before the junction? And you were in the middle of the 3 lanes on Cardiff Road? (Left lane turns left into Redlands Road).

Edit: Your subsequent image confirms my thoughts.

Tok3d

bod1467 wrote: »

Are the traffic lights just before the junction? And you were in the middle of the 3 lanes on Cardiff Road? (Left lane turns left into Redlands Road).

Yeah the lights are before the junction. I was in the middle lane.

fivetide wrote: »

He was swift off the mark if he was stationary and you passed him at 30 mph and he managed to get next to you to hit you.


Any CCTV given there are plenty of lights etc? It would have to show him seriously breaking the speed limit just to get level with you.

He has a 2litre petrol I believe, I have a 1.4 diesel. I am not in any position to be racing anybody. There is a bus lane camera there, would that of caught it?

bod1467

If he was stationary at the lights and you were doing 10-15 mph as they change to Red/Amber then he can't NOT have seen you (unless he had tunnel vision).

Bottom line though - this'll go down as 50:50; you BOTH could have taken action to avoid the incident.

notanewuser

Had a feeling you were local to me, somehow..........

AdrianC

bod1467 wrote: »

Bottom line though - this'll go down as 50:50; you BOTH could have taken action to avoid the incident.

This, with bells on. No matter how much the OP tries to dress it as "But I was just doing the speed limit, driving normally, slow car, etc etc" - he saw the other guy trying to pushy-shovery, thought "No, you don't", and shut the door on him. It takes two to tangle.

If the OP had just eased off and let the other bloke be a prat in peace, there would have been no impact.

fivetide

Tok3d wrote: »

Yeah the lights are before the junction. I was in the middle lane.

He has a 2litre petrol I believe, I have a 1.4 diesel. I am not in any position to be racing anybody. There is a bus lane camera there, would that of caught it?

It might have but doubtful.


Even in a 2.0 though he's got to have gone from 0-60 in an F1 car speed given he has hit you before the merge. It really isn't a lot of road to get up next to you from a standing start.


He has to have been rolling already or making a move for me. Especially if you ended up next to him/stayed next to him.


That or you crossed the line much slower than 30mph and while you were trying to judge the lights and get a jump on him, misjudged it. 50/50 for me I'm afraid.

Tok3d

bod1467 wrote: »

If he was stationary at the lights and you were doing 10-15 mph as they change to Red/Amber then he can't NOT have seen you (unless he had tunnel vision).

Bottom line though - this'll go down as 50:50; you BOTH could have taken action to avoid the incident.

I would believe that if I hadn't already passed him. I was a good 1-2 car lengths ahead of him before he even moved.

bod1467

Undoubtedly he saw you pass him (on his left) and the red mist came down. But that still doesn't change it to fully his fault though.

Tok3d

bod1467 wrote: »

Undoubtedly he saw you pass him (on his left) and the red mist came down. But that still doesn't change it to fully his fault though.

Even though he has a responsibility to make sure the lane is clear if he is merging? I put it down to that anyway as I don't believe he didn't see me, and then changing his story last night to he had right of way.

We discussed insurance last night and he said he would prefer to handle it outside of insurance claims as that could be costly. I have thought about just biting the bullet and paying for the repair myself, only a dent and some scratches. There's no honour in insurance so obviously they would go for the best cost effective option I assume and would more than likely settle for 50/50, which I don't accept as I believe I was driving legally.

If I did pay for my own repair and he pays for his own, would it be best to get some sort of agreement down on paper to avoid any future problems?

fivetide

Tok3d wrote: »

I would believe that if I hadn't already passed him. I was a good 1-2 car lengths ahead of him before he even moved.

Just not possible though.


Looking at the image bod posted that would put you were the read car is in the streetview and almost across the junction.


The merge arrow is clearly on the road already and you said it happened before the merge bit.


Either:


1. He was already moving and you tried to pass him on the inside


2. You crawled over the line as he set off


3. He's driving Hamilton's Merc


Remember, if you were doing 30mph and he was several car lengths behind you, you had a fair head start.


30mph is 44ft per second. He's got to do much more than that to catch you back up, unless 2 is true and you were actually going a lot slower than you think you were.


Mathematically, I can't make this work I'm afraid.


I have no doubt he took exception to you going past him but it literally doesn't seem to add up right. Sorry.