cycle/car accident

twhitehousescat

ok , before we start this is a vintage moped , not a cycle , the moped is 1967 , is pedal assisted and has no brake light indicators fitted , max top speed about 28mph , no speedo fitted


now when I was a lad we were tough hand signals, indicating left , indicating right , and slowing down

quote:

Essentially there are three signals for cyclists:

Left arm out - "I intend to move in to the left or turn left"
Right arm out - "I intend to move out to the right or turn right"
(Right) arm up and down - "I intend to slow down or stop"


so this morning I come to a crossroads with lights , 3 rd in queue wait my turn and set off , quite busy single lane at opposite tide of lights , but 2 lanes on opposite side of road

I need to stop to go into post office (no yellow lines) , basically stop , then push moped up kerb to park on post office forecourt , I am practically riding in the gutter at this point

so I give the proverbial "(Right) arm up and down - "I intend to slow down or stop"
and Mr smart alec tries to overtake almost taking my right pedal/leg off , but more funnily is I completely remove his left door mirror with my (armored bike) glove


so he pulls up and starts getting gobby , saying I have to pay for mirror


I refer him back to his highway code and the fact that he did not leave sufficient space whilst trying to overtake


so whos in the right whos in the wrong ?

Ps I do own a car , and after almost 50 yrs of driving have never yet knocked a cyclist off

Jackmydad

I don't quite get where the crossroads comes in, but if you'd signalled you were slowing down, I'd say he was in the wrong.
Whatever the case he was far too close!

But it sounds like when I was driving my old Fergie tractor on the road.
Bright daylight, hand signalled to turn right and looked behind and positioned myself in the road.
Idiot who had been following for about 50 yards overtook me.
Luckily I was looking around.

Al1x

Seems obvious to me, he hit you whilst overtaking you so its not your fault his mirror got knocked off.

twhitehousescat

us this an insurance situation , he is claiming "I" smashed his mirror with my hand , it a police job , and that he did not touch or come to close to me ,

Aylesbury_Duck

Based on your description, his fault entirely. If he was close enough when overtaking that you could reach his mirror, he didn't leave enough room to overtake you.

spadoosh

Im guessing hes arguing you hit out at him rather than indicating anything?

Aylesbury_Duck

twhitehousescat wrote: »

us this an insurance situation , he is claiming "I" smashed his mirror with my hand , it a police job , and that he did not touch or come to close to me ,

Let him report it. If he has evidence you wilfully damaged his car, he has a case. Without it he has nothing.

AdrianC

twhitehousescat wrote: »

ok , before we start this is a vintage moped , not a cycle , the moped is 1967 , is pedal assisted and has no brake light indicators fitted , max top speed about 28mph , no speedo fitted

So, legally, a motorcycle...

(Go on, what is it? Anything interesting?)

now when I was a lad we were tough hand signals, indicating left , indicating right , and slowing down

These...?
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/signals-to-other-road-users#armsignals

I am practically riding in the gutter at this point

Never a great plan.

so I give the proverbial "(Right) arm up and down - "I intend to slow down or stop" and Mr smart alec tries to overtake almost taking my right pedal/leg off

Yes, there's a lot of idiots about.

but more funnily is I completely remove his left door mirror with my (armored bike) glove

Criminal damage...

I refer him back to his highway code

Did you mention rule 147 in your referral...?
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/general-rules-techniques-and-advice-for-all-drivers-and-riders-103-to-158#rule147

Highway_Code wrote:

Rule 147
Be considerate. Be careful of and considerate towards all types of road users, especially those requiring extra care (see Rule 204).
...
* try to be understanding if other road users cause problems; they may be inexperienced or not know the area well.
* be patient; remember that anyone can make a mistake.
* do not allow yourself to become agitated or involved if someone is behaving badly on the road. This will only make the situation worse. Pull over, calm down and, when you feel relaxed, continue your journey.

so whos in the right whos in the wrong ?

Both in the wrong.

twhitehousescat

AdrianC wrote: »

So, legally, a motorcycle...

(Go on, what is it? Anything interesting?)

.

yes a motor assisted cycle

twhitehousescat

AdrianC wrote: »

So, legally, a motorcycle...

(Go on, what is it? Anything interesting?)

These...?
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/signals-to-other-road-users#armsignals

correct

NBLondon

Well - the standard answer is "50/50 unless you have a dashcam"

But it does sound like he was overtaking too close and failed to recognise the signal. The latter being not a big surprise as it will have been read once in the Highway Code as a learner and then promptly forgotten. Many years ago the indicators packed up in my Mk 1 Astra and for the time it took for me to be able to get it looked at - I wound the window down and used an arm. Confused a lot of drivers. Anybody remember what it means when you hold your hand up at shoulder level - palm forward?

Meanwhile - you could always invite him to report it and then answer the door to the police with your arm in a sling