Dramatic footage shows Tesco delivery driver knocking cyclist offbike on London cycleway

QUOTE:
A man has been fined after a cyclist riding on a busy cycleway in London was knocked off his bike by a Tesco delivery driver who turned left across his path but later denied he had been driving the vehicle.

The dramatic incident was filmed in May and has now been uploaded to YouTube by road.cc reader Chris.

It happened on Cycleway 8 – one of the original ‘lick of blue paint’ Cycle Superhighways that afford nothing in the way of physical protection – on Millbank, just after the junction with Vauxhall Bridge Road.

The driver could not have been unaware that there were cyclists to his left, with the start of the video showing around a dozen of them positioned in the advanced stop line area ahead of him as they waited for the traffic lights to change to cross Vauxhall Bridge Road.

Nevertheless, after the lights change, the driver passed Chris then turned left into a small cul-de-sac, knocking the front rider from his bike and, as this still image shows, the cyclist was very close to having his leg crushed by the vehicle’s nearside front wheel.

WRIGGLE ALERT - SM Chris told us that the cyclist was able to ride away from the scene, and that the case has only just gone to court – although incredibly, the driver refused to admit that he was driving the vehicle at the time.

“This meant the police could not charge him for driving-related charges as he could not officially be identified - despite the video evidence,� Chris said.

“Instead he was prosecuted for ‘failing to nominate driver. He was given a £300 fine, plus £332 in costs and six points.

“Despite the employee refusing to take responsibility for the crash, Tesco admitted liability in the insurance claim.

https://road.cc/content/news/271023-...st-bike-london

On 10/02/2020 14:14, Simon Mason wrote:

WRIGGLE ALERT - SM Chris told us that the cyclist was able to ride
away from the scene, and that the case has only just gone to court –
although incredibly, the driver refused to admit that he was driving
the vehicle at the time.

“This meant the police could not charge him for driving-related
charges as he could not officially be identified - despite the video
evidence,� Chris said.

I don't get how he could go into court and refuse to admit being the
driver. Tesco would keep logs and, if a proper system, would require
drivers to sign for the keys. The clip showed the driver's face.

At no time was the cyclist in a blindspot. Pure failure of concentration.

Hopefully he's lost his job.

On Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 9:45:20 AM UTC, TMS320 wrote:
On 10/02/2020 14:14, Simon Mason wrote:

WRIGGLE ALERT - SM Chris told us that the cyclist was able to ride
away from the scene, and that the case has only just gone to court –
although incredibly, the driver refused to admit that he was driving
the vehicle at the time.

“This meant the police could not charge him for driving-related
charges as he could not officially be identified - despite the video
evidence,� Chris said.

I don't get how he could go into court and refuse to admit being the
driver. Tesco would keep logs and, if a proper system, would require
drivers to sign for the keys. The clip showed the driver's face.

At no time was the cyclist in a blindspot. Pure failure of concentration.

Hopefully he's lost his job.

At least Tesco has fronted up for the compo.

On Tue, 11 Feb 2020 09:45:17 +0000, TMS320 wrote:

I don't get how he could go into court and refuse to admit being
the driver. Tesco would keep logs and, if a proper system, would
require drivers to sign for the keys. The clip showed the driver's
face.

I've emailed Tesco to ask them exactly that - even without the video
of the staff member they should know who was driving their van at the
time - the number plate is visible, their code number is visible and
they know when it was going into what street. It's just not credible
that they don't know who the driver was.

If I get an answer, I'll let you know.

regards, Ian SMith
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On Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 5:04:59 PM UTC, Ian Smith wrote:
On Tue, 11 Feb 2020 09:45:17 +0000, TMS320 wrote:

I don't get how he could go into court and refuse to admit being
the driver. Tesco would keep logs and, if a proper system, would
require drivers to sign for the keys. The clip showed the driver's
face.

I've emailed Tesco to ask them exactly that - even without the video
of the staff member they should know who was driving their van at the
time - the number plate is visible, their code number is visible and
they know when it was going into what street. It's just not credible
that they don't know who the driver was.

If I get an answer, I'll let you know.

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

Cheers.

On 11/02/2020 17:04, Ian Smith wrote:
On Tue, 11 Feb 2020 09:45:17 +0000, TMS320 wrote:

I don't get how he could go into court and refuse to admit being
the driver. Tesco would keep logs and, if a proper system, would
require drivers to sign for the keys. The clip showed the driver's
face.

I've emailed Tesco to ask them exactly that - even without the video
of the staff member they should know who was driving their van at the
time - the number plate is visible, their code number is visible and
they know when it was going into what street. It's just not credible
that they don't know who the driver was.

If I get an answer, I'll let you know.

That will be interesting.