Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

WWYD - DH knocked off his bike in hit and run accident

38 replies

olympicsrock · 09/01/2015 09:29

DH got in from the pub last night at 1 am, having cycled 5 minutes home through quiet village streets. He is an experienced cyclist and he had bright front and rear lights. On the way home he was hit from behind by a car and went over the handle bars. Car did not stop and he didn't see the make or colour of the car as it came from behind and then he was on the floor.
DH doesn't want to report it as he does not think there are any cameras that would have caught the vehicle and he was over the alcohol limit to cycle home.
After giving him a big hug I have obviously said that he was an idiot to cycle so late over the limit. But.... I am livid that someone is getting away with a hit and run accident. Should I encourage him to phone the police. He has cuts and bruises only.

OP posts:

PacificDogwood · 09/01/2015 11:00

Of course he should report it.

I am glad he's ok - doubly lucky if he was over the limit stupid man

I was knocked off my bike by a car when I was 13, hit and run.
I was unconscious for 24 hrs, broke my nose, lost several teeth and hove ongoing facial scarring. Driver was never found.

PicaK · 09/01/2015 14:18

While you're reading him the riot act you could also insist he join CTC and gets their insurance. They were amazing when dh came off his bike riding through a pothole (that was in a road which didn't have procedures in place to check for defects). The solicitors were completely free.

chrome100 · 09/01/2015 15:31

I don't think it matters if he had had a drink.

A car hit him and drove of! That is unacceptable. Don't blame the victim.

AChickenCalledKorma · 09/01/2015 15:40

In answer to whether you can go over the handlebars if hit from behind - yes you can. My DH did just that when someone decided to floor it to get onto a roundabout, while DH was stationary on his bike, at the front of the queue.

On the other hand, DH has also been the victim of a hit and run. In his case, it was a deliberate attempt to drive him off the road, he got the vehicle's registration number and two witnesses corroborated his story. The Police did nothing meaningful and reporting it was a frustrating waste of time and effort.

So, given that your DH thinks he may open a can of worms, re drink driving levels, I'm inclined to say leave well alone. Sadly.

Nicknacky · 09/01/2015 15:45

There is no drink driving limits for cyclists and in a circumstance like this, there is nothing to suggest that the op's husband was committing any offence in terms of being unfit. That's shouldn't put him off reporting it if he wants.

tobysmum77 · 09/01/2015 16:04

I'd be furious with dh for this. Cycling round pitch black lanes is dangerous at the best of times let alone when half cut. Tbf I wouldn't bother reporting it, there is the 'drunk in charge of a bicycle' offence, but I think you would have to be caught weaving across the road to be done for that. Without the reg number or anything else the police dont have anything to go on and are likely to be about him cycling round at that time (as he clearly was doing so because he was intending to have a few drinks)

Bloody awful though, how could you just drive off?

PacificDogwood · 09/01/2015 16:07

It IS an offence to cycle while 'unfit' including due to alcohol, but it cannot get you any points on your driving licence (a fine up to £2000 is possible).

I would report it - not because I'd expect anybody to be caught, but I'd want in on record.

mathanxiety · 09/01/2015 17:26

Reporting isn't going to make any difference unless your DH has a good description of the car. Maybe report just to have it on record, and to claim bike repair or replacement on your insurance (if the bike is insured) it is possible that he will need a police report of how it was damaged? But all in all, I would just chalk it up to experience and avoid similar situations in future. Riding a bike while over the limit is very hazardous. You could hit a pedestrian, weave into the path of another vehicle, or suffer a fall.

DD3 was knocked off her bike in broad daylight last summer by a motorist who was exiting a carpark. No high speeds involved but still it was careless driving. She gave DD3 her name and phone number and then drove off. The name and number turned out to be legit, but she should have phoned the police as it was an accident involving a moving vehicle and that is the law in my neck of the woods.

LilyTheSavage · 09/01/2015 17:32

Nothing useful to add OP except to say that I'm so glad your DH is ok. What a terrible shock for you both.

RedButtonhole · 09/01/2015 17:39

Glad your DH is ok, obviously irresponsible of your DH to cycle home when over the limit but you both realise that.

The fact is someone hit your DH with their car and fucked off not even knowing whether he was injured- or worse.

The fact that your DH had been drinking is irrelevant to the behaviour of the driver and your DH should report it, even if the driver is unlikely to be caught.

Wombat22 · 09/01/2015 17:50

I think your DH should report it. Who's to say the driver didn't report it themselves? The driver may have been too afraid to stop at the time (no excuse) or got home and their conscience got the better of them. At least it's recorded. He can say that he'd had a drink, it's of no relevance now as he can't now be assessed for his fitness to ride the bike. Glad he's ok.

Roomba · 09/01/2015 18:48

Do they same alcohol limits apply to cyclists as to drivers?

Yes! My friend at uni was arrested, kept in overnight and charged with being drunk in charge of a pedal cycle under the 18something Act. He was rather pissed off about it as he'd been pushing the bike home when he came across two policeman who (to him anyway) appeared to be hassling an elderly homeless man. He stopped, asked if all was okay, and was told by the police to 'get on your bike and piss off'. Which he did, and was then arrested about 200m down the road...

Nicknacky · 09/01/2015 20:15

roomba There is no alcohol limit for cyclists. As you rightly say, you can be guilty of an offence of an offence like your friend was however there is no prescribed limit as there is with motor vehicles.

Flip

1 2