Do I need to report myself to the police?

[darkclouds232]

Please help as I am going crazy.

I had a driving incident which was totally my fault - there was a railway bridge, so I had to go through a narrow tunnel which was 'give way' to traffic on the other side. I had my sunglasses on as there was intermittent sunshine, and as I was going through I then saw there was a cyclist in the other direction. He went past me and shouted something. I was shocked because I hadn't seen him and obviously I was in the wrong as he had priority and i shouldn't have been under bridge at same time as him.

I didn't notice anything at time but now I'm wondering if I somehow touched him or something? I didn't hear anything but obviously I wasn't all there mentally to have not noticed him in the first place. I feel awful and a total danger and I won't be driving again for a while.

Do I need to report to the police in case this was an incident and I didn't stop? Should I have stopped? I don't know if he had a camera and May report my driving, but I'm more worried in case there was a chance I touched him and I didn't notice.

I think you’re fine, no one was hurt! Maybe you just got too close by accident

No you don't have to report this. He was probably shouting because you got too close.

I think you would have felt and heard an impact if you'd touched him. He got a scare I'm sure, though.

Chalk it up to experience, make sure you're alert to all vehicles at a junction in future, and let it go.

Thing is I shouldn't have even been there in the first place as the traffic in his direction had priority... so I feel so awful about it. And worried I touched him and don't know it? Should I report to the police just incase something is reported?

No, unless you’re missing something out such as feeling the car hit something or seeing the cyclist fall off, then no you shouldn’t waste the polices time by reporting.

Did he have any lights on while cycling through the tunnel?
Was he wearing any high vis gear?
I doubt you touched him - he'd have fallen off surely?
I'd say no reporting required OP.

Honestly it would be a complete waste of police time.

You would have known if you'd touched him, it would have made a noise no matter how light. He was probably shouting because you shouldn't have been there.

It sounds like you are over reacting to what was a very minor incident. There is no need to avoid driving, or report it to the police. Are you very anxious generally?

The police won't be remotely interested, honestly.

He was shouting as you drove through when you shouldn't have done - you'd know if you'd hit him or done any damage so just try and forget about it.

I didn't notice any lights and he was in dark clothing. I'm just worried I'm going to be in trouble because it could easily have been a head on collision and it was my fault for not seeing him.

Yes I suffer from anxiety.

I’m sure it was terrifying for him, and you were completely in the wrong - but he would have fallen off if you’d him. So presumably he was reacting to your error rather than pointing out a collision.

If there was any doubt though, yes you should have stopped, at least to check (and hopefully you would have seen that he had carried on cycling away)

You’ll know what to do next time at that sort of set-up, at least

You're massively overthinking this OP. Sit down and breathe. We all make mistakes from time to time.

No, you don't need to do anything.

If you'd made contact, you'd have heard/felt something. The most likely situation is that the cyclist was pissed off that you came through when it wasn't your turn. Or possibly were a bit too close to them. Might be worth just popping out to see if there's any scratches or dings on your car that are new. But honestly, you'd have felt it if you made contact.

No one was hurt, no damage caused. People make mistakes when driving all the time. You got away with it this time, and it was just a genuine mistake. And you'll be more careful at that bridge next time.

Please just forget about it. You made a mistake, but no one was hurt.

Thanks all for comments. I suppose I'm worried I didn't notice something or that I should have stopped, also feeling very bad and folkish because I didn't see him and went under bridge at the same time as he did... I'm just an idiot

I think your overthinking it and not driving for a while is the worst thing you can do .
The thing is cyclists don’t always realise that they are in your blind spot , I’ve had the odd cyclists shout at me .
Obviously be careful and if you were in the wrong then fine learn from that but I’m sure everything was fine.
Just tell yourself you are a good driver it was a mistake and get back out driving .

Did he have any lights on while cycling through the tunnel?
Was he wearing any high vis gear?

God, yeah, because it has to be the cyclist's fault doesn't it?

Let me tell you - no amount of hi-vis will help you if a car driver is not fucking looking

No, you don't need to report it. Nothing actually happened and nobody was hurt. We've all done silly things on the road but you've got to live and learn. Best thing you can do is to get back in your car and carry on driving. The longer you put it off, the worse it'll be.

No need to report it -you'd know if you had hit him.

While you were at fault for going through the tunnel when he was there and had priority, it was a mistake and no one was harmed.

I would also say that although you were at fault, he has a responsibility to make himself visible- dark clothing and no lights in a tunnel is not a good idea!

@Woebegonad I don't think the other poster was saying the cyclist was at fault -he absolutely had right of way. However, it was a tunnel -probably poorly lit so if he had no lights/high vis, it would have been hard to spot him even if the driver was looking.

You are overreacting - take a breath.

Everyone makes a mistake driving from time to time - he shouted at you because he had priority. End of.

I wouldn’t dodge driving - you sound a little anxious and this could make it worse. If anxiety is a general issue for you (as it is for many right now) worth taking to your GP.

Erm, OP went under a railway bridge and made admitted they made a mistake. Shifting any of the blame to the cyclist is a massive distraction. Like we all put our lights on and change the colour of our cars to drive under a bridge?

You're not going 'touch' a cyclist - you 'hit' one. And if you did you should have stopped. Otherwise its a 'hit and run' and you must report yourself.

I had a similar experience a few years ago pulling out from a junction, the cyclist on the other side of the road was invisible in the shadow of trees on a very bright sunny day. It gave us both a shock but no one was hurt. It's worried you so much you will be unlikely to make the same mistake again.

I bought myself hi vis for walking and cycling after that incident.

You would have known if you had hit him. You haven't. This is purely anxiety talking. Do not give it your time, the more time you give these anxious thoughts the more they will take from you.