Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do I need to report myself to the police?

123 replies

darkclouds232 · 14/03/2021 13:37

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.

OP posts:
Snally82 · 14/03/2021 16:29

A cyclist has reported me using head cam footage - I didn’t touch him, but was too close according to the distance rules. I received a very formal letter to which I had to respond and await case assessment, I was told it may go to court. It didn’t, eventually I got a call and a verbal warning.

Not at all saying this to scare you but so you know what will happen if the cyclist did have a helmet and took it further. It was uncomfortable but these things happen!

1forAll74 · 14/03/2021 16:30

No need to report yourself, it was just a little scary incident for you, and him, people will always shout out if they are annoyed, he probably went home, and had a moan about women drivers !!

saraclara · 14/03/2021 16:35

@NormanStangerson

I thought that society had moved on from asking about what the victim was wearing

👏🏻

I had to swerve at the last minute to avoid a runner, dressed in black from the top of his hoodie to his running tights and trainers, running in the road at night with his back to oncoming traffic (me).

I totally judged him for what he was wearing.

ItsMarch · 14/03/2021 16:37

My friend was knocked off her bike by a driver who didn’t stop. Police didn’t give a shit.
If you had ‘touched him’ as you put it, he would have been on the floor. He was shouting at you because you didn’t give way.

Relax OP. Nothing to report.

Thenose · 14/03/2021 16:49

Your anxiety is getting ahead of you; you don't have to report this.

However, you CAN call 101 if you want to. Contrary to some posters' advice, a call to clarify the laws and procedures relevant to the incident you describe would be considered a perfectly valid use of the service.

wishywashywoowoo70 · 14/03/2021 16:54

If you had hit him and he managed to get your ref it will be your insurance who you'll hear from I expect.

If you didn't hit him and didn't see him fall off then just forget it. He was shouting at you first not giving way that's all

FlyingBurrito · 14/03/2021 16:55

If there was such a thing as an angry cyclist shouted at me and carried on cycling department of the police I suspect they might be quite busy Smile

Clearly nothing happened, a car can't make contact with a cyclist without the cyclist showing at the least a serious noticable wobble

If it makes you feel better call 101 but maybe be prepared to be met with puzzlement.

Ijustknowitstimetogo · 14/03/2021 17:00

Yes OP discuss it with the police if it puts your mind at rest.

You’ve got anxiety and no amount of reassurance seeking here will help. You have to take control of this yourself.

RosieGuacamosie · 14/03/2021 17:11

@Ijustknowitstimetogo

Yes OP discuss it with the police if it puts your mind at rest.

You’ve got anxiety and no amount of reassurance seeking here will help. You have to take control of this yourself.

Um no. The police are a service to deal with crime, not provide counselling Confused
OneTC · 14/03/2021 17:14

but obviously I wasn't all there mentally to have not noticed him in the first place

That doesn't bother anyone who's doubting OPs concerns and telling her to just jump back in the saddle?

Most people feel anxious when they anticipate repercussions, there's really nothing remarkably OCD about that. Concern for the cyclist is never mentioned, just the fear of being recorded and reported.

Chimoia · 14/03/2021 17:19

It must have been a shock and it's understandable to think should I do something. However if you are going on and on thinking about it, these are obsessional thoughts and you will convince yourself you've done some harm. Move on.

MsTSwift · 14/03/2021 17:25

You would know if you hit him. A car drove into me recently on a mini roundabout I was on it and he just kept coming! Knocked my arm which was bruised and my bag went flying. He did pull over to be fair - he had no explanation- broad daylight 🙄🙄🙄. He was crying actually. Cyclist are so vulnerable.

Mumski45 · 14/03/2021 17:30

I don't think that you will have any repercussion from this. However as you have already admitted you were in the wrong and should have given way to the cyclist.

If you didn't see him then you need to have a think about why that was the case and what you should have done differently so that if this comes up again you can react differently.

Please don't worry about it as it's just a live and learn experience.

alicewasahorse · 14/03/2021 17:36

You can log it online if it makes you feel better. I hit a parked car a while ago and had no paper or pen to leave a note so I logged it online when I got home and an officer then called to take my details. In my situation I don't think the other car was damaged but I did feel an impact so thought better to be safe than sorry. Nothing ever came of it but I was glad I had reported it

DishingOutDone · 14/03/2021 17:40

I saw a cyclist clipped by someone in front of me, he went over and into a ditch so I went to the roundabout some 500 yards in front, swung back round and went to see if he was ok as no one else seemed bothered. He decided it may as well be my fault - luckily he was ok but he certainly didn't want to thank me for checking on him and I just thought oh sod you mate, at least he was ok.

No good deed goes unpunished as they say.

Maybe you didn't hit the cyclist or touch him or whatever, and he just felt he needed to point out your mistake? If he was on his bike and shouting then I'd say there is a reasonable chance he is unscathed.

Original poster
darkclouds232 · 14/03/2021 17:41

When I try online it asks if there was a collision, and if there were witnesses or if I have camera footage. I put no as I don't think there was. It then says:

'If there is no supporting evidence or independent witness to the incident, then we cannot take any action.
You do not need to contact us about this incident.

So I'm not sure how I can log it, just incase there was something I didn't notice? I can't say there was a collision unless I'm 100% sure there was a collision, can I? Confused

OP posts:
LostWill · 14/03/2021 17:52

So the online instructions are saying you don’t need to report it. That’s the end of it.
What are you actually going to report yourself for anyway? You didn’t have a collision or hit the cyclist. Honestly you need to relax about it now.

Original poster
darkclouds232 · 14/03/2021 17:55

@LostWill I suppose I'm worried I did in some way hurt the cyclist and I don't know it - and left the scene unintentionally. Or that he will report my careless driving regardless.

OP posts:
Justlovedogs · 14/03/2021 18:03

OP - kindly, if you had hit and hurt the cyclist, I doubt he would have been in any condition to carry on cycling and shout at you. You were more than likely a bit close to him and he got annoyed. The online reporting system is effectively telling you to forget it. Easier said than done, but follow this advice and deal with it IF (and a very big IF) anything else comes up. No point worrying over something you have not control over.

RedLlama · 14/03/2021 18:15

If I were you I’d seriously consider getting dash cams if you get so worried about things, that way you would know 100% if something had happened and if you needed to take any steps

sunflowersandbuttercups · 14/03/2021 18:16

[quote darkclouds232]@LostWill I suppose I'm worried I did in some way hurt the cyclist and I don't know it - and left the scene unintentionally. Or that he will report my careless driving regardless. [/quote]
If you'd hit him or hurt him, you'd have felt it.

Unless he has a bodycam, his report to the police would be pointless as he has zero evidence of any wrongdoings.

I've had my wing mirror smashed off in an accident before and the driver left the scene. I reported it to the police and they basically said "as you have no evidence, tough luck".

They really won't care about a near miss you had with a cyclist where nobody got injured.

MrsPernicious · 14/03/2021 18:20

[quote darkclouds232]@LostWill I suppose I'm worried I did in some way hurt the cyclist and I don't know it - and left the scene unintentionally. Or that he will report my careless driving regardless. [/quote]
FFS you got away with it this time try and work on making sure it doesn't happen again. Next time you drive carelessly you might not be so lucky.

See you GP

Get some advanced driving lessons.

cerseii · 14/03/2021 18:21

If you do want to report it, use the live chat facility rather than the online form

NearlyTheHolidays2 · 14/03/2021 19:21

If he does report a near miss with camera footage and the police follow it up you'll only get a £100 fine and three points on your licence. (Speaking as a cyclist who had a very scary near miss with a 4x4 in January - the policeman who viewed my video told me that I could have been seriously injured or killed, but also that the police were short staffed due to covid and may not take any action anyway.) It sounds as if you made a mistake but ultimately no harm came of it. Just be more careful in future.

Gwegowygwiggs · 14/03/2021 19:28

Is this thread a joke

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.