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How to alert driver of presence?

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  • 27-06-2018 9:08am
    #1
    comanche_cor
    Registered Users Posts: 238 ✭✭


    So yesterday on my commute home I had a driver veer into a dedicated cycle lane (solid white line) as I was on their inside. I tapped the rear panel of their car gently with my knuckles as I slowed down and they moved back out of the lane.

    As I passed I got a beep of the horn and when stopped at the traffic lights we were approaching the driver got out of the car to confront me and ask me "what the hell I was doing" and to tell me that "there better on be any scratches on his car"

    Seems like my actions lit this driver up like a roman candle! https://b-static.net/vbulletin/images/smilies/eek.png

    So when I got home I started to thing about this a bit more. Although my actions kept me safe (and prevented the driver from having a bigger scrape and a large insurance claim) perhaps I could have handled the situation better. I don't think my actions did me any favours apart from creating another pissed off driver.

    So how could I have handled this situation better, just slammed on the brakes and done nothing? How do others alter drivers of their presence!?

    (btw when out of the car the driver had the phone in their hand - so I think we all know what was going on, unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to point that out)


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    #2
    Macy0161
    Registered Users Posts: 9,288 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    tbh, that's why I got cameras* for the bike. I haven't reported anyone yet, but in my head, if I have an incident like that I'll now be thinking I'll report the untc, or even youtube shame, rather than get involved on the road. I don't think it does much good as red mist is up for everyone, including those in the wrong.

    *only seem to have incidents when I go out without them now!


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    #3
    rob w
    Registered Users Posts: 1,111 ✭✭✭rob w


    I usually let a good roar out to alert them of my presence! Works well these days with peoples windows open!!


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    #4
    joe40
    Registered Users Posts: 3,811 ✭✭✭joe40


    I know it is a typo in your thread title, but how to "alter the driver" works as well


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    #5
    comanche_cor
    Registered Users Posts: 238 ✭✭comanche_cor


    joe40 wrote: »
    I know it is a typo in your thread title, but how to "alter the driver" works as well

    lol, perhaps that was freudian!


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    #6
    whiskeyman
    Registered Users Posts: 12,564 ✭✭✭✭whiskeyman


    rob w wrote: »
    I usually let a good roar out to alert them of my presence! Works well these days with peoples windows open!!

    This is probably the best idea.
    Hitting someones car, no matter how lightly, is never a good idea.

    If a car encroaches into your lane when driving, a blast of the horn is the usual method of warning.
    Perhaps bikes need louder bells?


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    #7
    Fian
    Registered Users Posts: 2,187 ✭✭✭Fian


    http://www.airzound.co.uk/

    Mine is currently on a shelf becaue the handlebar fitting it clamps into broke, but it does this job perfectly. Just be wary of frightening pedestrians if you sound it.


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    #8
    Alanstrainor
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 23,157 Mod ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    One of these:

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hornit-dB140-V2-Worlds-Loudest/dp/B006TDEV20/ref=sr_1_2?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1530088682&sr=1-2&keywords=hornit

    I was skeptical at first, but it works a charm. Even well insulated cars can hear it. And that's a good price actually.

    I bought mine as every other bell I had ever had broke. And I tried this as an alternative. The first one I had failed in about 4 weeks due to poor solder joints. Their support promptly sent me a new one which has worked for 6 motnhs or more now.


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    #9
    JazzyJ
    Registered Users Posts: 683 ✭✭✭JazzyJ


    Fian wrote: »
    http://www.airzound.co.uk/

    Mine is currently on a shelf becaue the handlebar fitting it clamps into broke, but it does this job perfectly. Just be wary of frightening pedestrians if you sound it.
    Alanstrainor wrote: »
    One of these:

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hornit-dB140-V2-Worlds-Loudest/dp/B006TDEV20/ref=sr_1_2?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1530088682&sr=1-2&keywords=hornit

    I was skeptical at first, but it works a charm. Even well insulated cars can hear it. And that's a good price actually.

    I bought mine as every other bell I had ever had broke. And I tried this as an alternative. The first one I had failed in about 4 weeks due to poor solder joints. Their support promptly sent me a new one which has worked for 6 motnhs or more now.

    Unfortunately, they're illegal!


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    #10
    Alanstrainor
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 23,157 Mod ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    JazzyJ wrote: »
    Unfortunately, they're illegal!

    I'll take my chances.


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    #11
    JazzyJ
    Registered Users Posts: 683 ✭✭✭JazzyJ


    Alanstrainor wrote: »
    I'll take my chances.

    Well it is a choice between safety and a 0% chance of being pulled up on it :pac: :D


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    #12
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,477 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    whiskeyman wrote: »
    Hitting someones car, no matter how lightly, is never a good idea.
    i have on (rare) occasion, thumped a car. the sort of situation where etiquette no longer applies and self-preservation kicks in.


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    #13
    07Lapierre
    Registered Users Posts: 8,219 ✭✭✭07Lapierre


    comanche_cor wrote: »
    So yesterday on my commute home I had a driver veer into a dedicated cycle lane (solid white line) as I was on their inside. I tapped the rear panel of their car gently with my knuckles as I slowed down and they moved back out of the lane.

    As I passed I got a beep of the horn and when stopped at the traffic lights we were approaching the driver got out of the car to confront me and ask me "what the hell I was doing" and to tell me that "there better on be any scratches on his car"

    What was your answer to the driver?


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    #14
    seamus
    Registered Users Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    comanche_cor wrote: »
    So how could I have handled this situation better, just slammed on the brakes and done nothing? How do others alter drivers of their presence!?
    Let out a roar, then give the universal, "WTF are you at, you fncking clown" hand gesture, before a very obvious and condescending head shake, like you're a parent disappointed by their errant child.

    The kind of tosser who'd go on the offensive after pulling across you, is never going to listen to reason. So there's no point in being reasonable. Put your own safety first, forget about trying to change the behaviour of others.


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    #15
    tomasrojo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,744 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo


    If they're drifting into your lane, you can either slow down and see what they do (which I generally favour), ring a bell (should you have one), or let out some variety of vocal noise, enough to be heard, but not so loud as to sound aggressive.

    If it's an emergency, shout loudly and brake hard. If you're trapped beside them and they're pulling in on top of you, shout, hit the car, do whatever it takes to wake the dozy fool up. But, really, touching cars in any way is a last resort for me, as I've had drivers get homicidally angry twice.


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    #16
    ted1
    Registered Users Posts: 23,299 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    JazzyJ wrote: »
    Fian wrote: »
    http://www.airzound.co.uk/

    Mine is currently on a shelf becaue the handlebar fitting it clamps into broke, but it does this job perfectly. Just be wary of frightening pedestrians if you sound it.
    Alanstrainor wrote: »
    One of these:

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hornit-dB140-V2-Worlds-Loudest/dp/B006TDEV20/ref=sr_1_2?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1530088682&sr=1-2&keywords=hornit

    I was skeptical at first, but it works a charm. Even well insulated cars can hear it. And that's a good price actually.

    I bought mine as every other bell I had ever had broke. And I tried this as an alternative. The first one I had failed in about 4 weeks due to poor solder joints. Their support promptly sent me a new one which has worked for 6 motnhs or more now.

    Unfortunately, they're illegal!
    Under what SI? Sounds odd , same as a car horn


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    #17
    ted1
    Registered Users Posts: 23,299 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    magicbastarder wrote: »
    whiskeyman wrote: »
    Hitting someones car, no matter how lightly, is never a good idea.
    i have on (rare) occasion, thumped a car. the sort of situation where etiquette no longer applies and self-preservation kicks in.
    I’ve toe bogged a door while cycling in a bike lane on the N11. That’s how close they got.


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    #18
    cython
    Registered Users Posts: 4,758 ✭✭✭cython


    ted1 wrote: »
    Under what SI? Sounds odd , same as a car horn
    See below
    http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1963/si/190/made/en/print wrote:
    93. (1) Every pedal cycle (other than a cycle constructed or adapted for use as a racing cycle) while used in a public place shall be fitted with an audible warning device consisting of a bell capable of being heard at a reasonable distance, and no other type of audible warning instrument shall be fitted to a pedal cycle while used in a public place.


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    #19
    comanche_cor
    Registered Users Posts: 238 ✭✭comanche_cor


    07Lapierre wrote: »
    What was your answer to the driver?

    I pointed out that they were squeezing me to the curb. I asked them would they have done the same thing if it was a car on the inside and not a bicycle.

    I believe that they were unaware that there was in fact a cycle lane there.

    TBH I didn't actually want to engage. All I wanted to do was get home relax enjoy a beer and BBQ :)


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    #20
    average_runner
    Registered Users Posts: 12,845 ✭✭✭✭average_runner


    comanche_cor wrote: »
    So yesterday on my commute home I had a driver veer into a dedicated cycle lane (solid white line) as I was on their inside. I tapped the rear panel of their car gently with my knuckles as I slowed down and they moved back out of the lane.

    As I passed I got a beep of the horn and when stopped at the traffic lights we were approaching the driver got out of the car to confront me and ask me "what the hell I was doing" and to tell me that "there better on be any scratches on his car"

    Seems like my actions lit this driver up like a roman candle! https://b-static.net/vbulletin/images/smilies/eek.png

    So when I got home I started to thing about this a bit more. Although my actions kept me safe (and prevented the driver from having a bigger scrape and a large insurance claim) perhaps I could have handled the situation better. I don't think my actions did me any favours apart from creating another pissed off driver.

    So how could I have handled this situation better, just slammed on the brakes and done nothing? How do others alter drivers of their presence!?

    (btw when out of the car the driver had the phone in their hand - so I think we all know what was going on, unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to point that out)



    I think you handled the situation ok, if I was the driver I would of just put my hand up as a sorry.

    It really pisses me off when people behave rudely when they know they are in the wrong, it tells you alot about that person.


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    #21
    Greybottle
    Registered Users Posts: 969 ✭✭✭Greybottle


    Fian wrote: »
    http://www.airzound.co.uk/

    Mine is currently on a shelf becaue the handlebar fitting it clamps into broke, but it does this job perfectly. Just be wary of frightening pedestrians if you sound it.
    Alanstrainor wrote: »
    One of these:

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hornit-dB140-V2-Worlds-Loudest/dp/B006TDEV20/ref=sr_1_2?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1530088682&sr=1-2&keywords=hornit

    I was skeptical at first, but it works a charm. Even well insulated cars can hear it. And that's a good price actually.

    I bought mine as every other bell I had ever had broke. And I tried this as an alternative. The first one I had failed in about 4 weeks due to poor solder joints. Their support promptly sent me a new one which has worked for 6 motnhs or more now.

    Anybody who uses this is at the level of a holigan or thug IMO. I'm saying this as a committed cyclist.

    120db and up can cause injury, 130db+ causes damage.

    Why the utter fcuk some cyclists seem to believe they are above the law and use these things I don't know. Using those things causes animosity in a wider circle of people, be it road users, pedestrians or residents of an area and just enforces the "Cyclists are tossers" mentality that a lot of us are trying to combat.

    Car horns are limited to 110db in the EU, though some older models are at 115db. Try to respect the rules of the road instead of going out antagonising people.

    OP: Correct procedure is to try to avoid the accident, so hitting the brakes is a first step, even though you are in the right.
    Second step would be to tap on their window and ask them to take more care. I admit this is difficult when the adrenaline is up, but it's the only correct procedure (and I've been guilty of not adhering to it myself on more than one occasion).


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    #22
    AndrewJRenko
    Registered Users Posts: 28,459 ✭✭✭✭AndrewJRenko


    If they are close enough for you to tap their car, they are way too close.


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    #23
    Tenzor07
    Registered Users Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Tenzor07


    Amazing how Invisible someone on a bicycle can be to a driver, even in the best of Hi-Vis, yet everyone on a bicycle who may proceed past a red light is visible to every single motorist out there!! :eek:


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    #24
    Weepsie
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,891 Mod ✭✭✭✭Weepsie


    If a car is close enough for me to touch when being overtaken (except in slow moving traffic/urban traffic) then any driver who takes exception to it can rightly f off.

    I slapped a taxi which was within inches of me some years ago. The other lane was empty. They stopped dead up ahead to try and intimidate me, all while they had a passenger in the back. Wasn't sorry I did it, was only sorry that they were so bloody dangerous


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    #25
    Alanstrainor
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 23,157 Mod ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    Greybottle wrote: »
    Anybody who uses this is at the level of a holigan or thug IMO. I'm saying this as a committed cyclist.

    120db and up can cause injury, 130db+ causes damage.

    Why the utter fcuk some cyclists seem to believe they are above the law and use these things I don't know. Using those things causes animosity in a wider circle of people, be it road users, pedestrians or residents of an area and just enforces the "Cyclists are tossers" mentality that a lot of us are trying to combat.

    Car horns are limited to 110db in the EU, though some older models are at 115db. Try to respect the rules of the road instead of going out antagonising people.

    OP: Correct procedure is to try to avoid the accident, so hitting the brakes is a first step, even though you are in the right.
    Second step would be to tap on their window and ask them to take more care. I admit this is difficult when the adrenaline is up, but it's the only correct procedure (and I've been guilty of not adhering to it myself on more than one occasion).

    I am not trying to take some sort of holier than thou approach to cycling. It is a response to a very real danger I've faced in many thousands of km cycling in Dublin, both urban and otherwise. It's a horn, it alerts to my presence when activated, and it works well. It won't harm anyone. It is loud to alert people in cars who otherwise won't hear a bell or a shout.


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    #26
    07Lapierre
    Registered Users Posts: 8,219 ✭✭✭07Lapierre


    comanche_cor wrote: »
    I pointed out that they were squeezing me to the curb. I asked them would they have done the same thing if it was a car on the inside and not a bicycle.

    I believe that they were unaware that there was in fact a cycle lane there.

    TBH I didn't actually want to engage. All I wanted to do was get home relax enjoy a beer and BBQ :)

    Just as well you thumped the side of their car so!

    I had a similar experience a few years ago. when the driver asked me why i thumped the side of his car i said "Just wanted to make sure you weren't deaf as well as blind!" :D


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    #27
    Taxuser1
    Registered Users Posts: 1,691 ✭✭✭Taxuser1


    rob w wrote: »
    I usually let a good roar out to alert them of my presence! Works well these days with peoples windows open!!

    i've seen a lot of drivers with headphones in now - a roar often isn't enough so I use a knuckle duster once I approach town.


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    #28
    tomasrojo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,744 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo


    I use small erector muscles attached to my hair follicles to extend my hair out so I look twice my size and I emit a loud hiss.


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    #29
    average_runner
    Registered Users Posts: 12,845 ✭✭✭✭average_runner


    Tenzor07 wrote: »
    Amazing how Invisible someone on a bicycle can be to a driver, even in the best of Hi-Vis, yet everyone on a bicycle who may proceed past a red light is visible to every single motorist out there!! :eek:


    That's because there is a blind spot on cars and other motor vehicles and cyclists usually go through red lights right in front of everyone.


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    #30
    average_runner
    Registered Users Posts: 12,845 ✭✭✭✭average_runner


    Taxuser1 wrote: »
    i've seen a lot of drivers with headphones in now - a roar often isn't enough so I use a knuckle duster once I approach town.

    Apparently the headphones is not against the law, i don't understand why not.


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    #31
    C3PO
    Registered Users Posts: 3,742 ✭✭✭C3PO


    average_runner wrote: »
    That's because there is a blind spot on cars and other motor vehicles and cyclists usually go through red lights right in front of everyone.

    Oh ... here we go again!


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