Near Misses Volume 2 (So close you can feel it)

What an absolute ball bag. A classic case of how to not be as a human. Zero sense of perspective. Zero sense of self awareness. Zero consideration for the approx couple of hundred people who would have been disturbed by his antics. And all for what? So he could make a point? Leaving aside that he is wrong - what’s the speed on the quays? What did he actually lose by having to drive behind a cyclist for a short distance? 9 times out of 10 it’s the cars that hold me up when cycling on the quays.

God I hope karma gets him.

You're thinking of Bus Éireann

They did before a couple of years ago when I had an incident with another Taxi driver (a great bunch of lads) on the city quays. Close pass in the bus lane just after O'Connell Bridge heading west, was so close I thumped the side of the car to alert him of my presence. He took offense to that and started blowing the horn in intervals but since traffic was so backed up neither of us was going anywhere, he got out of the taxi roaring and grabed my elbow, a little runt of a man.

Anyway that one I had to progress with Gardai, logged initially via Traffic Watch and then a bit of an ordeal giving a statement in Store St who didn't want to take it claiming it was under Pearse St jurisdiction. Eventually statement was taken and forwarded to Pearse St where again a very nice Garda got in touch via phone to clarify the situation. He rang me back a month later or so advising he called the taxi driver into the station to give his statement and he was then also trying to get a statement from the taxi's customer before progressing the matter further. Never heard a further word about it since. No video evidence back then however to further strengthen the case.

Not going through the rigmarole of Garda statements for the serial beeper so will go on Andrew's advise with the Taxi regulator and hope they instill some discipline and curtesy on him.

….giving a statement in Store St who didn't want to take it claiming it was under Pearse St jurisdiction

Ugh, what a load of nonsense. I had similar years ago when some dick in a van repeatedly pulled in on me going round Christchurch. After having words and been threatened with violence I tried to report it in Pearse St. The guard on the desk was visibly relieved as he joyfully informed me I'd have to take it up at Kevin St. as it wasn't his problem. It's an awful shame they don't have some way of taking a complaint in one location and it then somehow magically being accessible at another….. Still all is good on the country's roads.

I don't think I could have held the same restraint, fair play to you.

However, part of me thinks that by acting in a restrained fashion the taxi driver has learned nothing from this encounter and comes away somewhat vindicated from his interaction with the "loony cyclist".

Fair point, I don't have the camera all that long but I've found it has inadvertently calmed by interactions considerably perhaps in an adverse hope that such drivers will incriminate themselves further. The incessant beeping didn't intimidate me and was interested to see how long he'd progress it for but it would be enough to put a less seasoned cyclist off commuting and cycling in general.
Will see what if anything happens with the taxi regulator, it was Tues evening when I emailed so will give them a week before chasing to remind them I haven't disappeared much as they'd love that.

The only deterrent is the fear of repercussions both in the form of fines and penalty points but there's zero chance of that hence why driving standards are constantly deteriorating.

Needs to be red light and bus lane cameras everywhere issuing automatic fines and only when contested should they involve Garda resources. Similarly the reporting system is farcically archaic, the online portal needs to accept video footage and once viewed and verified it collaborates the accompanying statement then a fine issued. Again only in the case of it being contested should it involve the Gardai requiring a separate statement and explanation to the witness of what will be required in court if it gets to that stage.

If every driver had the fear of infractions yielding to fines and points the roads would be a lot safer and more pleasant. It's not just the roads either, people are often incredibly inconsiderate and selfish so to quote the great Australian TV series Mr. Inbetween:
"The world is full of assholes, Ray, you do realise that. Yeah, and you know why? Cause people let them get away with it"

True, in cases like above either party should be able to submit video footage online with an accompanying statement without the whole rigmarole of trying to find the garda station that covers the jurisdiction and then a willing garda to take a statement and actually follow up on the complaint. That should only be required if the easily identifiable driver doesn't contest the charge. If it's a pedestrian, cyclists or other road user not easily identifiable then Garda resources would be required to investigate and identify depending on the severity of the case.

A number of years ago a brown van left hooked me on the quays making contact, only that I managed to swerve with the van and also turn the corner that I stayed upright and alive. Thumped the side of the van but they continued on breaking a red light further on in the process of fleeing the scene. Compliant logged with Traffic Watch who forwarded it on to Brideswell Garda station from who I got a phone call a number of weeks later. Told on the phone any CCTV in the area would already have been wiped plus the van was registered down the country so there was nothing they could do. So apparently not only do you have to find the Garda jurisdiction where the infringement occurred but all parties involved have to also reside in or close by making for an easy investigation.

With technology everywhere and camera footage now easily available it really needs to be incorporated into appropriate policing in a more automated fashion.

Are you actually sh1tting me? They've taken the route of victim blaming here?

WOW.

I'm not going to engage with them further, I just replied to say had they acknowledged the poor driving, spoken to the driver etc. I'd have considered it closed but as they chose to doubledown I'll let traffic watch take it from here.