Video evidence

Helmet cameras are being used more and more - itself an indication that cyclists feel that they are unprotected by the law and need to gather their own evidence if they are ever to succeed in obtaining justice in case of a crash.

Often cyclists have told us that the Police or Crown Prosecution Service claim that they are unable to accept video evidence.

There are, however, several cases in which prosecutions have been achieved using video footage.

A lorry driver in Northamptonshire was caught on a dashboard camera overtaking dangerously, although not filmed by a cyclist the fact that the driver was prosecuted for dangerous driving and convicted based on this evidence bodes well for cases involving helmet camera evidence.

* Scott Lomas was fined for using threatening or abusive language towards Martin Porter QC (the Cycling Lawyer)

* This driver in Bromley was filmed making the following overtaking manoeuvre. The cyclist involved took this footage to the Police who issued him with a warning.

The same car - 18 months later - and the driver appears to have improved, here he waits for 30 seconds. It should be noted that the cyclist in this case has adopted an very prominent (primary) position through each of the narrowings.

* 55-year-old Robert Johnson was ordered to pay £25 compensation as well as £105 court costs after this incident was filmed by cyclist Rob Styles.

However, for each of the cases where prosecution has occurred, there are no doubt hundreds where, due to a lack of sufficient evidence, Police have done nothing to prevent abuse such as this occurring. There are cases on the Road Justice website in which video footage of an incident was available and of good quality but the police refused to look at it, jeopardising the chance of securing a conviction.

If you have footage you wish to share here please send us a message using the contact form.

Reports submitted to the site normally are kept private so please ensure that you are happy that any videos you send to us can be displayed without negatively affecting any legal actions you or others may be pursuing, criminal or civil.

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