Cyclists have condemned sickening tweets in response to the controversial video footage which caught a woman falling off her bike into a ditch as a Land Rover drove past on a country lane.
The video of the incident was shared online by Northamptonshire Police and the driver Paul Nigel Miley, 52 was slapped with a fine of £1,008 for driving without due care and attention.
The video caused widespread controversy across social media as many defended Miley saying he did nothing wrong and that the cyclist was in fact at fault.
One person commented: “Can’t see what he did wrong.
“Looks like she just fell over because her feet were attached to her pedals. Maybe she just needs to learn how to get off her bike.”
Another wrote: “Honestly. If someone had been on foot, stepped to the side and fallen in a ditch, it most certainly wouldn’t have been the drivers fault. He left plenty of room.”
One woman, who goes under the Twitter username @larafrancescaaa has come under fire for her response to the incident after she said:“Cyclist at fault, hit her next time”.
One Twitter user responsed to the video footage posted by Northamptonshire Police
Twitter
The cyclist who fell after the Land Rover drove past
Northamptonshire Police
Phil, under the name @Gulfie, responded: Dear Clara, the term you’re looking for is “premeditated and might carry a prison term, Perhaps refresh your Highway Code Knowledge.”
PC Mo Allsopp-Clarke of Northamptonshire Police’s Safer Roads Team said the video footage “clearly showed that Miley had no consideration for the cyclists on that day, and when he appeared at Magistrates’ Court, he changed his plea to guilty.
Mr Allsopp-Clarke said: “Miley initially pleaded not guilty to the offence, claiming he had driven extremely slowly past the group and was unable to move further across.
“The video evidence clearly showed that Miley had no consideration for the cyclists on that day, and when he appeared at Magistrates’ Court, he changed his plea to guilty.
“His driving fell below the standard of a competent and careful driver, which could have very easily ended in tragic consequences, and I’m pleased the courts have dealt with the driver positively.
“Drivers should always try to give cyclists and other vulnerable road users at least 1.5m of space and pass slowly. In this instance, on this road, that would not be possible.
“On this occasion, the correct thing to do would have been to come to a stop to allow the cyclists to pass safely. It takes a couple of seconds and then everyone can continue their journey in safety.”