Three years ago this UpRider was hit and run, and the driver walked free because there was no footage. He made sure that would never happen again. So when a driver moved into his lane to execute a deliberate close pass, the cameras were rolling, the footage was clear, and within hours police were already at his door.
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Every UpRider has a story. Here is Amitoj’s.
What happened prior to this incident and why do you record your ride?
Three years ago I was the victim of a hit and run. The driver was never caught because I had no video evidence. Since then, I record every ride – I even carry portable chargers on longer rides to keep the cameras running throughout.
When do you feel most vulnerable as a cyclist?
All the time. There are too many drivers out there who think they own the road.
What do you think are the most important things that can be done to improve safety for cyclists on the road?
Regular driver education and awareness programs. Clear signage reminding drivers they need to share the road. And strict fines for violating the three-foot passing law.
Did you report your incident? What was the reporting process?
Within an hour I called the Merrimack Police Department to report the incident, and they immediately dispatched an officer to my place of work. In the meantime I extracted the relevant footage from the camera and captured a still of the car with the licence plate clearly visible.
The officer was understanding and professional. He noted all the details, and within a couple of hours he called back to advise that he had contacted the driver and issued a warning. The driver claimed I had veered into his path and was holding up traffic. Regardless, the officer told the driver I had every right to be on the road and issued the warning.
Later that day, reviewing the rear camera footage more closely, it was clear the driver had moved into my lane – despite his own lane being unobstructed, purely to execute a close pass. When I shared this with the officer, he asked whether I would like him to look into pursuing criminal charges. I said yes. He confirmed he would be speaking with the prosecutor later that week.
What is your advice for other cyclists?
Record every ride and report every incident as soon as possible. Have all the details ready before you make the call so the officer has something actionable to work with. I carry a micro USB adapter so I can plug the memory card directly into my phone and review the footage on the spot.
The more drivers know their actions are being recorded, the less likely they are to cause intentional harm.
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