Cyclist’s safety ‘win’
GoPro footage results in fine for truck driver
A CYCLIST has won a court case against a truck driver who ran him off the road thanks to his bike cam.
Ron Hewes was travelling along Worongary Rd in a permitted zone when a truck passed by him so closely Mr Hewes thought he was going to die.
“As I was riding, a huge sixwheel tipper with an earthmover came so close that it almost brushed my shoulder,” the 66-year-old said.
“His mirror was over my head. I thought I was going to die.
“I heard it coming and I kept as far to left as I could and all of a sudden I got this big blast of air that rocked me as it went by.
“By the time I got home I was still shaking, I was white as a sheet.
“It was the closest ever had.”
Under Queensland law motorists are required to stay 1m away from cyclists at all times.
Mr Hewes call reviewed I his footage and took it to the police where he made a statement and decided to take the driver to court.
“The Mudgeeraba police said it was the closest call they’d ever seen and asked if I’d take it further,” he said. “I said of course, he nearly separated me from my family.
“I wasn’t sure which way it would go because there’s not a lot of cycling cases that ever get anywhere, but this time we had the proof.
“Police forensics found that he was only 20cm away from hitting me.
“He was charged with failing to allow the minimum distance and was given a $378 fine and lost a couple of points.”
Mr Hewes did not stand to personally benefit from the court case.
He said his intent was purely to teach a lesson about road safety.
“If I didn’t have the cameras nothing would have happened,” he said.