L- plate instructor’s elbow is broken in road rage bust- up
A DRIVING instructor suffered a broken elbow in a road rage attack because his teenage pupil did not pull away quickly enough from traffic lights.
Chris Barnett, 64, captured the clash on his dashboard camera after he was confronted by the driver of a white Range Rover. Despite presenting the evidence to police, no action was taken.
Mr Barnett, who has terminal cancer and has been a driving instructor for 36 years, had taken Conner George, 17, out in heavy traffic for the first time when they stopped at a busy junction.
As the lights changed to green the nervous novice struggled to pull away for around 20 seconds.
The dashcam in the Suzuki Swift that was clearly marked with L plates records the driver of a Range Rover behind using his horn.
Moments later the 4x4 is seen overtaking the Suzuki and stopping suddenly, forcing Mr Barnett to use his dual control brakes.
The footage shows the burly Range Rover driver dressed in a hooded top get out and challenge Mr Barnett through the passenger window. The instructor is heard to ask the man why he used the horn, to which he replied: “I beeped because the bloody lights were changing.” Mr Barnett, who works in Braintree, Essex, reminded the motorist he was teaching a learner and the episode was on camera. The driver responded by shouting and swearing before a second man from the Range Rover appeared and remonstrated with Mr Barnett.
As Mr Barnett attempted to open the door and dial 999 one of the men slammed it on his left elbow, causing a fracture.
Conner, who was on his fourth lesson, is clearly shaken by the 60- second bust- up. Mr Barnett said: “Conner faltered pulling away. When we came to the next lights this guy in the Range Rover pulled in front and slammed on his brakes. He was being aggressive. Then an older guy got out and was waving his fist at me. I opened the door and told them I was going to call the police. One of them slammed the door on my arm, fracturing my elbow.”
Last night Essex Police said they had interviewed a 39- yearold man but added: “Due to insufficient evidence it was not possible to take this matter further.”