SHOCKING FOOTAGE shows foul mouth rant by motorist who has pleaded guilty to threatening and abusive behaviour after he is confronted by cyclist following close pass.
The incident happened on Gilmerton Road, and nearby Morrisons Supermarket car park on 18th January 2021 at 1.30pm.
Footage was captured by local Steve who uploads clips of his trips under the pseudonym ‘Edinburgh Cyclist’.
Stewart Whitson was driving a black Vauxhall Corsa when he passed the cyclist only giving him approx. 0.3m space, when the law states drivers should give 1.5m which is almost five times more.
Steve admits in hindsight it was perhaps not a good idea to confront the driver, however when reporting similar close passes to police he was informed without a description of the driver they couldn’t take action.
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Stewart: “Are you following me?”
Steve: “Just need to get a good look at your face for the Police report pal.”
Stewart: “Away and f**k, get on or I’m gonna run you over you c**t”
He tries to get out the car and Steve asks: “Is there something wrong?” as he pushes the car door closed.
Stewart: “B*****d, when I get out of here I’ll kill you you c**t, go on I’ll f*****g kill you you b*****d you.”
Steve: “What the f**k is wrong with you?”
Stewart: “What’s wrong with you you c**t, I’ve got you on dash cam right in the middle of the f*****g road.
“Get the f**k off out of my road.”
As a white van approaches he [Stewart] shouts to the driver to “run the c**t over”
Steve: “Jesus Christ, I’m not going in front of you pal”
He [Stewart] gets out the car and says: “It was you that was right in the middle of the f*****g road, you c**t, aye you were!”
Steve: “So what”
Stewart: “You were in my way.”
Steve: “Do you think you own the road”
Stewart: “You think you own the f*****g road now get out my f*****g road before I blacken your eyes.”
At which point Steve turns around and looks to the van driver, and another man who has intervened trying to calm Stewart down, and its at this point he kicks the wheel of the bicycle – Steve retaliates by slamming his hand on the car bonnet and then begins to cycle away.
Steve reported the incident to the Police and offered to pay for any damage to the car but he was told not to worry about it.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “A 42-year-old man was charged in connection with alleged road traffic offences and threatening and abusive behaviour following an incident in Gilmerton Road, Edinburgh on Monday, 18 January, 2021.
“A report was forwarded to the Procurator Fiscal.”
Driver Stewart Whitson, 43, pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday (24/03/2022), he was convicted of the crime but admonished and dismissed – which means that other than a criminal record he will receive no financial penalty.
Speaking today Steve, 38, said: “Although the driver was an older guy, I was still pretty shaken up at how quickly he lost his temper, and at the level of aggression from him.
“Thankfully I live just up the road, so I went home and called the police and reported the close pass and aggressive behaviour.
“101 operator could tell from my voice that I was shaken up by the experience, and was shocked when I played the video audio back to her over the phone – I was contacted soon after by the police, who took a statement and viewed the video.
“I didn’t particularly want him to get a fine or any other criminal conviction, particularly since this was in the middle of Covid-19 when everyone was stressed, but I’m frankly fed up being treated like a second class citizen simply because I choose to ride my bike rather than take my car.”
Earlier this year the Highway Code was revised to give cyclists priority with drivers ordered to stay at least 1.5 metres away when overtaking.
