I remember screaming 'stop, stop', says cyclist dragged under left-turning tanker
Ross Lydall30 Jan 2012
A cyclist relived the horrific moment when he thought he would die as he was dragged under a petrol tanker.
James Moore, 40, told a court he still slept with a TV on to block out memories of the crash in February last year.
The journalist, who is married and has two children, was cycling home to Wood Green when he was hit by the tanker in Leytonstone. He arrived in court in a wheelchair and needed crutches to reach the witness box.
The court was shown CCTV footage of Mr Moore being dragged under the tanker as it turned left from Leytonstone High Road into Cathall Road.
He suffered injuries including a broken left fibia and tibia, a broken pelvis, a collapsed lung and several broken ribs. He was in a medically-induced coma for three weeks and in hospital for three months.
A motorist who helped keep him conscious while he awaited medical help was given a bravery award.
Mr Moore told Waltham Forest magistrates: "I do remember quite clearly cycling along past the junction. Suddenly, without any warning I could see, the lorry turned on me.
"I remember screaming 'Stop, stop', I think, and I think I'm going to die. Then I can remember being under the lorry and in considerable pain.
"I'm reliving it now. I wake up in the middle of the night. I generally have to sleep with the television on. An empty room in the dark is not good for me."
Crash investigator Pc Clive Austin told the court that tanker driver Nigel Gummer, 54, of Hadleigh, Essex, would have been able to see Mr Moore approaching for at least 12 seconds in a rear-view mirror as he waited at the junction.
Mr Moore had been riding in a cycle lane and drew level with the tanker's front axle virtually as it began pulling away. He tried to cycle straight on but was hit by the lorry, which had stopped in the advance cyclist's "box", and had been indicating a left turn.
Pc Austin said Mr Moore had the right of way under the Highway Code but admitted it would have been "a pertinent move" for the cyclist to show "some level of caution".
Mr Gummer, who has more than 30 years' experience as a HGV driver and a clean licence, was cleared of careless driving after insisting he had checked his mirrors before pulling away.
Mr Moore, associate business editor of The Independent, is pursuing a civil claim for compensation against the tanker company's insurers.
He said he was disappointed the prosecution failed to call two witnesses, including the man who helped him as he lay trapped under the tanker. "I think the whole legal process is weighted against the victim," he said.
Mr Moore called for lorries to be fitted with sensors to detect cyclists, saying: "If it saves lives, and saves people being put in the same position as me, it's a damn good thing."
Reader views (41)
The psychological symptoms described in this article can be commonly experienced after a traumatic life event. Many people can suffer with terrifying memories of their trauma that replay over and over in their mind, nightmares, sleep problems, anxiety and feeling quite low and hopeless. Fortunately, there are successful treatments available for these ongoing symptoms through the National Health Service.
If anybody reading has experienced a trauma and has ongoing related distress, an evidence-based treatment such as cognitive behavioural therapy may be suitable for you. This can be provided through the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme (IAPT, www.iapt.nhs.uk) and readers should contact their GP to ask about a referral in the first instance. People who are suffering in relation to a traumatic event experienced in their adulthood may be eligible to have therapy as part of a clinical research trial at a specialist centre in South London.
- Emma Warnock-Parkes, Clinical Psychologist, Kings College London, London, 14/02/2012 18:12
Report abuse
@BJ - I find your comments quite frankly saddening. You appear to be doing much to drive a wedge between road users.
Friday morning (3rd Feb 2012) I stood on the pavement by the old Maplin shop on the a301 facing the lights. I was there for about 40 minutes from around 7.50am quietly observing the traffic, and took some notes on paper:
No. of cyclists seen = 42.
No. who ran red light/pedestrian crossing = 7
That equals just 16% of cyclists. How is that 16% indicative that cyclists needs should be ignored until this 16% behave? It is frankly absurd.
And dont preach to me about bad road craft, I drive for a living all over. Cyclists need protecting.
No cyclists died in Paris last year. How is it that a city as "great" as London cannot achieve the same?
I also counted drivers. 112 motor vehicles passed through the junction through the space at the start of the ASL feeder lane in that time. 14 were on mobile phones. 5 motorcycles ignored ASL restrictions, 8 car drivers and 1 bus pulled into it - all when they had time to stop at the first line.
How about we sort this mess out. Give cyclists a series of safe routes that arent just blue paint but ACTUALLY protect them from risk.
- QPR, Essex, 04/02/2012 18:37
Report abuse
As an idiot I am sick of cyclists on the road. I know that it is because of cyclists we have hard road surfaces and that it was the CTC who campaigned for them, but it is my right by Allah to drive on them breaking the 30 limit in urban areas and speeding up at amber lights. I am aware that if a Cyclist jumps a red light then it is more likely they will come off worse in the inevitable accident and that Belgium has legalised cyclists being allowed to go through red lights if the way is clear. However as a driver the 2000 people killed by motor vehicles are well worth it, and the victims obviously weren't looking and deserved it, and busy people like me have places to be at any cost. I mean for all those cycle journeys they killed one person a year, generally on the pavement which could have been avoided if they feel safer riding on the road, but then they would be in MY way!
Perhaps we can bikes, and we can all end up obese and 18 stones like me, sitting in traffic having a cigarette, that is the way, then I can use my Sky plus box to catch up on the TV that I have missed sitting in traffic.
- Dave White Van Man, Fleet, UK, 02/02/2012 07:40
Report abuse
Took a while to comment BJ, was it a day off for you yesterday?
- Dan, London, 31/01/2012 13:46
Report abuse
It's not intelligent to cycle up the inside of a lorry, if there's any chance it could move. But it's even less intelligent to turn left across a marked cycle lane and hope no-one's in it, rather than checking. And the greater responsibility lies with the one causing the danger.
And 10/10 to the victim for shouting. It may well have saved his life.
- Colin McKenzie, London UK, 31/01/2012 12:06
Report abuse
I wish more cycling supporters would take the time to stop anywhere in Central London for 30 minutes to an hour and observe the lunacy of most cyclists in the Capital. Every day I have observations to share which bores cyclists; I wonder why.
Yesterday I saw a woman in Strand speeding on the nearside of traffic approaching a pedestrian crossing (clue is in the word "pedestrian") with no intention of stopping. The "pedestrian", lawfully having precedence on the crossing, saw the cyclist in time and stopped. The cyclist nearly fell off trying to avoid a collision but unfortunately she didn't. She made no attempt to apologise and cycled off as quickly as possible.
So far this morning I have seen two cyclists riding in pedestrian only (not cyclist only) areas with no regard for pedestrians.
Cyclists: learn some road craft and manners and people like me will start respecting you.
- BJ, East London, 31/01/2012 08:51
Report abuse
Dermotgy - Yes of course, because in France they charge you with manslaughter when no one has died. Muppet.
- Kevin, Watford, 30/01/2012 23:45
Report abuse
in france the driver would have been done for manslaughter
- dermotgy, london, 30/01/2012 23:33
Report abuse
Harry Cole, Bow: "Is cycling really that dangerous? Your chance of being killed in a cycle accident is about the same as winning the lottery. Of being seriously injured about the same as getting the bonus ball"
What a load of BS. Yeah maybe same chance as winning a tenner. What planet are you on? As for being smug over non cyclists at least they don't smell, wear sh1t clothes, and are stingy to the extreme.
- Tom, London, 30/01/2012 21:22
Report abuse
I wonder if he would give way next time?
- ST, Not London, 30/01/2012 21:20
Report abuse
If i was riding a bike and a Lorry was indicating left while waiting at a set of traffic lights the last thing i would do is drive along side of the lorry wether i have the right of way or not as i would be thinking there's always a possabilty the driver might not of seen me.
- Andy, Dagenham, 30/01/2012 20:40
Report abuse
Having used a cycle, motorcycle and car in London for over 20 years it never ceases to amaze me how cyclists (in general) have such scant regard for other road users and even themselves. No mirrors, very little looking behind to observe and not stopping for pedestrian/zebra crossings are just a few of the irritating traits they display.
This particular case is a prime example of someone who thinks the world should stop to let him pedal across a junction. It is much easier for the cyclist to see the lorry than vice versa and undertaking on a junction, whatever vehicle you are using is a dangerous and foolhardy practice.
The lorry driver should receive the fixed penalty fine for his mistake of entering the advance box and no more as this was his only crime.
- Angus, SE London, 30/01/2012 18:14
Report abuse
- Clif, London, 30/01/2012 17:20
If you took the time to re-read and edit your comment before posting it may be easier for people to understand what exactly you are saying.
- Dc, London, 30/01/2012 17:44
Report abuse
At 8 years old on a 3 wheel bike I knew you do not get indise of a great big lorry . BIGGER ' is the clue ..if it is let it go by, that includes bus's and especialy latge vechiels on open main roads whjere the windf from them passing can ' blow u you of cpourse' oif not off the bike.
Sorry about time Cyclist had to take a specific cycle test, have a licence and Insurance anmd display some form of number plate and documents to show so and for identification of.
- Clif, London, 30/01/2012 17:20
Report abuse
Anyone,ANYONE who cycles in London has a death wish,and most of their wishes come true.
I visit London by m'bike frequently to see my daughter and hire a cycle when I'm there . Have never had any problem not even a scare.I really think it might be a matter of road sence , concentration and humility.
- chrism, morbihan,france, 30/01/2012 17:13
Report abuse
"if cyclists had to pay for their NHS"
They already do pay for "their NHS".
Where is this land where cyclists don't pay Income Tax, Value Added Tax, National Insurance and so on? You know, the taxes out of which the NHS is paid for. That land isn't England.
Please name this land. If there is such a land then many cyclists would have moved to it.
By the way, friends who are cyclists say that cyclists have a greater proportion of their group in the higher rates of Income Tax than motorists. That also probably means they pay higher rates of National Insurance and Value Added Tax.
- John, London, 30/01/2012 17:04
Report abuse
It is quite obvious from reading the article [contrary to what some commentators say] that sadly Mr Moore placed himself on the inside of the lorry. This is something I would never do , having ridden a bike and m'bike in London since 1968.As far as right of way is concerned ,the police manual used to say ' here lies the body of Martin Grey who died defending his right of way.' Many cyclists seem to confront their right of way to their cost, or haven't a clue as to how they can be seen by different types of vehicles.
- chrism, morbihan,france, 30/01/2012 17:03
Report abuse
"Use public transport, if cyclists had to pay for their NHS they might be more careful.
- Overtaxed, Farnham UK"
You know what, Overtaxed of Farnham? Funnily enough, I DO pay for "my" NHS. (I pay for the roads as well, as it happens, and it has nothing whatever to do with "road tax" which hasn't existed for over 70 years)
It's called general taxation. You know, income tax, VAT, council tax, national insurance contributions, insurance premium tax, vehicle excise duty and road fuel duty, the list goes on.
You may consider yourself overtaxed but statistically I bet I pay a lot more tax than you do. I don't need to be reminded by you that I should pay for the NHS!
- Paul M, London, 30/01/2012 16:59
Report abuse
Use public transport, if cyclists had to pay for their NHS they might be more careful.
- Overtaxed, Farnham UK, 30/01/2012 16:29
Report abuse
"Now compare the benefits of cycling, which apply whether or not you are wearing a helmet. Healthy exercise that benefits body and soul, predictable journey times, low cost. These can all be quantified. As for being able to be a smug git because you enjoyed your ride to work when everyone else was stuck on the tube, that is priceless." Harry Cole, Bow.
All trade offs Harry. I lost 40kg taking up cycling and have never been fitter with only one minus currently.
I'm nursing a broken shoulder from a car turning right into me because the driver didn't look first (and I always stop at signals, have lights and don't undertake big vehicles before anyone starts).
Won't stop me though. I'm itching to get back in the saddle.
- John L, London, UK, 30/01/2012 16:22
Report abuse
"No sympathy with cyclists who try to " undertake" on the left of any vehicle- utter stupidity."
Read then article- the cyclist was where he was supposed to be.
- Harry Cole, Bow, 30/01/2012 15:45
Report abuse
No sympathy with cyclists who try to " undertake" on the left of any vehicle- utter stupidity. I have been hit by a cyclist going through a red light- another act in their blatant disreguard for road rules!
- Carole Lamb, Towcester England, 30/01/2012 15:34
Report abuse
Is cycling really that dangerous? Your chance of being killed in a cycle accident is about the same as winning the lottery. Of being seriously injured about the same as getting the bonus ball.
In fact your chance of suffering *any* injury requiring treatment is about the same as winning a grand.
That puts the risk into a realistic perspective and is for all injuries, not the precious few serious ones, if any, that helmets would prevent or reduce. It doesn't include the increased risk of neck and strangulation injuries from helmet wearing either.
Now compare the benefits of cycling, which apply whether or not you are wearing a helmet. Healthy exercise that benefits body and soul, predictable journey times, low cost. These can all be quantified. As for being able to be a smug git because you enjoyed your ride to work when everyone else was stuck on the tube, that is priceless.
- Harry Cole, Bow, 30/01/2012 15:33
Report abuse
I know that junction, and although it isn't the most dangerous in London by any means, I believe that as the lorry had stopped in the advance cyclist's "box", the driver should have been found guilty of "careless" driving. If the lorry was indeed AT the junction before the cyclist while the lights were already red, then because it was an HGV the cyclist should have nonetheless taken care not to try to get in front of it from the left. Avoid HGVS because of their blind spots if you are a cyclist, but prosecute vehicles that stop in the cyclist's box, because the advance cyclist's box is a place of safety for a cyclist at a junction. Every cycle accident is a tragedy of unmentionable gravity and must be prevented at all costs.
- Gerry, Swansea, 30/01/2012 15:16
Report abuse
Anyone,ANYONE who cycles in London has a death wish,and most of their wishes come true.
DON'T DO IT>
- Jake, London, 30/01/2012 14:47
Report abuse
@BJ, Frank
watch some junctions. you'll see plenty of motor traffic enter the ASL after the lights are red.
the cyclists who sit in front of the ASL are quite sensible. if you're driving a HGV, most of the time you can't see a cyclist in an ASL in front of you.
so are the cyclists who jump the red lights. tfl has research that indicates that it's most likely that more women than men are injured at junctions because men jump more red lights, so get away ahead of the traffic.
we need better design. separate lanes and lights for cyclists, to avoid conflict, and ensure that law-abiding behaviour is clearly safe and easy for everyone.
ASLs with narrow cycle lanes leading up to them from the left are just bad, dangerous design.
- fred, london, 30/01/2012 14:32
Report abuse
"It doesn`t surpise me in the slightest that there is such a rate of cycling fatalities in London, they have no common sense nor road sense and saad to say but most bring it upon themselves."
No, they don't. In the vast majority of cyclist/vehicle collisions it is the driver who is at fault, not the cyclist. Cyclists avoid collisions because the consequences are worse than a scratched bumper. It's drivers failing to look, like the driver in this story, who cause accidents.
- Harry Cole, Bow, 30/01/2012 14:27
Report abuse
Terry in France, i`m with you on that. I`m a keen cyclist myself and have clocked up many thousands of miles, both on road, off road, leisure, commuting, road sportif etc. Any cyclist who cycles up the inside of an HGV regardless of who has right of way is absolutely barking mad in my opinion. Self preservation is the key when you`re on a bike, its that simple. London cyclists seem to be a breed unto themselves, nowhere else in the UK will you see nutters like the London cyclists jumping red lights, failing to give way at pedestrian crossings, riding at night with no lights. It doesn`t surpise me in the slightest that there is such a rate of cycling fatalities in London, they have no common sense nor road sense and saad to say but most bring it upon themselves.
- Mark, Sunbury, 30/01/2012 14:10
Report abuse
Cyclists seem not have read the Highway Code regarding advanced stop lines. Under Rule 178 a motor vehicle that has passed the first line when the traffic lights turn red must stop at the second white line. Therefore stopping in the cyclist's waiting area isn't necessarily wrong.
- Frank, Waterlooville, 30/01/2012 14:07
Report abuse
pat,london: nothing wrong with your sentiment except few cyclists bother with the boxes. Most either ignore the red light altogether or stop beyond the cycle box. If cyclists don't want to use it, why is it there?
- BJ, East London, 30/01/2012 14:04
Report abuse
Leytonstone High Road is a perfect example of everything that is wrong with cycling in the capital. Cycle lanes are squeezed between cars parked on the pavement and speeding traffic passing very close.
The cycling box at this junction is routinely flouted by lawless drivers, to the total indifference of the bigoted car-centric Met.
Leytonstone High Road is wide enough for separate cycle tracks down both sides, physically segregated from drivers. Junctions like the one where this crash happened should have separate lights for cyclists.
This collision occurred in a borough with one of the lowest rates of cycling in London (less than one per cent modal share, according to Transport For London).
Only the very brave would dare to cycle along Leytonstone High Road, and cyclists can expect no support from the Met, which is utterly indifferent to speeding, red light jumping and the routine abuse of Advanced Stop Lines by drivers.
When the M11 Link Road was built there was the promise that Leytonstone High Road would become traffic-free. This didn't happen, and it's now a traffic-choked nightmare, with the local council at this very moment building free car parking bays on the pavement, to encourage people to use their cars for very short journeys.
- Leyton cyclist, London, 30/01/2012 13:54
Report abuse
The problem here is the incompetent and unsafe design of the cycle lane.
Cycle lanes through junctions should be physically separated from motor traffic - and should work on (preferably) separate signals that stop left-turning traffic while allowing cycle traffic to go straight on - or at least a crossing that swings the cycle lane out from the road, and places stopped cyclists way forward of stopped motor traffic, and then gives them evident priority on the crossing.
- fred, london, 30/01/2012 13:50
Report abuse
The fact that the tanker driver had moved into the adavance position and indicated showed that he was taking a wide sweep to allow him to turn left without hitting the kerb. One problem cyclists have is that they hate to kill momentum so braking is not always the first instinct which it is for a motorist. This is a terrible accident and another reason why my motorcycle is held captive in the garage by my wife and daughter who refuse to let me ride it. When I drive a car I give way to a larger vehicle whether I like it or not and eat humble pie, its safer. The idea of exerting some priority over other road users does not enter into it.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, Surrey, 30/01/2012 13:32
Report abuse
As a cyclist who has travelled well over 100.000 miles safely I would say that the most stupid and most dangerous thing you can ever do is to undertake, especially at a junction whether to get to an advanced cycling box or not.
- Terry, Hennebont France, 30/01/2012 13:26
Report abuse
i believe its a £60 fine if you stop in the cycle box, its never enforced,lorries, cars, cabs, they all stop in the box! just like stopping in the yellow junction box isnt allowed yet i see busses and cabs in it all the time! they dont like it when cyclists are in the way, why should we tolerate it when they motor vehicles stop where ever they want? over to you Boris....
- pat, london, 30/01/2012 13:04
Report abuse
Funnily enough stop stop is what everyone else thinks when cyclists go through red lights
- The Joker, London, 30/01/2012 13:02
Report abuse
The tanker was in the 'advance cyclists' box'. I can't imagine why they ever invented such a stupid thing - cyclists go to the front and hold up all the traffic behind. Same thing on bus routes which allow cyclists who, as I've witnessed, move along the lane slowly followed by a succession of buses and taxis who can't get past. Don't suppose Mr Moore was trying to tell the tanker driver off by any chance?
- EH?, London, 30/01/2012 12:31
Report abuse
Pc Austin said Mr Moore had the right of way under the Highway Code but admitted it would have been "a pertinent move" for the cyclist to show "some level of caution".
-- nuff said!
- Lee, London, 30/01/2012 12:30
Report abuse
The lorry driver had stopped in the advance stop box. He should have been convicted and punished for that.
The cyclist states that he cycled up the inside of a lorry. He should be made to read "Cyclecraft".
- John, London, 30/01/2012 12:15
Report abuse
The key thing apart from sensors (good idea) if for cyclists to have colourful cloths on and for lorry drivers to under go training to be more aware of cyclists. My view is most Lorry drivers take little notice and do not think, we need to change that.
Training and sensors would be a good start. Get well soon Mr Gummer.
- Andrew, London, 30/01/2012 12:12
Report abuse
Just as crowds can be dangerous to children, by nature not design, motor vehicles are dangerous to cyclists.
- barry1858, Welwyn, 30/01/2012 12:09
Report abuse
Afternoon:
15°c














