Motorist mowed down by fellow driver in London road rage row

Justin Davenport4 February 2019
WEST END FINAL

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A road-rage driver who deliberately mowed down another motorist after a prang was being hunted by police today as a poll highlighted the extent of violence on Britain’s roads.

Scotland Yard appealed for witnesses to the roadside confrontation in Romford which left a 36-year-old driver in hospital.

Police said the victim’s BMW was involved in a minor collision with an overseas-registered Vauxhall Zafira at Gallows Corner roundabout at 4.35pm on Saturday.

A passenger in the Zafira smashed the victim’s rear window with a hammer before the driver ploughed into the victim as he stood by his BMW.

He was thrown on to the bonnet and suffered what police described as “serious” injuries. Detectives are urging anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact them.

The incident came as a survey of 3,000 road users in the UK revealed almost a fifth (18 per cent) had been threatened with physical violence.

Half of road users (53 per cent) —including motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, runners and wheelchair users — had been or felt intimidated.

The poll, commissioned by Auto Trader, also found that 67 per cent had experienced tailgating, while 41 per cent claimed they had been sworn at or insulted.

Auto Trader has launched a campaign called SwearToChange, backed by double Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist and jockey Victoria Pendleton and British Paralympic athlete Lauren Steadman.

Pendleton said: “We all have an equal right to be on the road, so let’s be more compassionate and considerate to others and see what change we can drive.”

Steadman added: “I am someone who spends a lot of time running, cycling and driving on UK roads, so it’s alarming to see the statistics on aggression, physical violence and abuse.”

The survey came days after a police leader warned of lawlessness on Britain’s roads with officers struggling to cope with increasing levels of dangerous driving.

John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said: “It’s like Wacky Races out there with some of the stuff we see. The anti-social use of vehicles, road rage, undercutting and aggressive use of vehicles is increasing.”

He said roads policing was not being given priority and that it was not uncommon to drive hundreds of miles without seeing a marked police vehicle.

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