Shocking moment a cyclist is ‘pushed and punched’ by a furious road-rage driver – but was handed an official warning for SWEARING at his attacker
- David Brennan, 47, handed a written warning for Breach of the Peace in Scotland
- Shouted expletives at a driver who swung a punch his face in shocking footage
- Hospital-worker Mr Brennan calling for government action to keep cyclists safe
A cyclist who was ‘pushed and punched’ by a furious road-rage driver was handed a written warning for swearing – while his attacker escaped punishment-free.
David Brennan, 47, was given a written warning for Breach of the Peace from Police Scotland for shouting expletives at a driver who swung a punch his face in shocking footage captured on the cyclist’s helmet camera.
Hospital-worker Mr Brennan – from East Dunbartonshire – is now calling for the government to take action to keep vulnerable bikers safe on Britain’s roads.
In the clip taken in October 2019, Mr Brennan can be seen cycling to work in Glasgow when a car approached him from behind.
Cyclist David Brennan, 47, was ‘pushed, punched and sworn at’ by a furious road-rage driver
In the clip taken in October 2019, the driver jumps out of his car and approaches Mr Brennan quickly as the cyclist says: ‘You drove your car at me’
The cyclist, a clinical worker at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in the city, hits the car with his hand as it gets too close to his bike before shouting: ‘Woah. P*** off. What did you just do there? You just drove your car at me.’
The driver jumps out of his car and approaches Mr Brennan quickly as the cyclist says again: ‘You drove your car at me’.
But the raging motorist yells: ‘You f***ing undertook me you f***ing bam.’
The driver can be seen getting closer to Mr Brennan before backing up again – appearing to shove him.
The shocked father-of-three yells: ‘F***ing hell. I’m going to the police. You punched me in the face.’
The driver can be seen getting closer to Mr Brennan before backing up again – appearing to shove him
Hospital-worker Mr Brennan – from East Dunbartonshire – is now calling for the government to take action to keep vulnerable bikers safe on Britain’s roads
When the driver was handed just a written warning, Mr Brennan shared the footage online, prompting outrage.
Police told him they had seen the footage and would look into ‘further criminality’ – but Mr Brennan was handed an official warning for contravening Section 38 (Breach of the Peace).
His warning was then overturned on appeal. The driver was also given a warning, despite leaving Mr Brennan with a swollen lip.
Mr Brennan told The Sun: ‘When police said they were investigating “further criminality” I presumed it was to do with him. But they said I could have caused “fear and alarm” with my swearing.
Now, Mr Brennan – along with charity Cycling UK – is trying to change the way cyclists are treated by Scottish police
When the driver was handed just a written warning, Mr Brennan shared the footage (pictured) online, prompting outrage
‘I was honestly shaken to the core.’
Now, Mr Brennan – along with charity Cycling UK – is trying to change the way cyclists are treated by Scottish police.
Jim Densham, Cycling UK’s policy and campaigns manager in Scotland, said: ‘Too often we hear of people who are out enjoying a cycle ride but experience a dangerous situation through no fault of their own.
‘Dangerous incidents reported to the police on the road must be dealt with fairly and they must recognise that people who cycle are vulnerable road users.
‘We believe that helmetcam and dashcam technology can help the police do their job and that’s why we are calling for Police Scotland to introduce a straightforward system which enables anyone to submit this footage.’