Police are investigating a public order incident after a van driver lost the plot at a learner driver – all for beeping the horn.
The incident, in which the van driver became verbally abusive at the learner and their instructor, allegedly occurred on Hillrise Avenue, Binstead last Wednesday (18th September).
In a video shared, the driver of the van is seen picking up a passenger and the learner overtakes. However, the van then appears to start moving off which led to the driving instructor Darren Willett activating the horn.
The action was not taken as intended and the van driver pursued the learner car up the road. Both the driver and passenger of the plain white van then began gesturing with their arms and shouting out the window.
Shockingly, the van then overtook on a bend before coming to a stop in the middle of the road. The driver exited the vehicle and started to pursue the learner on foot – who was told to put their foot down by the instructor.
Speaking about the incident, 55-year-old Darren, an instructor for the Isle of Wight Driving Academy, has said:
“I’ve not had something like this happen for a while.
“Truck pulls in to pick his mate up, and as we start to pass he goes to move off so I gave a little toot to warn of our presence – and this is the reaction we got.
Article continues below this advertisement “The Highway Code is very clear on the purpose of vehicle horns. Rule 112 states: use only while your vehicle is moving and you need to warn other road users of your presence. Never sound your horn aggressively. You must not use your horn while stationary on the road or when driving in a built-up area between the hours of 11.30 pm and 7.00 am – except when another road user poses a danger”.
A spokesperson for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has said:
“We received a report at 8.41pm on 18 September of a public order incident in Ryde.
“The incident occurred at around 1.30pm that day in Hillrise Avenue, where it’s reported that a driver was verbally abused by a truck driver.
“It’s reported that during this incident the truck obstructed the other vehicle’s movements before the truck driver exited their vehicle and ran towards the victim’s car.
“Enquiries are ongoing.”
The registration plate can be seen clearly enough in the video. It shouldn’t take Sherlock Holmes to work out who owns it.
Pretty cut and dried.
Legitimate use of the horn. Got the van’s reg, got a good image of the perps face.
I expect to see the idiot in court soon.
Good reactions from learner driver and instructor. Unfortunate to have this happen on a lesson.
I am unclear why the instructor activated the horn rather than ask the learner driver to do so. Who was in conyrol of the vehicle, the learner or the instructor?