AN “appalling” video shows the moment a white van man tried to bully and intimidate a learner driver – as she was taking her driving test.
The footage, taken on Monday morning in west Edinburgh, shows the learner driver travelling within the speed limit in a residential area when the van races up behind her.
Forced to slow down, he repeatedly pulls up close to her rear bumper in an apparent attempt to intimidate her into breaking the limit – meaning she would fail her test.
Then, when the learner stops to allow oncoming traffic with the right of way to pass, he throws up his hands, accelerates sharply, honks his horn and revs his engine whilst shouting at the clearly marked driving school car.
After a short and apparently frustrating wait, he even reverses and tries to overtake the learner driver by pulling into the path of oncoming traffic – but decides to pull back at the last minute.
During the test the driving centre examiner reportedly told the candidate, “Ignore the man in the van, he is completely in the wrong” – and she went on to pass the exam.
The incident took place on Lanark Road West in Edinburgh on Monday morning at around 10:45AM.
The ordeal was caught on camera by front and back dashcams in the test centre vehicle – owned by Angus Driving School – and uploaded online by Scotland’s Worst Drivers.
Angus MacDougall, owner of Angus Driving School, said: “I was really upset when I saw the footage, but also extremely proud of the student who still passed her test, even though this type of dangerous behaviour was going on behind her.”
A spokesman for Scotland’s Worst Drivers said: “The attitude of their driver was appalling, especially as he was well aware it was a tuition vehicle.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the woman for staying composed and passing her test regardless.”
The van is clearly marked with the City Electrical Factors (CEF) logo – and when contacted for a comment Ian Thorn, head of CEF fleet operations said: “Thank you for reporting this incident to us – we take such matters and reports very seriously.
“First of all I will log your complaint here against the CEF Branch concerned to check for any other reports and for future reference.
“I will then escalate to the Director concerned for Scotland and our health and safety department. The driver’s manager will be informed and the driver formally interviewed – once again the driver’s record will be checked.
“We do really try and keep our drivers and other road users safe. The drivers themselves are constantly having Licence checks via DVLA.
“Our drivers are our ambassadors and should always drive with that in mind – it’s not as if you can miss the name.”
