Police are investigating a driver who uploaded an expletive-laden YouTube video in which she threatened to kill a group of cyclists in Hamilton, New Zealand.
The 19-year-old woman, Samantha Brown, filmed the four cyclists biking along a road near Taupo.
"I'm going to go to jail on a murder charge. Hit and f****ing run in a second," Brown screams as the video runs.
Cyclist Wayne Attwell believes New Zealanders have an anti-cyclist culture, after a group he cycles with featured on a YouTube video that went viral where a driver repeatedly threatened to kill the cyclists. Photo: George Heard
Cyclist Wayne Attwell believes New Zealanders have an anti-cyclist culture, after a group he cycles with featured on a YouTube video that went viral where a driver repeatedly threatened to kill the cyclists.
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"Oh you silly f***, I am going to run you over," she says at another point.
And the threats continue to come. "Surprise mother f****r, it's my car door... Don't f***ing test me if you aren't prepared to f***ing die."
Samantha Brown threatened to kill a group of cyclists who held her up while driving.
Hamilton man Wayne Attwell​ was one of the cyclists in the group, another in the group had a GoPro on his helmet which he said showed Brown's driving was dangerous.
He described Brown's attitude as "pretty rough" but symptomatic of Kiwi drivers' views towards cyclists.
He had spent several years cycling in South Africa before moving to New Zealand.
"South Africans are an aggressive society, but their drivers are far more accommodating. New Zealanders are a relaxed bunch, but behind the wheel, we become a bit less patient."
Cyclists were legally allowed to use the road, so it was frightening to see some drivers were so "unsettled" in their behaviour, Attwell said.
"All it takes is one driver having a bad day and they could do some damage."
Senior Sergeant Stephen Ambler, officer in charge of Waikato highway patrol, confirmed police were investigating the footage.Â
"Due to the seriousness of the driving we will be investigating with the intention of holding someone to account, " Ambler said.
The police action comes as cycling advocacy group, Cycling Action Network (CAN) ,is due to hold its annual conference in Hamilton over the weekend.
The aggression expressed in the video was intolerable, CAN project manager Patrick Morgan said.
People on bikes were part of the traffic and cyclists were not going anywhere, he said.
"These occasions are quite rare which is why they are newsworthy," Morgan said.
There were times when there was a pinch on both cyclists and cars using the road, he said.
"If you herd everyone into a narrow gap, then of course there is going to be conflict."
But Morgan believed the Government had made strides in the right direction by pouring $330 million into cycling, which should mean that streets were fit for purpose. All road users should be accounted for when roads are designed, he said.
"Good design leads to good behaviour."
Although Morgan did acknowledge cyclists were not always in the right.
"There are idiots who drive, there are idiots who bike, there are just idiots."
Morgan believed there were two simple rules for all road users to adhere to.
"Number one, follow the rules, number two, don't be a dick."
 - Stuff.co.nz