The TikTok user who posted a video slamming the new Highway Code rules that went viral has said in an update that she is "not a danger to anybody", saying that the police have been called and that people asked the DVLA to revoke her licence.
Even Jeremy Vine got involved after Chantelle Bradd, 30, sparked outrage on social media earlier this week after criticising the new rules that give cyclists priority on the roads by saying: "I am going to be responsible for hitting f****** Maisie with her little helmet going to school. I’m going to tw** her off her bike in the morning because of this.”
In the update, Chantelle says that she has been getting "grief" via social media for the comments which she said were not meant to be taken seriously, saying that she was expressing her fears because she is an "anxious driver".
READ MORE: Bristol driver says 'I'm going to hurt people' in viral TikTok video
The update, posted yesterday, was directed at those who did not like her comments: "If you are somebody who has seen that video and you are offended by it, if you are calling for me to have my license taken off of me and my driving license revoked etc etc, then sit down and listen to what I have to say please.
"Again, I'd just like to say that my post was a joke. There was no intent behind anything; Maisie and her helmet are made up people - they do not exist. I am not out gunning for anybody and I do not have a license. Since I put my video out, which was a joke, I have had several people contact me via my inbox on Instagram and on Facebook giving me grief. [That was] expected, okay, whatever.
Above: The tweet from Jeremy Vine slamming Chantelle Bradd's comments
"Then we had Jeremy Vine share my video on Twitter and we had people come at me on there, and I can imagine that the majority of people may be watching this are from Jeremy Vine's Twitter. I'd just like to point out that I'm a 30-year-old woman.
"The majority of people probably following Jeremy Vine I can imagine are probably in an older age bracket.
"Therefore, we are different people with different views, different perceptions of what is funny and what is not funny and we clearly have different ideas of what makes us offended.
"So, I'd just like to go over the fact that it was a joke, that I am not a danger to anybody. I've been trying to learn to drive for four years. I'm an extremely anxious driver which is why it's taken me so long. I sat a test a year ago, I failed it, and I've taken an extra year to learn to drive because I'm really really irresponsible," she said sarcastically at the end.
She continued by discussing someone who was "coming at" her on Facebook who said she had asked the DVLA to revoke her license: "I'd just like to point out that this is a lady that is coming at a real person. I'm a real person with real feelings. It has real impact and knock-on repercussions, and she's doing this because she's offended about a joke I made about a person who doesn't f****** exist.
"People that know me know [that] when you watch that video, it is me expressing my own concerns, my own anxieties because I am an anxious driver. I find it difficult to be so aware - my spatial skills aren't great. So that's the reason I put the video out and it's the reason why I've taken four years to learn to drive."
She added that she had plenty of supportive comments on TikTok after posting the video - the backlash was mainly concentrated on Twitter and Facebook.
Chantelle posted another video this morning saying that she passed her driving test yesterday.
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What did Bristol Live readers think of her comments?
There was a supportive reaction from Bristol Live readers to Chantelle's original comments. Many people very much agreed with her and some others did not.
Paul wrote: "She was just saying what most road users are thinking and unfortunately time will tell", and Barbara said: "She does have a point, these new rules are a death trap."
Matthew also disagrees with the changes: "What a load of BS these new rules are. When I was a kid I was taught that cars hurt when they hit you so you better watch out, best advice ever!"
James was also very supportive: "If anyone interpreted her TikTok as that of an angry young woman out to intentionally injure people, that’s just ridiculous. It was quite clearly an incredulous reaction to the poorly thought out adjustments to the Highway Code."
Adrian, however, took a different view: "If you are a good driver then these new rules won't make any difference. It's only the bad drivers who are complaining."
Sue wrote: "Hehe, imagine.. she goes on her driving test on Thursday, and Bristol cyclists cram every test route alllllll day. Safety in numbers. Cyclists, get to Southmead."
There appears to be a great deal of concern among drivers about the new rules, and although cyclist and horseriding organisations are very much in favour of the changes, Chantelle has sparked a debate that is relevant to every road user, no matter what means of transport they choose.
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