WATCH: Cyclist is knocked to the ground after being 'doored' by van driver

Shocking dashcam footage captures the moment a cyclist is dramatically knocked to the ground after being accidentally ‘doored’ by a van driver.

After being knocked to the ground, the cyclist then has a lucky escape as he narrowly avoids being crushed by the vehicle behind him which filmed the incident.

Thankfully, he emerged unscathed – but he is one of hundreds of cyclists who are hit by opening doors every year.

The footage, which was filmed in Islington, north London on March 13, was released today to highlight the dangers faced by cyclists from motorists who open their car doors without looking.

In the dashcam footage, the cyclist is seen approaching the silver Renault Traffic van which is parked at the side of the road.

Without warning, the driver opens the van door and sends the cyclist straight to the ground.

The driver of the Volkswagen Jetta who is filming the footage from behind is then forced to make a dramatic stop.

It is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 to ‘open any door of a vehicle on a road so as to injure or endanger any person’.

But the offence is only punishable by a fine of up to £1,000 and no penalty points can be imposed on the offender’s licence.

Now, cyclists are calling for the penalties to be increased.

VisionTrack managing director Simon Marsh said: ‘This video captures very clearly the danger faced every day by cyclists from “dooming”.

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‘In this case, the cyclist had an incredibly lucky escape because, as well as being flattened by the door of the van, he could easily have been crushed by the Jetta driver whose dashcam filmed the incident.

‘This footage shows why it is vital that all vehicles are fitted with dash cams.’

A Metropolitan Police spokesman has since confirmed that officers had not been called out to this incident and therefore no action was being taken against the van driver.