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Author Topic: Would you report another driver?  (Read 3456 times)

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Offline GROWLER

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Would you report another driver?
« on: June 07, 2010, 09:00:21 PM »
Following an old VW Polo down the motorway this morning, I couldn't fail to notice that the bloke behind the wheel was driving quite eratically, wandering from one lane to the other, and came quite close to swiping the central reservation armco at one point.

After about 2 or 3 minutes of watching his antics, I decided I had to do the right thing (IMO  ::) ) and ring the rozzzers, both for his own safety and all the other road users around him.

Finally came off the blower when he darted off down towards the Mersey Tunnel, with no chance of escape.
They were going to be waiting for him at the toll booths apparently. eveilgrin:

I felt a bit of a twat tbh, but I THINK I did the right thing.

Offline Just One More

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Re: Would you report another driver?
« Reply #1 on: June 07, 2010, 09:54:38 PM »
You've done the right thing. I've done it many times and reported drivers to their companies too.
« Last Edit: July 13, 2011, 04:32:07 PM by Just One More »
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Offline GROWLER

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Re: Would you report another driver?
« Reply #2 on: June 07, 2010, 10:02:57 PM »
PHEW!  eeek:

+ 1 so far then.

Me HIGH horse can sleep easy tonight so far. ;)

My solicitor browsed over this before publication, and deemed the topic reasonably safe.



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Offline Barman

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Re: Would you report another driver?
« Reply #3 on: June 08, 2010, 04:30:11 AM »
I've done it before too (In the UK not here)...

I'm against the drink-driving laws as they stand (as I've mentioned before) but somebody that can't control their car (for whatever reason) shouldn't be on the road endangering me and others...

Well done Growler!

Mind you, these days they are just as likely to charge YOU for being on the bleeding phone as they are the driver you reported...  noooo:
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Offline Miss Demeanour

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Re: Would you report another driver?
« Reply #4 on: June 08, 2010, 06:00:29 AM »
I too think you did the right thing. 

There may be a number of reasons why the person was unable to control the car, it may not of been theirs, they may have been ill , high , drunk etc but they were a risk and needed to be stopped pretty dam quickly by the looks of things.
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Offline Snoopy

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Re: Would you report another driver?
« Reply #5 on: June 08, 2010, 07:10:00 AM »
I frequently take advantage of the invitation on the back of trucks and vans "Well Driven? Telephone XYZ" although I seldom say "yes that truck is being well driven" ~ usually quite the opposite.
If they didn't want the feed back they wouldn't ask. angel1

My view is that anyone who clearly is driving in a foolish or dangerous manner should be removed from the roads as soon as possible and certainly before they kill or maim someone other than themselves. Their fate I leave to Darwin eveilgrin:
I used to have a handle on life but it broke.

Offline GROWLER

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Re: Would you report another driver?
« Reply #6 on: June 08, 2010, 07:47:35 AM »
I've done it before too (In the UK not here)...

I'm against the drink-driving laws as they stand (as I've mentioned before) but somebody that can't control their car (for whatever reason) shouldn't be on the road endangering me and others...

Well done Growler!

Mind you, these days they are just as likely to charge YOU for being on the bleeding phone as they are the driver you reported...  noooo:

Now apparently, and correct me if I'm wrong...I usually am  ::)....but IIRC you won't/can't be prosecuted for driving whilst on the blower on a 999 call.

Offline Darwins Selection

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Re: Would you report another driver?
« Reply #7 on: June 08, 2010, 07:52:56 AM »
You did the right thing my old bear, I would have done the same.

Of course the penalties for being a 'grass' are much less severe round these parts. . .  scared2:
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Offline Snoopy

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Re: Would you report another driver?
« Reply #8 on: June 08, 2010, 07:59:08 AM »
Now apparently, and correct me if I'm wrong...I usually am  ::)....but IIRC you won't/can't be prosecuted for driving whilst on the blower on a 999 call.

It is a specific offence to use a hand–held phone or similar device, when driving. Most offences will be dealt with by way of 3 penalty points and a £60 Fixed Penalty Notice but if the matter proceeds to a Court hearing, the fine can be as much as £1,000 or £2,500 if you were driving a bus, coach or any heavy goods vehicle.

The use of a hand–held phone or similar hand–held device while driving is prohibited. A hand–held device is something that "is or must be held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function".

It is a standard 3 points whether you accept a Fixed Penalty or whether you are convicted of the offence at Court. The Fixed Penalty Notice will be issued if you are seen using the phone whilst driving regardless of whether your driving is affected.

The range of fines is up to £1,000, unless you were driving a bus, coach or any heavy goods vehicle, in which case the maximum fine is £2,500.

There is an exemption for calls to 999 (or 112) in genuine emergencies where it is unsafe or impractical to stop.
Source: http://www.motorlawyers.co.uk/offences/mobile_phone.htm

The police would argue that you could/should stop your vehicle and turn off the engine before using your phone ~ unless it is a hands free device when its use is permitted although many police forces are now coming down on the use of hands free claiming that using them constitutes "driving without due care and attention"
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Offline Barman

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Re: Would you report another driver?
« Reply #9 on: June 08, 2010, 08:02:43 AM »

The police would argue that you could/should stop your vehicle and turn off the engine before using your phone ~ unless it is a hands free device when its use is permitted although many police forces are now coming down on the use of hands free claiming that using them constitutes an easy target

Fixed that last sentence for you...  ;)
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Offline Snoopy

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Re: Would you report another driver?
« Reply #10 on: June 08, 2010, 08:05:29 AM »

The police would argue that you could/should stop your vehicle and turn off the engine before using your phone ~ unless it is a hands free device when its use is permitted although many police forces are now coming down on the use of hands free claiming that using them constitutes an easy target

Fixed that last sentence for you...  ;)


Indeed since "Driving without due care and attention" requires only the opinion of a Police Officer and no other evidence.

BUT we all know we can trust the police to be honest don't we?
I used to have a handle on life but it broke.

Offline GROWLER

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Re: Would you report another driver?
« Reply #11 on: June 08, 2010, 08:11:45 AM »
Well I couldn't stop, cus if I had done I wouldn't have been able to confirm if he was going down 'the pipe' or off at J1.
I wasn't exactly on hands free, but on the built in loudspeaker that me mobby has.

I did do a running commentary to the rozzers about 6 or 7 years ago whilst literally holding the phone to me ear, chasing a bunch of thugs that were cutting everybody up with their erratic driving.
Nearly drove me off the bloody road, saw me arse...as i sometimes do believe it or not, so wound me HIGH horse turbo right up like, and sped after them in a rage...which I can actually fly into sometimes apparently. ::)

They crashed into a lampost eventually and the rozzers nicked 'em. cloud9:

Offline Barman

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Re: Would you report another driver?
« Reply #12 on: June 08, 2010, 08:27:47 AM »
Well I couldn't stop, cus if I had done I wouldn't have been able to confirm if he was going down 'the pipe' or off at J1.
I wasn't exactly on hands free, but on the built in loudspeaker that me mobby has.

I did do a running commentary to the rozzers about 6 or 7 years ago whilst literally holding the phone to me ear, chasing a bunch of thugs that were cutting everybody up with their erratic driving.
Nearly drove me off the bloody road, saw me arse...as i sometimes do believe it or not, so wound me HIGH horse turbo right up like, and sped after them in a rage...which I can actually fly into sometimes apparently. ::)

They crashed into a lampost eventually and the rozzers nicked 'em. cloud9:

Result!  happy088
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Offline GROWLER

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Re: Would you report another driver?
« Reply #13 on: June 08, 2010, 08:37:45 AM »
Well I couldn't stop, cus if I had done I wouldn't have been able to confirm if he was going down 'the pipe' or off at J1.
I wasn't exactly on hands free, but on the built in loudspeaker that me mobby has.

I did do a running commentary to the rozzers about 6 or 7 years ago whilst literally holding the phone to me ear, chasing a bunch of thugs that were cutting everybody up with their erratic driving.
Nearly drove me off the bloody road, saw me arse...as i sometimes do believe it or not, so wound me HIGH horse turbo right up like, and sped after them in a rage...which I can actually fly into sometimes apparently. ::)

They crashed into a lampost eventually and the rozzers nicked 'em. cloud9:

Result!  happy088

Oh yes. I was very agitated at the time but so pleased when I saw them staggering from the wreck to the waiting handcuffs.

I drove past slowly chortling.

It was actually quite exciting seeing all these rozzer mobiles charging up behind me and then taking over the chase...they knew where I was from my running commentary.

I follwed (on foot) some scum  sick2:  doing some 'dealin' in the park at the back 'ere  a few years ago too.

Walking commentary to the rozzers again. After about a mile of sauntering behind them, two plods on off roading dert bikes came roaring up and grabbed them.
They winked at me as I walked past...chortling again. lol:

One of them came after me a few mins later whilst the other one waited for the 'meat wagon', and thanked me for being so publicly spirited. cloud9:

How's THAT for a birra willy waving then ey? ;)

Online Nick

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Re: Would you report another driver?
« Reply #14 on: June 08, 2010, 08:39:48 AM »
Growler turns vigilante  scared2:
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