Police interest in dangerous driving caught on dash cam..?

[john2443]

iva cosworth said:

What car is it ?.....

Profile says Golf GTI 16v, but I suspect that's out of date

[hairyben]

I think you're crediting crap driver mongtards with far to much thought and consideration to wonder that your car makes that much difference, I drive a van and people still try it on, constantly. I don't think most of them are even that aware or trying to be "aggressive" with the tailgating, pulling out directly in front etc, they're just the very st driver thats a product of the selfishness of today coupled with the dumbing down of road policing, running around with radar guns etc etc and ignoring most of the other stuff.

[aw51 121565]

Certainly GMP wouldn't be interested...

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/13629593.Top_c...

This following a car vs. bicycle accident which the police didn't attend. Not having a go at the police - but he makes some interesting comments .

[carinaman]

How would the police cope if they were Emailed every little traffic infraction, or perceived infraction, caught on dashcams?

Will every contabulary have to set up [e-mail] Email addresses?

[akirk]

carinaman said:

Will police be that interested in any dashcam footage?

There was a thread in PH with some footage 335d or something near Manchester/M6 way and the police weren't interested when shown it.

I don't think it's you, your hat or your car I think it's just the way it is on the roads today.

With regard to going past people on their OS on M-ways I think it's better to get the pass over and done with. I dislike people taking an age to pass me and seeming to linger in the 3/4 rear blindspot. It's most annoying when their progress is that slow that they box you into the NS lane and you're forced to ease off and sometimes brake because of stuff ahead in the lane in front.

I think it may have been a DHL van that actually moved to the outer of three lanes to ensure it didn't block me into the NS lane on an 3 lane A-road recently. I thought it's going to box me into the NS lane when I want to move out to pass this truck ahead in my lane, but then the van closing on me moved over a lane leaving the middle lane free for me to move into and pass the truck in the NS lane.

People pulling out in front of you at junctions is something most of us have had.

Someone did it to me on a motorcycle once with my headlight on. Rather than back off, I kept going passing them on their OS that was rather stupid as I think my OS footrest was over the kerbing for a traffic island in the main, through road by that junction.

It would have been better to have eased off the throttle rather than think that I'd been disrespected or they'd pinched my piece of road by pulling out in front of me. I'm pretty sure there nothing behind me when they pulled out so they could have just have easily waited a bit and pulled out once I'd passed.

A police officer once said to me, people will do bad and silly things on the road and the best thing to do is let it wash over you, concentrate on your own driving and do not escalate matters or get involved in their accident.

I used to routinely see an elderly gent in a straw hat driving an Alfa 166. I can't say his driving ever caused me any concern.

Edited by carinaman on Monday 31st August 07:08

you can see this several ways - agree with you that it is great when an approaching vehicle reads the road and gives you space...
but you can also do this - if you can read the road behind you and see that you may have an issue, move out to overtake the lorry etc. earlier - i.e. control the situation... you should never be in a place where you have to ease off because you are trapped, if you are it is simply that you are not reading the road behind you accurately enough...

a maxim worth remembering:
- you can control the scene ahead by not driving into it
- you can't stop the scene behind from driving into you...

so you need more predictive planning for what is behind you than what is in front - especially on a motorway / D/C

[Hoofy]

hairyben said:

I think you're crediting crap driver mongtards with far to much thought and consideration to wonder that your car makes that much difference, I drive a van and people still try it on, constantly. I don't think most of them are even that aware or trying to be "aggressive" with the tailgating, pulling out directly in front etc, they're just the very st driver thats a product of the selfishness of today coupled with the dumbing down of road policing, running around with radar guns etc etc and ignoring most of the other stuff.

[Republik1980]

Thanks to everyone for all the sensible and pragmatic advice

samoht said:

I think you're taking this too personally. If people pull out in front of you more in this car, then it's not because they hold you in contempt, it's because they genuinely aren't aware that you are about to pass them.

If you frame the problem as incompetence rather than disrespect, it's less stressful and easier to address.

My suggestion would be lights. A car coming up behind with lights on is a) more visible and b) appears to be approaching faster. I would genuinely get in the habit of using dipped headlights on all dual carriageways and motorways 24/7 - lots of newer cars have DRLs anyway so there's nothing wrong with doing so, and I reckon it'll help you with this issue.

Maybe.. however while I know everyone makes mistakes I do get the feeling that a large proportion of these incidents are due to arrogance and contempt - not nec. for me specifically buy for other road users in general.. IMO a situation that's perpetuated by the image my car projects.

Very good point about perception; tbh I tend to have a "three-tier" aholery scale when driving - arrogance / lack of consideration makes me want to kill, stupidity irritates me and stupidity with an apology (hand in the mirror or whatever) I have little issue with as everyone makes mistakes and I appreciate those who have the grace and manners to admit it and apologise. Of course all of these perceptions are somewhat subjective..

Thanks for the lights suggestion - however given the type of car (scroll down for the great reveal!) the dipped beams are on during the day anyway. Running the headlights during the day is definitely a route I'll be taking with my next vehicle

mybrainhurts said:

No. It's because you can't spell licence...

An "American English" spelling failure.. the worst kind. My sincerest apologies

Sheepshanks said:

Work on your defensive driving - if they're dangerously bunched up then the next thing that's going to happen is that one of them will pull out.

Thanks - I was taught to drive defensively and still try to do so.. I like to think I'm on the ball with regard to anticipating vehicles that might pull out; however were I just to hang back every time I wanted to pass bunched traffic I'd never get anywhere!

gazchap said:

This. I've long had the habit of switching my dipped lights on automatically as soon as I start the engine, even in my Celica which isn't a subtle car as it is. Incidences of people pulling out blindly in front of me dropped to almost nil since I started doing so.

As above - lights are already on but ta for the suggestion!

KAgantua said:

standardman said:

"while I'm steadily passing them on their RHS"

Sounds like you arr either a middle lane hogger or driving at such a slow speed differential to the inside lane you are sitting in their blind spot too long.

Make your overtake and move back in.

Yeah, get on with it, as my old ADI used to say

I can assure you I'm neither of the above! I'm very conscious of lane discipline and getting past people as quickly as possible - you'll certainly never find me floating along bewildered in the middle lane with nothing on the inside, taking half an hour to overtake or just sitting in your blind spot

Usually if I'm passing someone slowly it's only because I'm limited by the speed of the vehicle infront of me, as was the case in the example I gave.

carinaman said:

Will police be that interested in any dashcam footage?

There was a thread in PH with some footage 335d or something near Manchester/M6 way and the police weren't interested when shown it.

I don't think it's you, your hat or your car I think it's just the way it is on the roads today.

With regard to going past people on their OS on M-ways I think it's better to get the pass over and done with. I dislike people taking an age to pass me and seeming to linger in the 3/4 rear blindspot. It's most annoying when their progress is that slow that they box you into the NS lane and you're forced to ease off and sometimes brake because of stuff ahead in the lane in front.

I think it may have been a DHL van that actually moved to the outer of three lanes to ensure it didn't block me into the NS lane on an 3 lane A-road recently. I thought it's going to box me into the NS lane when I want to move out to pass this truck ahead in my lane, but then the van closing on me moved over a lane leaving the middle lane free for me to move into and pass the truck in the NS lane.

People pulling out in front of you at junctions is something most of us have had.

Someone did it to me on a motorcycle once with my headlight on. Rather than back off, I kept going passing them on their OS that was rather stupid as I think my OS footrest was over the kerbing for a traffic island in the main, through road by that junction.

It would have been better to have eased off the throttle rather than think that I'd been disrespected or they'd pinched my piece of road by pulling out in front of me. I'm pretty sure there nothing behind me when they pulled out so they could have just have easily waited a bit and pulled out once I'd passed.

A police officer once said to me, people will do bad and silly things on the road and the best thing to do is let it wash over you, concentrate on your own driving and do not escalate matters or get involved in their accident.

I used to routinely see an elderly gent in a straw hat driving an Alfa 166. I can't say his driving ever caused me any concern.

Thanks - that's unfortunate but sadly not surprising about the Police.

As above I agree about the overtaking and again I try to be accommodating to other road users - for example looking at the speed and positioning of two vehicles in the inside lane to see if one looks likely to overtake, and pre-emtively pulling into the outside lane to give them room (assuming it's safe of course). Likewise pulling over to let vehicles on at sliproads etc.. I really appreciate it when people extend such consideration to me, and IME a little bit of thought just makes everyone's life so much easier and more pleasant.

As with your motorcycle example I struggle not to react to what I perceive as inconsiderate and disrespectful driving - it takes a big man to admit his faults and an even bigger one to change his behaviour accordingly IMO.

I totally agree about keeping a cool head and letting it wash over you -sadly sometimes I struggle to hold my temper when someone has just nearly written me off..

john2443 said:

iva cosworth said:

What car is it ?.....

Profile says Golf GTI 16v, but I suspect that's out of date

Sadly it is - the Golf went a year or two ago

To replace this seminal icon of '80s hot-hatchery I now have a nice, solid navy blue 2001 Volvo V40 estate. Practical, reliable, comfortable, holds the road surprisingly well and sounds nice when wound up.. but slow, insular and uninspring - I can't help but feel that a little piece of me dies every time I drive it.

hairyben said:

I think you're crediting crap driver mongtards with far to much thought and consideration to wonder that your car makes that much difference, I drive a van and people still try it on, constantly. I don't think most of them are even that aware or trying to be "aggressive" with the tailgating, pulling out directly in front etc, they're just the very st driver thats a product of the selfishness of today coupled with the dumbing down of road policing, running around with radar guns etc etc and ignoring most of the other stuff.

I think you're right to a point, although I still maintain that the stupidity isn't the only factor at work here.

aw51 121565 said:

Certainly GMP wouldn't be interested...

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/13629593.Top_c...

This following a car vs. bicycle accident which the police didn't attend. Not having a go at the police - but he makes some interesting comments .

As with the other Police example above, unfortunate but sadly not surprising


So.. I'll try and chill out a bit (although I find that's easier said than done when some prick has just nearly stuffed you and your mrs into the central reservation).

Dashcams are that cheap now that I might still buy one to prove accident liability / special occasions (like the prize bellend in a minibus who tried to undertake me over the cross-hatching of a single-lane sliproad some months ago) but I won't expect any Police interest.

I'm sure the good people of Pistonheads are always happy act as judge and jury in such situations though!

Thanks again for all the thoughts

[colonel c]

It's still worth investing in a dash cam though. Fit and forget. If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a incident of some kind it could pay for it's self many times over. On the other hand, it might drop you in the st if you are at fault.
However predominately recording my own driving, I find that I'm very aware of my own conduct on the road. Unfortunately there are far too many dash/helmet cam warriors out there who to set out to cause incidents on our roads.

[Welshbeef]

colonel c said:

It's still worth investing in a dash cam though. Fit and forget. If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a incident of some kind it could pay for it's self many times over. On the other hand, it might drop you in the st if you are at fault.
However predominately recording my own driving, I find that I'm very aware of my own conduct on the road. Unfortunately there are far too many dash/helmet cam warriors out there who to set out to cause incidents on our roads.

Surely if you are at fault you'd accept that and take it on the chin.

I'm sure those scumbags who lie about them being at fault may then decide not to share the camera info so kind of all bases covered.

Maid that black chap who keyed the Aston M get nailed in the end?

[pits]

jamieduff1981 said:

What you describe is why "Q cars" or "sleepers" are rubbish and why it's not good to be considered normal on the road.

This is my biggest gripe about "sleepers" the amount of people that would see my Legnum as a white estate car, as opposed to a white estate car that is making progress and would just pull out, or the 540i green 5 series saloon with beige leather, old man I'll pull out, oh I seem to have almost caused an accident I shall carry on oblivious.

[Republik1980]

Cheers guys - given how cheap dashcams have become I think I might as well look into one.. ultimately it might get me out of the st one day and might even encourage me to improve my own driving too

[Alex@POD]

Be wary of trying to report bad driving caught on dashcam, if you are doing "70+" as the bad driving is recorded, you risk shining the spotlight on your own driving. It's probably safer than the other guy, but the law is the law and all that...

[Hackney]

samoht said:

If you frame the problem as incompetence rather than disrespect, it's less stressful and easier to address.

jamieduff1981 said:

Best avoided than recorded IMO.

Get rid of that car and get something that looks a bit faster and with more road presence.

What you describe is why "Q cars" or "sleepers" are rubbish and why it's not good to be considered normal on the road.

People don't like you when you have an intimidating car, but they don't pull out in front of you so much either. Personally I'm happy for them to not like me so long as they grumble behind me and not slowly in front.

Do you think the average motorist knows what a car with "road presence" is?
This is why sales of "M" and "AMG" badges far outstrip the cars, most people haven't got a clue.

Q cars are not rubbish, far from it. I'd much rather have, say a Passat W8 than a BMW 320d with M badges on it. The people who pull out like this haven't seen a car and thought, "it's inferior and driven by an old codger so I'll pull out", they've not got the brain capacity for that.
They're just not looking, not seeing, or stupid. Possibly all three.