Did I do the right thing?
Discussion
LNot sure whether this should be in BB, SP&L or Health Matters... I had a bit of an incident on Wednesday and I'm trying to work out whether I did the right thing, or should there have been another course of action.
Riding the bike along a main trunk road in a built up 30 zone and a transit coming towards me swerves across the road and hits a van going the same direction as me about three cars ahead - doesn't stop and keeps going, weaving as it passes me. The guy that had been hit is sitting there dazed and he hasn't got the reg number, so I turn round and filter up to the van, which is still weaving around and narrowly missing a couple of other cars, now in an open 50 zone. It turns off at the next village and I manage to get alongside but the driver is wobbling around in the van, clearly very drunk from his actions and takes off again, before turning up a single track road, bouncing off the hedges. It reaches a pinch point and he is forced to stop for an oncoming car and I manage to get alongside as he pulls to a halt, grab his keys, park the bike a bit up the road and call the police, mostly blocking the road. he is a fairly big bloke, so I leave my helmet on in case he kicks off but he just stays in the seat and seems to fall asleep.
This is the bit that surprises me though, as the police arrive, they get him out of the seat with a bit of encouragement and he mumbles that he is diabetic. The police are suspicious but true to his word he blows a zero. So, the questions:
1. Should I have pursued?
2. Should I have expected a diabetic issue - it was about 6:30pm on a sunny afternoon, so I naturally assumed a liquid lunch that had raged out of control.
3. What signs should I have looked out for?
4. What is likely to happen to him next - dvla licence revocation, charged with leaving the scene of an accident etc.?
The guy that got hit m it turns out he was picking up a motorcycle (klr650 I think) and was midway through his trip back to London - first time he didn't take out extra insurance on the hire van, which I imagine is going to sting a little.
Riding the bike along a main trunk road in a built up 30 zone and a transit coming towards me swerves across the road and hits a van going the same direction as me about three cars ahead - doesn't stop and keeps going, weaving as it passes me. The guy that had been hit is sitting there dazed and he hasn't got the reg number, so I turn round and filter up to the van, which is still weaving around and narrowly missing a couple of other cars, now in an open 50 zone. It turns off at the next village and I manage to get alongside but the driver is wobbling around in the van, clearly very drunk from his actions and takes off again, before turning up a single track road, bouncing off the hedges. It reaches a pinch point and he is forced to stop for an oncoming car and I manage to get alongside as he pulls to a halt, grab his keys, park the bike a bit up the road and call the police, mostly blocking the road. he is a fairly big bloke, so I leave my helmet on in case he kicks off but he just stays in the seat and seems to fall asleep.
This is the bit that surprises me though, as the police arrive, they get him out of the seat with a bit of encouragement and he mumbles that he is diabetic. The police are suspicious but true to his word he blows a zero. So, the questions:
1. Should I have pursued?
2. Should I have expected a diabetic issue - it was about 6:30pm on a sunny afternoon, so I naturally assumed a liquid lunch that had raged out of control.
3. What signs should I have looked out for?
4. What is likely to happen to him next - dvla licence revocation, charged with leaving the scene of an accident etc.?
The guy that got hit m it turns out he was picking up a motorcycle (klr650 I think) and was midway through his trip back to London - first time he didn't take out extra insurance on the hire van, which I imagine is going to sting a little.
Of course you did the right thing, he could definitely have been pissed and caused a much worse accident further down the road.
I'd say you've done him a favour there as well, what's to say he wouldn't have passed out and not been able to get the medication he needed for his diabetes.
I'd say you've done him a favour there as well, what's to say he wouldn't have passed out and not been able to get the medication he needed for his diabetes.
roboxm3 said:
Of course you did the right thing, he could definitely have been pissed and caused a much worse accident further down the road.
I'd say you've done him a favour there as well, what's to say he wouldn't have passed out and not been able to get the medication he needed for his diabetes.
I think that is what is bothering me. I deliberately didn't engage with him as I didn't want to give him a chance to escalate into violence so he ended up sitting in the van for about 15 minutes. I worry that that delay may have made his condition worse, although I didn't have anything on me to help and I can't remember my medical training from last century...I'd say you've done him a favour there as well, what's to say he wouldn't have passed out and not been able to get the medication he needed for his diabetes.
roboxm3 said:
Of course you did the right thing, he could definitely have been pissed and caused a much worse accident further down the road.
I'd say you've done him a favour there as well, what's to say he wouldn't have passed out and not been able to get the medication he needed for his diabetes.
Agreed - the next thing he hit could have been a person.I'd say you've done him a favour there as well, what's to say he wouldn't have passed out and not been able to get the medication he needed for his diabetes.
The driver was having a diabetic hypo, and needed sugar. Some people with diabetes have less awareness of when their blood sugar is getting low, and before they can eat something they are approaching the state you describe. My grandad used to keep a packet of biscuits in the car with him for this reason, my ex-wife kept Mars bars or glucose tablets.
One incident like this per year is 'allowed'. If he has had a previous incident in the past year, or has another, his licence will be revoked and he will have to demonstrate ongoing effective control of his diabetes to his doctor before it's returned.
If you come across someone with diabetes in this condition again, they need sugar, usually in the form of glucose syrup (sugar dissolved in water will do) or a sugary drink like Coke and they will miraculously recover, as long as you don't choke them...
Plenty more info here:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/Diabetes-and-Hypoglycaem...
Edited by N Dentressangle on Friday 24th July 10:10
I think what you did was very admirable. I may have followed to get the reg number but I wouldn't have been brave enough to pursue and take the keys. As said above, you may have stopped him before he hit something/someone else. Good work OP!
Regarding the legal issues, I believe it depends on whether he was suffering a hypo or a hyper.
Regarding the legal issues, I believe it depends on whether he was suffering a hypo or a hyper.
Firstly, well done. Really impressed that you pursued to the point of removing the keys.
Considering the recent news story about the guy who lost his life as a result of road rage over a seemingly minor accident, I completely understand the principle of not engaging the driver and calling the police.
If you have concerns over your knowledge about what to do if you come across someone seemingly unwell, and your first aid knowledge is at least a century old, perhaps ask your workplace if they have any courses available, I know my place is always calling out for willing volunteers to cover the training.
Considering the recent news story about the guy who lost his life as a result of road rage over a seemingly minor accident, I completely understand the principle of not engaging the driver and calling the police.
If you have concerns over your knowledge about what to do if you come across someone seemingly unwell, and your first aid knowledge is at least a century old, perhaps ask your workplace if they have any courses available, I know my place is always calling out for willing volunteers to cover the training.
The guy failed to stop, no matter what other excuses, he could have killed someone or caused serious injury and was prepared to f*** off, keeping driving putting more and more people at risk!
Clearly, only giving an opinion on what has been posted by the OP, but people like this (attitude, not health) should not have a license IMHO.
I think you did the right thing, but if he'd have got out and murdered you with a lawnmower or something, 'society' advice seems to be stand back, do f*** all and watch, video on your phone & post on social media.
Clearly, only giving an opinion on what has been posted by the OP, but people like this (attitude, not health) should not have a license IMHO.
I think you did the right thing, but if he'd have got out and murdered you with a lawnmower or something, 'society' advice seems to be stand back, do f*** all and watch, video on your phone & post on social media.
Dick Turpin said:
I can't understand why the driver, knowing he was unfit to drive as he was having a diabetic episode, carried on driving.
They don't always know. It depends on the person how it hits them, some loose the sense of judgement to know it's hit them before others.Well done OP, I can't see a better course of action.
WOW!
Great respect for you.
You did exactly the right thing, as has been said before on this thread, I may have followed him, but would have probably held back from taking the keys.
I'm amazed that the police actually attended, my recent contact with the BiB hasn't shown them in a good light.
Being practical: Surely, in this instance Driver of the van that was hit can now claim from 3rd party's insurance as they now have details, hopefully easing the hirers 'pain'?
Well done again.
Tim
Great respect for you.
You did exactly the right thing, as has been said before on this thread, I may have followed him, but would have probably held back from taking the keys.
I'm amazed that the police actually attended, my recent contact with the BiB hasn't shown them in a good light.
Being practical: Surely, in this instance Driver of the van that was hit can now claim from 3rd party's insurance as they now have details, hopefully easing the hirers 'pain'?
Well done again.
Tim
I'm diabetic and you did the right thing, the signs of a hypo are very similar to drunkeness and the best thing to do was to prevent him from driving any more. He must check his blood sugar levels before driving and during driving if driving for an extended period. As someone above said it's well worth doing a first aid course and they do a biker specific one called biker down which may be very helpful for other reasons.
t. You definitely did the right thing. He should have stopped as soon as he felt the symptoms. Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff