Anti-social driving
Discussion
I live in a rural area, off and on we've always had the odd boy racer or apprentice drifter come through; recently it's started to become much more frequent. It hasn't been hard to work out that a few of them are tenants on the local farm and two other groups live in villages either end of the lanes.
We've all been there, but even when I was late teens/early 20's I knew better than to drive like a knob on narrow lanes, (sub 10ft wide in some places, and generally no more than 20 yards clear sight) especially ones that were only two mins from my front door.
I have tried talking to them; I just got laughed at.
Last night I had to get in the hedge to avoid a young lady in a tuned golf. She very helpfully told me that she wasn't even doing 60, and she would be allowed to do 60 because it's a NSL road... didn't seem to occur to her that as a result of her driving like a t
t both of our cars now have scratches from the hedgerows. (She drives it flat out everywhere, even up and down the farm tracks - so I'm kind of in admiration of the fact it hasn't self destructed yet)
I've contacted the land owner about the tenants as their road driving in their own cars is the same as it is in his farm vehicles, i.e. appalling.
Reports have been made to the police a few times with no action taken, I suspect nothing will be done until one of them hits a horse or cyclist.
Not sure what I'm expecting from the PH massive on this one, but any practical advice or options would be good. (Also well prepared for the time honoured "Move house" response)
Edit: speeeeeling
We've all been there, but even when I was late teens/early 20's I knew better than to drive like a knob on narrow lanes, (sub 10ft wide in some places, and generally no more than 20 yards clear sight) especially ones that were only two mins from my front door.
I have tried talking to them; I just got laughed at.
Last night I had to get in the hedge to avoid a young lady in a tuned golf. She very helpfully told me that she wasn't even doing 60, and she would be allowed to do 60 because it's a NSL road... didn't seem to occur to her that as a result of her driving like a t
t both of our cars now have scratches from the hedgerows. (She drives it flat out everywhere, even up and down the farm tracks - so I'm kind of in admiration of the fact it hasn't self destructed yet)I've contacted the land owner about the tenants as their road driving in their own cars is the same as it is in his farm vehicles, i.e. appalling.
Reports have been made to the police a few times with no action taken, I suspect nothing will be done until one of them hits a horse or cyclist.
Not sure what I'm expecting from the PH massive on this one, but any practical advice or options would be good. (Also well prepared for the time honoured "Move house" response)
Edit: speeeeeling
Edited by BrettMRC on Thursday 29th September 10:07
Frustrating, but not a lot you can do in reality if the Police won't get involved.
Maybe get down there and discreetly film some of the goings-on. But that will take a stakeout of some commitment.
Maybe get down there and discreetly film some of the goings-on. But that will take a stakeout of some commitment.
BrettMRC said:
I've contacted the land owner about the tenants as their road driving in their own cars is the same as it is in his farm vehicles, i.e. appaulling.
Not sure what help the land owner can be unless he's a parent of those involved....?
randlemarcus said:
Your garage seems to be missing a vehicle that will allow you not to dive into the hedgerows...
Yep:https://www.jukinmedia.com/licensing/view/977375
On the one side I would concede that they aren’t doing anything illegal and no kittens have yet been killed/kids will gain wisdom over time etc.
However, as it’s clearly bad enough for someone like yourself who IS a long term member of a motoring forum to complain about it, I have to also concede that it’s more than just a minor annoyance.
You do need to stop openly complaining. That just makes you the obvious point of revenge should somebody actually do something about them. You will be the number one suspect.
However, as it’s clearly bad enough for someone like yourself who IS a long term member of a motoring forum to complain about it, I have to also concede that it’s more than just a minor annoyance.
You do need to stop openly complaining. That just makes you the obvious point of revenge should somebody actually do something about them. You will be the number one suspect.
Hol said:
On the one side I would concede that they aren’t doing anything illegal and no kittens have yet been killed/kids will gain wisdom over time etc.
However, as it’s clearly bad enough for someone like yourself who IS a long term member of a motoring forum to complain about it, I have to also concede that it’s more than just a minor annoyance.
You do need to stop openly complaining. That just makes you the obvious point of revenge should somebody actually do something about them. You will be the number one suspect.
From what the OP says it last due care. However, as it’s clearly bad enough for someone like yourself who IS a long term member of a motoring forum to complain about it, I have to also concede that it’s more than just a minor annoyance.
You do need to stop openly complaining. That just makes you the obvious point of revenge should somebody actually do something about them. You will be the number one suspect.
OP if you have dash cam footage you could send it to your local force. They may have OP Snap which deal with dash cam submissions.
if it’s anything like my force, it will be looked at and risk assessed, depending on how it’s graded depends how urgently it’s dealt with.
Edited to add. Which force area did it happen in? I’ve got friends in Somerset, Wilts and Dorset I could follow it up if you want (feel free to email me).
Edited by LosingGrip on Thursday 29th September 13:11
It happens a lot where I live - rural Shropshire. We've got a lot of NSL single carriageways, some are suitable for 60, some really aren't.
The one that always gets me is the road that runs from our village out to the A49, which is usually suitable for 60 (and more if you ignore the speed limit), except when the farmers have been ploughing and dropped copious amounts of mud over the road. Every year, without fail, some moron fails to understand that lots of mud = not much grip, and bins their car straight through a hedge into a field. On one occasion they binned it so hard the car went through the field, down a bank and onto a railway line. Another one managed to roll their 1 series as they went through the hedge. A lot of folks round here also seem to think that they're fine doing 60+ along a road that's < 3m wide, with hedges each side, and blind bends every 100m or so. One thing that some of them soon learn is that a tractor that's towing a trailer won't necessarily stop for them.
It seems that basic observation of road conditions doesn't seem to be present in many drivers at the moment. I'm not sure if this is simply not taught when they're learning, or if they just forget about it as soon as they've passed the test. You only have to look at the 'Bad Drivers' channels on Youtube to see that most drivers seem to be unable to observe and understand the roads and conditions around them - hazard perception appears to be almost non-existent.
As for what you can do about it? Not much. Most of these drivers won't learn until they bin the car; the police are understaffed and can't / won't do anything until something serious happens. I know that many of our locals still sink a few pints in the social club and drive home on a Saturday night, because there's no police enforcement round here, due to the lack of police generally.
The one that always gets me is the road that runs from our village out to the A49, which is usually suitable for 60 (and more if you ignore the speed limit), except when the farmers have been ploughing and dropped copious amounts of mud over the road. Every year, without fail, some moron fails to understand that lots of mud = not much grip, and bins their car straight through a hedge into a field. On one occasion they binned it so hard the car went through the field, down a bank and onto a railway line. Another one managed to roll their 1 series as they went through the hedge. A lot of folks round here also seem to think that they're fine doing 60+ along a road that's < 3m wide, with hedges each side, and blind bends every 100m or so. One thing that some of them soon learn is that a tractor that's towing a trailer won't necessarily stop for them.
It seems that basic observation of road conditions doesn't seem to be present in many drivers at the moment. I'm not sure if this is simply not taught when they're learning, or if they just forget about it as soon as they've passed the test. You only have to look at the 'Bad Drivers' channels on Youtube to see that most drivers seem to be unable to observe and understand the roads and conditions around them - hazard perception appears to be almost non-existent.
As for what you can do about it? Not much. Most of these drivers won't learn until they bin the car; the police are understaffed and can't / won't do anything until something serious happens. I know that many of our locals still sink a few pints in the social club and drive home on a Saturday night, because there's no police enforcement round here, due to the lack of police generally.
Edited by Magnum 475 on Thursday 29th September 13:29
If you don't already have one, get a dashcam so at least you can gather some evidence of their manner of driving.
Might be a bit of a cringe suggestion, but if you know where they live you could write a letter and without preaching, just make the simple point that driving too fast on country roads can have awful repercussions and maybe link the famous 10 pence short thread (ordinary bloke out for a drive with mates who nearly killed a biker and was sent to prison).
Otherwise, collect dashcam evidence, report to police and local councillors, share on local facebook groups etc until the message gets across.
Might be a bit of a cringe suggestion, but if you know where they live you could write a letter and without preaching, just make the simple point that driving too fast on country roads can have awful repercussions and maybe link the famous 10 pence short thread (ordinary bloke out for a drive with mates who nearly killed a biker and was sent to prison).
Otherwise, collect dashcam evidence, report to police and local councillors, share on local facebook groups etc until the message gets across.
Magnum 475 said:
It happens a lot where I live - rural Shropshire. We've got a lot of NSL single carriageways, some are suitable for 60, some really aren't.
The one that always gets me is the road that runs from our village out to the A49, which is usually suitable for 60 (and more if you ignore the speed limit), except when the farmers have been ploughing and dropped copious amounts of mud over the road. Every year, without fail, some moron fails to understand that lots of mud = not much grip, and bins their car straight through a hedge into a field. On one occasion they binned it so hard the car went through the field, down a bank and onto a railway line. Another one managed to roll their 1 series as they went through the hedge. A lot of folks round here also seem to think that they're fine doing 60+ along a road that's < 3m wide, with hedges each side, and blind bends every 100m or so. One thing that some of them soon learn is that a tractor that's towing a trailer won't necessarily stop for them.
It seems that basic observation of road conditions doesn't seem to be present in many drivers at the moment. I'm not sure if this is simply not taught when they're learning, or if they just forget about it as soon as they've passed the test. You only have to look at the 'Bad Drivers' channels on Youtube to see that most drivers seem to be unable to observe and understand the roads and conditions around them - hazard perception appears to be almost non-existent.
As for what you can do about it? Not much. Most of these drivers won't learn until they bin the car; the police are understaffed and can't / won't do anything until something serious happens. I know that many of our locals still sink a few pints in the social club and drive home on a Saturday night, because there's no police enforcement round here, due to the lack of police generally.
One of the unintended consequences of the absurd focus on "speed kills" mantra.The one that always gets me is the road that runs from our village out to the A49, which is usually suitable for 60 (and more if you ignore the speed limit), except when the farmers have been ploughing and dropped copious amounts of mud over the road. Every year, without fail, some moron fails to understand that lots of mud = not much grip, and bins their car straight through a hedge into a field. On one occasion they binned it so hard the car went through the field, down a bank and onto a railway line. Another one managed to roll their 1 series as they went through the hedge. A lot of folks round here also seem to think that they're fine doing 60+ along a road that's < 3m wide, with hedges each side, and blind bends every 100m or so. One thing that some of them soon learn is that a tractor that's towing a trailer won't necessarily stop for them.
It seems that basic observation of road conditions doesn't seem to be present in many drivers at the moment. I'm not sure if this is simply not taught when they're learning, or if they just forget about it as soon as they've passed the test. You only have to look at the 'Bad Drivers' channels on Youtube to see that most drivers seem to be unable to observe and understand the roads and conditions around them - hazard perception appears to be almost non-existent.
As for what you can do about it? Not much. Most of these drivers won't learn until they bin the car; the police are understaffed and can't / won't do anything until something serious happens. I know that many of our locals still sink a few pints in the social club and drive home on a Saturday night, because there's no police enforcement round here, due to the lack of police generally.
Edited by Magnum 475 on Thursday 29th September 13:29
Yes, there's an unhealthy obsession with the speed limit enforced by cameras and the "OH MY GOD I'LL DIE IF I DO 72 ON THE MOTORWAY", but the other result is, "the limit is Xmph so it must be safe to do Xmph no matter the conditions"
Idiotic.
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