How to I report a dangerous driver?
Discussion
I just managed to avoid a serious accident cause by some mantalist who apparently thought I was coming through a corner too fast (I was gaining on him a bit) so did an emergency stop. I braked and began to overtake him (there was enough visibility) so he swerved over the road and braked some more. It was a good job I was on the ball and the car was clever or he'd have probably caused a RTA.
When I stopped him a little way up the road to enquire as to what his plan had been he seemed to think that his action was in some way going to save an accident from happening, he remained unconvinced by my assertion that it had almost caused one.
How can I arrange for John Law to visit and explain things to him? Perferably by means of a charge of some sort?
Thanks
SM
When I stopped him a little way up the road to enquire as to what his plan had been he seemed to think that his action was in some way going to save an accident from happening, he remained unconvinced by my assertion that it had almost caused one.
How can I arrange for John Law to visit and explain things to him? Perferably by means of a charge of some sort?
Thanks
SM
Yup, your word against theirs unfortunately, which is exactly why more TrafPol on the road might see this kind of behaviour, and curb the bad habits before they form into what this other driver found acceptable for daily driving.
Another reason why defensive driving and assume everyone else on the road is a complete novice mentalist, because chances are these days they are!
Dave
Another reason why defensive driving and assume everyone else on the road is a complete novice mentalist, because chances are these days they are!
Dave
Ah, but is it not possible to go to your local station and make a statement over the alleged offences and have the guy brought in for questioning?
I know exactly that happened to me when a MOP reported me and I had to go to my local police station and explain myself. The MOP in question did indeed have a detailed description of me and my car and where I had travelled. It came to nothing but I was $hitting myself for weeks until the charges were dropped.
I pressume this is still possible...?
Cheers,
Stev
I know exactly that happened to me when a MOP reported me and I had to go to my local police station and explain myself. The MOP in question did indeed have a detailed description of me and my car and where I had travelled. It came to nothing but I was $hitting myself for weeks until the charges were dropped.
I pressume this is still possible...?
Cheers,
Stev
Well although both our stories would be heard, he seemed so adamant about being justified in nearly causing a pile up, he'd probably continue along the same lines:
Me: Cornering, gaining, he braked savagely then swerved all over the road to make sure I ran into him. (but of course I didn't though)
Him: He came up behind me in the corner and he was going so fast that I braked hard to slow him down.
We're both making the same claim, right? Apart from he doesn't realise what he did constitutes dangerous driving so amounts to a confession???
I'll take his number etc down to the local police HQ in Norwich. At least if the police actually call him in and speak to him he might learn from his mistake.
Never had any road rage before but it really was touch and go here. Perhaps I should have just laid him straight out. There were no other cars about / witnesses. I've seen some dumbarses on my travels but this prick really took the biscuit.
SM
Me: Cornering, gaining, he braked savagely then swerved all over the road to make sure I ran into him. (but of course I didn't though)
Him: He came up behind me in the corner and he was going so fast that I braked hard to slow him down.
We're both making the same claim, right? Apart from he doesn't realise what he did constitutes dangerous driving so amounts to a confession???
I'll take his number etc down to the local police HQ in Norwich. At least if the police actually call him in and speak to him he might learn from his mistake.
Never had any road rage before but it really was touch and go here. Perhaps I should have just laid him straight out. There were no other cars about / witnesses. I've seen some dumbarses on my travels but this prick really took the biscuit.
SM
I think one important issue that is being overlooked is the other drivers perception of you and your driving. Whether you are totally and utterly in the right is by the by. If you driving causes other drivers to react in that way then you need to be:
1) aware of it
2) prepare for them to do something silly.
When I am looking to get past a slower vehicle and feel that an opportunity might arise after the next bend, the trick is to move from the following position to the overtaking position slowly and discretely. I'm not suggesting you flew up behind him unsafely but clearly he thought you did.
1) aware of it
2) prepare for them to do something silly.
When I am looking to get past a slower vehicle and feel that an opportunity might arise after the next bend, the trick is to move from the following position to the overtaking position slowly and discretely. I'm not suggesting you flew up behind him unsafely but clearly he thought you did.
volvos70t5 said:
When I am looking to get past a slower vehicle and feel that an opportunity might arise after the next bend, the trick is to move from the following position to the overtaking position slowly and discretely.
Do you mean indicate, pull out, then accelerate past?
I drive a relatively low powered car and this simply isnt possible in many situations as many people accelerate (consiously or subconsiously) as you over-take them. This is also an issue when people are driving at/near the speed limit on straight bits and slow down more than I would in the corners.
If I'm about to overtake I drop back quite abit, accelerate, indicate, pullout a reasonable way behind them and pass with about 20mph speed difference.
This way you give them plenty of time to see you are about to overtake, and have enough speed difference to get passed them quickly (safely).
It would be interesting to hear others views on this
supermono said:
so did an emergency stop. I braked and began to overtake him (there was enough visibility) so he swerved overI just managed to avoid a serious accident cause by some mantalist who apparently thought I was coming through a corner too fast
Sounds like as bad as each other.
Just have a few beers and get over it
hang on its coming to me...... ...Was this him ? According to Norfolk Police he lives around here 
(PH thread about the photo here)
Seriously, roughly whereabouts did this happen - I live near Norwich and would be interested to find out. PM me if you dont want to put it on display here
>> Edited by njwc on Friday 10th February 22:04
(PH thread about the photo here) Seriously, roughly whereabouts did this happen - I live near Norwich and would be interested to find out. PM me if you dont want to put it on display here
>> Edited by njwc on Friday 10th February 22:04
supermono said:
Well although both our stories would be heard, he seemed so adamant about being justified in nearly causing a pile up, he'd probably continue along the same lines:
Me: Cornering, gaining, he braked savagely then swerved all over the road to make sure I ran into him. (but of course I didn't though)
Him: He came up behind me in the corner and he was going so fast that I braked hard to slow him down.
We're both making the same claim, right? Apart from he doesn't realise what he did constitutes dangerous driving so amounts to a confession???
I'll take his number etc down to the local police HQ in Norwich. At least if the police actually call him in and speak to him he might learn from his mistake.
Never had any road rage before but it really was touch and go here. Perhaps I should have just laid him straight out. There were no other cars about / witnesses. I've seen some dumbarses on my travels but this prick really took the biscuit.
SM
Although I have heard people say he may deny the incident, I believe you are right. If someone is so set in their ways and confident that what they were doing was right to put themselves in danger to prove it and knowingly potentially cause an accident, then I would have thought when questioned he would be telling the police officers the same!
I support you on this one, I would feel the same way. let us know how you get on with the police and if they are interested in following this up.
hugh_ said:
When I am looking to get past a slower vehicle and feel that an opportunity might arise after the next bend, the trick is to move from the following position to the overtaking position slowly and discretely.
Do you mean indicate, pull out, then accelerate past?
I drive a relatively low powered car and this simply isnt possible in many situations as many people accelerate (consiously or subconsiously) as you over-take them. This is also an issue when people are driving at/near the speed limit on straight bits and slow down more than I would in the corners.
If I'm about to overtake I drop back quite abit, accelerate, indicate, pullout a reasonable way behind them and pass with about 20mph speed difference.
This way you give them plenty of time to see you are about to overtake, and have enough speed difference to get passed them quickly (safely).
It would be interesting to hear others views on this
In the sequence you describe, when do you decide that the overtake is on?
For the record, I'd omitted a couple of details.
Stopping him: well he stopped himself actually. I followed for about a mile during which time he was doing the w@nker sign now and then and driving eratically. There was nowhere safe for me to overtake him during that time, especially since I couldn't guarantee him not trying to kill me again, and anyway I was turning right after that mile. When we approached my turn, I signalled and flashed my lights a few times pointing right, suggesting that if he'd like to discuss anything, I'm going this way so he's welcome to come too and stop on the minor road rather than obstructing the trunk road. I was never in front of his car.
Instead he decided to do another emergency stop on the main road -- he ended up with o/s wheels on the white line as I said. I had no choice but to stop behind since it was leading into a corner.
But yes, my driving certainly caused him to think I was going too fast and was being dangerous (though not so fast and dangerous that I couldn't avert the accident he tried to cause, it seems). But I guess that's not the point. The point is that his mind computed braking hard in front of me mid corner was the correct way to deal with the perceived situation. And that's why he needs telling different.
Also I had no plans to overtake him as I approached. At that speed the visibility wasn't good enough through the corner it was only has he jammed on the brakes that the opportunity arose. Instead I was easing off so as to arrive at a reasonable distance from him mid corner. I didn't anticipate having to brake (another sign that I wasn't mad arsing up behind him)
SM
Stopping him: well he stopped himself actually. I followed for about a mile during which time he was doing the w@nker sign now and then and driving eratically. There was nowhere safe for me to overtake him during that time, especially since I couldn't guarantee him not trying to kill me again, and anyway I was turning right after that mile. When we approached my turn, I signalled and flashed my lights a few times pointing right, suggesting that if he'd like to discuss anything, I'm going this way so he's welcome to come too and stop on the minor road rather than obstructing the trunk road. I was never in front of his car.
Instead he decided to do another emergency stop on the main road -- he ended up with o/s wheels on the white line as I said. I had no choice but to stop behind since it was leading into a corner.
But yes, my driving certainly caused him to think I was going too fast and was being dangerous (though not so fast and dangerous that I couldn't avert the accident he tried to cause, it seems). But I guess that's not the point. The point is that his mind computed braking hard in front of me mid corner was the correct way to deal with the perceived situation. And that's why he needs telling different.
Also I had no plans to overtake him as I approached. At that speed the visibility wasn't good enough through the corner it was only has he jammed on the brakes that the opportunity arose. Instead I was easing off so as to arrive at a reasonable distance from him mid corner. I didn't anticipate having to brake (another sign that I wasn't mad arsing up behind him)
SM
When I stopped him a little way up the road to enquire as to what his plan had been he seemed to think that his action was in some way going to save an accident from happening, he remained unconvinced by my assertion that it had almost caused one.
How can I arrange for John Law to visit and explain things to him? Perferably by means of a charge of some sort?
Thanks
SM[/quote]
you stopped him .....how excactly !!!!
road rage !!!
quote 1 kenny Noye !!!!!!
Leave up to plod next time , its not worth raising your blood pressure , stick on a chill out tape .............
there will always be some nutter out there on the road ........best advice dont get involved.
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