Report a drunk driver?

[theaxe]

Driving out for Sunday lunch yesterday I was following an S-Type which seemed to be swerving around the road. It caused a couple of oncoming cars to dive into the ditch/hedge. Through every village it seemed to stop randomly before continuing.

What should one do in this situation? Call 999?

Also should you follow it to track it's location or would you get busted for using a phone on the move?

BTW the last thing I saw was the driver trying to execute a 10 point turn on a crossroads.

[tvrgit]

A couple of yearsago there was a man in a Maestro driving like an arse in a queue of commuters. After watching several "up the verge" and "opposite side of the road" escapades about 3 cars back, I decided to phone - only to be told that the police were already aware, they'd had a few calls.

He charged past us using a right turn lane and just missed a keep left bollard and disappeared up the road. It was very clear, just looking across as he passed, that he was pissed or stoned or something...

At the next major junction (a roundabout) there were two trafpol cars waiting - one circulated the roundabout so ended up in front of him, one pulled out behind, and stopped him in the next layby.

The car was still there for two days after, so I assume he was lifted on the spot. On day 3 the car disappeared but there was a lot of broken glass and a burnt bit on the road - it doesn't do to get stopped in some places...

[Davel]

Ring Police and maybe follow from a safe distance whilst waiting for them.

It could be a member of your family that he kills or injures.

No sympathy - make the call!

[theaxe]

Humm, wish I had now.

At the time I thought I was being silly, I convinced myself it was just some old woman who was crap at driving but looking back they were swerving quite badly...

Next time I'll call the feds (and hopefully not get done for using the phone).

Thanks guys.

[vonhosen]

theaxe said:

Humm, wish I had now.

At the time I thought I was being silly, I convinced myself it was just some old woman who was crap at driving but looking back they were swerving quite badly...

Next time I'll call the feds (and hopefully not get done for using the phone).

Thanks guys.

No offence of phoning "999" on your mobile while driving. They are exempt.

[john57]

vonhosen said:

theaxe said:

Humm, wish I had now.

At the time I thought I was being silly, I convinced myself it was just some old woman who was crap at driving but looking back they were swerving quite badly...

Next time I'll call the feds (and hopefully not get done for using the phone).

Thanks guys.

No offence of phoning "999" on your mobile while driving. They are exempt.

Yep, definitely right - I did it the other day when I saw a young lady cycling in lane one the wrong way along the A3 towards oncoming traffic near Tolworth (3 lane dual carriageway with no hard shoulder)

After doing a double take to check I wasn't seeing things I thought it best to make a quick call before she got wiped out ! They never did find her so either she came to her senses and got off the road or is now stuck to the underside of a heavy somewhere

[martind]

Davel said:

Ring Police and maybe follow from a safe distance whilst waiting for them.

It could be a member of your family that he kills or injures.

No sympathy - make the call!

My thoughts exactly .possible drunk driver, MAKE THE CALL , better safe than sorry.

[BOF]

Axe,

Depending on where you live, how many S Types around (colour?), how many country pubs in your locality, popular for Sunday lunches...from what kind of local area? Etc Etc Etc.

Maybe Von or some of his mates have a quiet Sunday duty sometimes...why not have a belated chat to your local Trafpol...might get him next time?

observer.

[theaxe]

Loads of pubs, quite a lot of S-Types.

I'll put this one down to experience.

Thanks for all of the posts guys.

[KB_S1]

Done it myself on the M/Way, car in front was all over the place. Weaving between lanes and randomly stamping on the brakes. Got the GF to call 999 and report vehicle reg/location and behaviour.
We pulled off 3 miles later without seeing any trafpol so Don't know if they were pulled or not.

[KB_S1]

Done it myself on the M/Way, car in front was all over the place. Weaving between lanes and randomly stamping on the brakes. Got the GF to call 999 and report vehicle reg/location and behaviour.
We pulled off 3 miles later without seeing any trafpol so Don't know if they were pulled or not.

[towman]

vonhosen said:

theaxe said:

Humm, wish I had now.

At the time I thought I was being silly, I convinced myself it was just some old woman who was crap at driving but looking back they were swerving quite badly...

Next time I'll call the feds (and hopefully not get done for using the phone).

Thanks guys.

No offence of phoning "999" on your mobile while driving. They are exempt.

I understand why it is not illegal to call 999, but how ridiculous is that?

Driving up a deserted motorway and using a phone could get me a £1000 fine becuase it`s "dangerous", yet get involved in a "follow" while reporting an unsafe driver and the danger suddenly disappears!

It seems daft when Thames Valley currently have a zero tolerance stance on the use of phone

[Zod]

towman said:

vonhosen said:

theaxe said:

Humm, wish I had now.

At the time I thought I was being silly, I convinced myself it was just some old woman who was crap at driving but looking back they were swerving quite badly...

Next time I'll call the feds (and hopefully not get done for using the phone).

Thanks guys.

No offence of phoning "999" on your mobile while driving. They are exempt.

I understand why it is not illegal to call 999, but how ridiculous is that?

Driving up a deserted motorway and using a phone could get me a £1000 fine becuase it`s "dangerous", yet get involved in a "follow" while reporting an unsafe driver and the danger suddenly disappears!

It seems daft when Thames Valley currently have a zero tolerance stance on the use of phone

It's a matter of balance of risk: in this case, the risk of using the phone is outweighed by the risk posed by the drunk driver if he is not reported and stopped.

[towman]

Zod said:

]It's a matter of balance of risk: in this case, the risk of using the phone is outweighed by the risk posed by the drunk driver if he is not reported and stopped.

Obviously I understand that, it`s just that cuurrent spin on mobile phone use puts you in the same category as an axe murderer! Pretty much the same as the "speed kills" mantra.

[TonyHetherington]

Yup - if you think it, DO IT! The worst that could happen is that they're stopped and breathalysed and found not to be drunk. (though crap driving then needs another reason).

Persuaded my mum to do this recently; she works in a place that serves alcohol and every friday night a couple come in and polish off two bottles of wine (equally drunk). The guy then drives home. She was umming and urrrring would it be right. ABSO BLOODY LUTELY.

[Zod]

towman said:

Zod said:

]It's a matter of balance of risk: in this case, the risk of using the phone is outweighed by the risk posed by the drunk driver if he is not reported and stopped.

Obviously I understand that, it`s just that cuurrent spin on mobile phone use puts you in the same category as an axe murderer! Pretty much the same as the "speed kills" mantra.

While I am against this country's speed limits policy, I have no problem with the mobile phone legislation other than the lack of enforcement. I see several people a day driving erratically with mobile phones either clamped to the ear or being used to text.

I cannot fathom the number of morons I see in expensive cars with standard phone integration who don't use that but their handheld. I passed another M5 yesterday (still quite a rare occurence, even in London), but the other driver didn't notice becasue he was using a handheld phone.

[towman]

Zod said:

I passed another M5 yesterday (still quite a rare occurence, even in London), but the other driver didn't notice becasue he was using a handheld phone.

He was probably ringing 999 to report that other cars were on "his" road !

[Zod]

towman said:

Zod said:

I passed another M5 yesterday (still quite a rare occurence, even in London), but the other driver didn't notice becasue he was using a handheld phone.

He was probably ringing 999 to report that other cars were on "his" road !

I didn't think of that. I suppose you could be right.

[Egbert Nobacon]

Zod said:

towman said:

Zod said:

I passed another M5 yesterday (still quite a rare occurence, even in London), but the other driver didn't notice becasue he was using a handheld phone.

He was probably ringing 999 to report that other cars were on "his" road !

I didn't think of that. I suppose you could be right.

Or phoning BMW customer services because he couldn't get his in car phone to work using that bloody i drive thingy

[Zod]

Egbert Nobacon said:

Zod said:

towman said:

Zod said:

I passed another M5 yesterday (still quite a rare occurence, even in London), but the other driver didn't notice becasue he was using a handheld phone.

He was probably ringing 999 to report that other cars were on "his" road !

I didn't think of that. I suppose you could be right.

Or phoning BMW customer services because he couldn't get his in car phone to work using that bloody i drive thingy

You don't need to. You just push the controller up and scroll to BMW Assist and tell them you can't use the phone. Or you push the voice button and say "BMW Assist".

We're getting off-topic now, but frankly anyone who can use a mouse can use iDrive. It's not perfect and has one or two irritations, but it is easy.