Accident - Metropolitan Police Incident form - Payback !

[snarfy]

Hi,

I was knocked off my motorbike recently and have finally had one of those police incident forms to fill in describing the sequence of events. I have a question relating to the part that reads....

If there is sufficient evidence we have four ways to deal with the case.....
i) Offender may be summonsed
ii) Offender may be offered driver improvment course
iii) Offender may be warned
iv) no action

I'm caught between i and ii. Head says ii but my heart of course, says i. Any suggestions and does my opinion actually matter in cases such as this ?

Thanks

[JustinP1]

I don't think its like a tick box where you get to choose the outcome!

On the back you might see a list of punishments you can 'recommend' too!

[Davel]

v) Hang em high!

[Hooli]

vi) kick 'em up the arse

i'd vote for summonsed, people view courses as getting let off. summons should help them realise they have to look when driving.

[wiliferus]

I think you need to look at the cause of the accident -

If the other party was driving like a tool and should have known better then they deserve to go to court and have points added.

If the accident was as a result of a momentary lack of concentration, or a slight error of judgement then the improvement course is the way to go.

If they go to court they are going to walk out of court no better driver, just with points. The course may make them a slightly better driver and less likely to clobber another road user in the future.

[Gafferjim]

As an ex-motorcyclist for many years, until one of the "sorry, I didn't see you" brigade got me, I believe that you've missed option (v) off the list, this should read:.....................

v) You are a motorcyclist, a second class citizen, so it's your fault anyway no matter what!!! [/rant]

[snarfy]

Did sound a bit like push button A for instant justice !

Lets just say he moved across from his lane straight in front of me causing me to brake so hard and try to avoid him that I lost the front on some road markings. He didn't even look before moving.
I like the idea of the course because its education but to me the best course would be for him to ride a motorcycle for a day :-) Might improve his observation, but, he may also see it as a soft option.

So i'm still not sure. Maybe I should ask for a vote ........

[snarfy]

funnily enough...his first words were the immortal.....sorry..I didn't see you....

He did seem genuinely sorry but i'm rather lucky i didn't hit the kerb or get run over. It was on the north circular at 7am in the morning so not exactly a quiet, slow road.

He's not the one with a screwed up shoulder ;-)