Overtaking On Blind Bends

[bennyboysvuk]

For the last couple of weeks on my commute, I've seen a guy in a 2003 silver Polo driving erratically, going through red lights, driving down the middle of the road and finally today, making three attempts to drive on the wrong side of the road around blind corners into oncoming cars. Each time a car came round, both the Polo and the oncoming cars swerved to narrowly miss each other.

I've never felt quite so surprised by someone's intent to scare (or possibly harm) other road users. However, it seems that this kind of thing cannot be reported to the Police unless you have an independent witness or dash-cam footage and sadly, I can understand why.

Thus, all I can do is keep a decent gap between me and the Polo if I see it again and hope that any car he does hit doesn't come careering my way.

It does seem that if it's your word against someone else's, you can drive however the hell you want.

[lucido grigio]

Maybe you could report him in the hope you're not the only one doing so ,then with enough complaints the BiB will do something.

[BertBert]

Do you have the reg? I've but had problems reporting loonies before. I've only seen bad enough driving a couple of times, but managed to report it ok.
Bert

[kestral]

bennyboysvuk said:

For the last couple of weeks on my commute, I've seen a guy in a 2003 silver Polo driving erratically, going through red lights, driving down the middle of the road and finally today, making three attempts to drive on the wrong side of the road around blind corners into oncoming cars. Each time a car came round, both the Polo and the oncoming cars swerved to narrowly miss each other.

I've never felt quite so surprised by someone's intent to scare (or possibly harm) other road users. However, it seems that this kind of thing cannot be reported to the Police unless you have an independent witness or dash-cam footage and sadly, I can understand why.

Thus, all I can do is keep a decent gap between me and the Polo if I see it again and hope that any car he does hit doesn't come careering my way.

It does seem that if it's your word against someone else's, you can drive however the hell you want.

Where have you got that idea from? You can report that to the police. You can report any bad driving to them?

You should report that sort of driving to the police It is only a matter of time before there is a bad collision.

Forget the "your word against his" view it as doing the right thing to inform the police who may speak to him. If the police don't do anything you did what you could that's it.

Overtaking on blind bends Crazy!

[Dammit]

He (or she) will have to hit someone before the Police will do anything, unless they already know the car- so worth reporting, but maybe a 2% chance of any action.

[bennyboysvuk]

Thanks for everyone's thoughts on this. I went back online and reported the incidents to Surrey Police. Perhaps something will come of it, perhaps not, but I feel a little better about at least trying to help get the VW Polo wielding psycho off the road.

[chunder27]

Could you not use a different route to avoid the potential incident as it will clearly come soon!!

Unless, of course you want to be there to shout I told you so at his corpse!!!

[sgtBerbatov]

Call them and say you suspect he's a terrorist and he's been driving eractically.

[revvingit]

Get a dashccam for the future and send footage to the rozzers.

[theboss]

When I reported something very similar I was assured by the member of police staff who logged the call that it was worthwhile doing so.

[4rephill]

Chances are, if the Police have any patrols available in that area, at the right time of the day, they may send one to keep an eye out for the Polo to try and catch it in the act of driving dangerously.

If they get a number of people reporting the same car for driving dangerously, then they will be far more likely to take action and go looking for it.

From what's been posted, I'd say it sounds like some 17~20 year old lad who hasn't had a licence long, thinks he's God's gift to driving, and knows "It won't happen to Me!"*

(*NOTE: On this last point, it's probably true - It won't happen to them. Sadly, it will happen to some poor, unfortunate, innocent driver/drivers, who will end up getting killed trying to avoid this idiot!)

[sgtBerbatov]

4rephill said:

From what's been posted, I'd say it sounds like some 17~20 year old lad who hasn't had a licence long, thinks he's God's gift to driving, and knows "It won't happen to Me!"*

(*NOTE: On this last point, it's probably true - It won't happen to them. Sadly, it will happen to some poor, unfortunate, innocent driver/drivers, who will end up getting killed trying to avoid this idiot!)

I've re-read everything and no where is there any comment made to the drivers age.

Could very easily be a balding bloke in his late 40's who doesn't get any from his wife. If some poor clown has been desperate enough to marry him that is.

[Chug]

sgtBerbatov said:

I've re-read everything and no where is there any comment made to the drivers age.

Could very easily be a balding bloke in his late 40's who doesn't get any from his wife. If some poor clown has been desperate enough to marry him that is.

Either way, he's an idiot who is putting other drivers' lives at risk, usually more than not they are young racer boys, which is why insurance is so high for under 25s.

[xjay1337]

4rephill said:

Chances are, if the Police have any patrols available in that area, at the right time of the day, they may send one to keep an eye out for the Polo to try and catch it in the act of driving dangerously.

If they get a number of people reporting the same car for driving dangerously, then they will be far more likely to take action and go looking for it.

From what's been posted, I'd say it sounds like some 17~20 year old lad who hasn't had a licence long, thinks he's God's gift to driving, and knows "It won't happen to Me!"*

(*NOTE: On this last point, it's probably true - It won't happen to them. Sadly, it will happen to some poor, unfortunate, innocent driver/drivers, who will end up getting killed trying to avoid this idiot!)

Clown.

[jonobigblind]

4rephill said:

Chances are, if the Police have any patrols available in that area, at the right time of the day, they may send one to keep an eye out for the Polo to try and catch it in the act of driving dangerously.

If they get a number of people reporting the same car for driving dangerously, then they will be far more likely to take action and go looking for it.

From what's been posted, I'd say it sounds like some 17~20 year old lad who hasn't had a licence long, thinks he's God's gift to driving, and knows "It won't happen to Me!"*

(*NOTE: On this last point, it's probably true - It won't happen to them. Sadly, it will happen to some poor, unfortunate, innocent driver/drivers, who will end up getting killed trying to avoid this idiot!)

Yup, lad I was at college with regularly drove like a complete knob on the Cirencester road. Enough complaints to the BiB resulted in increased patrols in unmarked cars around the times of his journeys. Wasn’t too long before they caught him in the act and slapped him down with a ban. Outraged Daily Mail reading Gloucestershire pensioners can be used as a force for good it seems.

[bennyboysvuk]

sgtBerbatov said:

I've re-read everything and no where is there any comment made to the drivers age.

Could very easily be a balding bloke in his late 40's who doesn't get any from his wife. If some poor clown has been desperate enough to marry him that is.

I really think it's a pretty desperate human being, possibly doing it for their own fun to intentionally terrify other drivers, since there's no rhyme or reason to it. I had a quick look on Cazana to see if the plate suggests that it might have been stolen (it's not), but it also gave me the pretty lengthy MOT advisories list. Make of it what you will.

This year:
Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)
Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened both (3.5.1i)
Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened both (3.5.1i)
Front Brake pad wearing thin both (3.5.1g)
Rear Brake pad wearing thin both (3.5.1g)
Oil leak
Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)
Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (7.3.A.2c)
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.2b)
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.2b)

The previous year:
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
Offside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)
Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)
Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)
Rear Brake pad wearing thin (3.5.1g)
Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)
Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)
Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)
Rear Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp does not illuminate (5.4.2)
Various suspension components corroded on the front and rear of vehicle
Exhaust system corroded
Oil leak
Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
Play in steering rack inner joint

[SS2.]

bennyboysvuk said:

Make of it what you will.

bennyboysvuk said:

..pretty desperate..

Seems apt.

[GT6k]

That MoT list reminds me of an acquaintance, a long time ago, who had his very dodgy Vauxhall Viva fail an MoT. He had at least one fail in each group and for one group (steering i think) had every box ticked plus a tick in the 'do not drive this car home' box, but he did anyway.

[sgtBerbatov]

bennyboysvuk said:

sgtBerbatov said:

I've re-read everything and no where is there any comment made to the drivers age.

Could very easily be a balding bloke in his late 40's who doesn't get any from his wife. If some poor clown has been desperate enough to marry him that is.

I really think it's a pretty desperate human being, possibly doing it for their own fun to intentionally terrify other drivers, since there's no rhyme or reason to it. I had a quick look on Cazana to see if the plate suggests that it might have been stolen (it's not), but it also gave me the pretty lengthy MOT advisories list. Make of it what you will.

This year:
Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)
Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened both (3.5.1i)
Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened both (3.5.1i)
Front Brake pad wearing thin both (3.5.1g)
Rear Brake pad wearing thin both (3.5.1g)
Oil leak
Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)
Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (7.3.A.2c)
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.2b)
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.2b)

The previous year:
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
Offside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)
Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)
Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)
Rear Brake pad wearing thin (3.5.1g)
Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)
Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)
Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)
Rear Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp does not illuminate (5.4.2)
Various suspension components corroded on the front and rear of vehicle
Exhaust system corroded
Oil leak
Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
Play in steering rack inner joint

Is it even insured then?

[Mandalore]

The driver is probably already on this thread, convincing people it is wrong to criticise people just like him.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...