Un-roadworthy car. What would you do?
Discussion
Today I was following an MOT exempt car that was clearly un-roadworthy. First of all it had been stanced which looked ridiculous on an old car but the body work was full of rust holes all around the back of the car. The wheel arches looked like they had been "fixed" with tape, the rear vallance was more missing than present, large holes, fist sized, in the rear wings, indicators not working correctly This was not a car that "looked" bad but with good mechanicals, this was an utter shed. The worst part was the "low and slow" sticker in the back!
I've not seen the car before, and as I was driving I couldn't photo it. Maybe it was someone chancing a drive getting a car from A to B, very few police round here but maybe not.
If I see it again should I report it? I'm a bit uneasy with the idea of reporting someone but this thing looked like an accident waiting to happen. I know we all take chances sometimes and living in a rural area the chance of meeting the police is virtually nill.
What do you guys think?
Jon
It was a triumph, and was definitely more than just rat look, this was a mobile shed. Unfortunately I can't remember the whole number so reporting is a moot point.
However, giving the owner the benefit of doubt, as the car has a separate chassis how much rust would be allowed to get through an MOT, or to convince a PC the car was roadworthy?
Jon
56Lotus said:
It was a triumph
A TR2/3? Only a tiny handful of the VERY earliest of Heralds would be MOT exempt.56Lotus said:
and was definitely more than just rat look, this was a mobile shed. Unfortunately I can't remember the whole number so reporting is a moot point.
However, giving the owner the benefit of doubt, as the car has a separate chassis how much rust would be allowed to get through an MOT, or to convince a PC the car was roadworthy?
MOT standards are very similar to a monocoque - so affecting the strength within 30cm of suspension mounts, seatbelt mounts etc - with the addition of body-chassis mountings. Sharp edges would probably come into play, too.However, giving the owner the benefit of doubt, as the car has a separate chassis how much rust would be allowed to get through an MOT, or to convince a PC the car was roadworthy?
Since you don't know the plate, though, it's fairly academic as to what you can do.
56Lotus said:
If I see it again should I report it?
Certainly.Qualify it with your qualifications as a professional observer, your automotive engineering degree (particularly your Thatcham experience), and I'm sure they will take action over your assertion that this car (that you've seen while driving behind it), is unroadworthy.
Sebring440 said:
Certainly.
Qualify it with your qualifications as a professional observer, your automotive engineering degree (particularly your Thatcham experience), and I'm sure they will take action over your assertion that this car (that you've seen while driving behind it), is unroadworthy.
Christ, it's a friendly lot on here isn't it. If no member of public were to ever report what they thought to any authority how do you think anything would ever get better? Perhaps I shouldn't report the next pot hole I see as I have no experience in roads?Qualify it with your qualifications as a professional observer, your automotive engineering degree (particularly your Thatcham experience), and I'm sure they will take action over your assertion that this car (that you've seen while driving behind it), is unroadworthy.
P.S. I do actually have an BEng(hons) in Mechanical Engineering which had a high proportion of automotive engineering from Cranfield University. I have built my own kit car from scratch and restored other classics.
The actual question was what would you do.
Jon (who's opinion of people on here is rapidly going down hill)
56Lotus said:
If no member of public were to ever report what they thought to any authority how do you think anything would ever get better? Perhaps I shouldn't report the next pot hole I see as I have no experience in roads?
So you're going to report a sheddy ol' Triumph, but you don't know the reg?Isn't that a bit like reporting a pothole without knowing where it is?
So I believe I have this straight. If any of you "gentlemen" saw something you believed was dangerous you would never report it. You would mind your own business and if anything were to actually happen then you would feel no guilt or remorse as to your lack of action.
I'm glad that where I live people actually look out for each other, it's called community spirit, and turning a blind eye to something would not be acceptable.
perhaps you all live in a happier world
Jon
56Lotus said:
If any of you "gentlemen" saw something you believed was dangerous you would never report it.
What are you going to report? You didn't get the registration...You don't even know for sure if it was roadworthy or not - you got a brief view from one angle, and guessed from that.
56Lotus said:
So I believe I have this straight. If any of you "gentlemen" saw something you believed was dangerous you would never report it. You would mind your own business and if anything were to actually happen then you would feel no guilt or remorse as to your lack of action.
I'm glad that where I live people actually look out for each other, it's called community spirit, and turning a blind eye to something would not be acceptable.
perhaps you all live in a happier world
Jon
Your wasting your time on here, I posted about an untaxed car on my road and got the same sort of response, not generally a friendly bunch I find. All probably generation snowflakesI'm glad that where I live people actually look out for each other, it's called community spirit, and turning a blind eye to something would not be acceptable.
perhaps you all live in a happier world
Jon
Much of this thread is what gives this forum a bad name and I thought was not that common in this section.
I agree with those who say it should be reported and the OP is obviously minded to do so. However, as has been pointed out quite often, it is difficult to report if you have no registration number.
Having raised the matter here perhaps one of us in the same part of the country might already know the vehicle - and failing that we can keep our eyes open for it.
I agree with those who say it should be reported and the OP is obviously minded to do so. However, as has been pointed out quite often, it is difficult to report if you have no registration number.
Having raised the matter here perhaps one of us in the same part of the country might already know the vehicle - and failing that we can keep our eyes open for it.
56Lotus said:
So I believe I have this straight. If any of you "gentlemen" saw something you believed was dangerous you would never report it. You would mind your own business and if anything were to actually happen then you would feel no guilt or remorse as to your lack of action.
I'm glad that where I live people actually look out for each other, it's called community spirit, and turning a blind eye to something would not be acceptable.
perhaps you all live in a happier world
Jon
To be honest I wouldn't. What I "believe" to be dangerous, may well not correlate with that other people believe is dangerous. I'm impressed you could tell the structural integrity of a car from driving along behind it to be honest. I'm glad that where I live people actually look out for each other, it's called community spirit, and turning a blind eye to something would not be acceptable.
perhaps you all live in a happier world
Jon
I wonder if you report every vehicle you see that you believe is speeding?
PS I've have reported him just for the bumper stickers.
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