How bad before you call the Police?
Discussion
Chaps,
Bit of a subjective one here, but how bad does a road incident have to be before you call the BiB?
The question is based on a real incident this afternoon; a car pulled out in front of me and I had to stop sharply, and sounded my horn. He saw this as an invitation to follow me for the next 10 minutes, trying to get past, flashing his lights and sounding his horn repeatedly. He (eventually) turned off, to my great relief (I am not powerfully built and had shaved this morning).
Reasoning that I don't like people behaving like this (I'll be open - I was scared by it) and that doing nothing simply condones it, I decided I would call 999. The chap on the other end of the 'phone took a number of details (apparently the car was a different colour to that which the DVLA thought it should be), and said that he would put a message out to all 'local units' to stop the car if seen, and speak to the driver. Do I think that this was likely to happen? Frankly, no, but my logic was that if no-one does anything then such behaviour becomes acceptable. ("All it takes for evil to prevail is for a good man to do nothing" etc.)
So, how bad does other road behaviour have to be before you call the BiB? A dangerous overtake? Someone driving while on their mobile? Threatening behaviour? Worse?
(This is in GG; mods, please do move to SP&TL if more appropriate - thanks.
Oli.
Bit of a subjective one here, but how bad does a road incident have to be before you call the BiB?
The question is based on a real incident this afternoon; a car pulled out in front of me and I had to stop sharply, and sounded my horn. He saw this as an invitation to follow me for the next 10 minutes, trying to get past, flashing his lights and sounding his horn repeatedly. He (eventually) turned off, to my great relief (I am not powerfully built and had shaved this morning).
Reasoning that I don't like people behaving like this (I'll be open - I was scared by it) and that doing nothing simply condones it, I decided I would call 999. The chap on the other end of the 'phone took a number of details (apparently the car was a different colour to that which the DVLA thought it should be), and said that he would put a message out to all 'local units' to stop the car if seen, and speak to the driver. Do I think that this was likely to happen? Frankly, no, but my logic was that if no-one does anything then such behaviour becomes acceptable. ("All it takes for evil to prevail is for a good man to do nothing" etc.)
So, how bad does other road behaviour have to be before you call the BiB? A dangerous overtake? Someone driving while on their mobile? Threatening behaviour? Worse?
(This is in GG; mods, please do move to SP&TL if more appropriate - thanks.
Oli.
I have considered phoning the non emergancy line to report dangerous driving before now.
I think your scenario is a little different, if you called 999 then what would they investigate? The guy pulling out then 'following' you. If the police got hold of him - 'sorry officer, he had a brake light out and I wanted to alert him'.
Best thing is to try and avoid situations like this and unless you need to avoid the horn as you find that makes matters worse - instead of heads up it's more of a wind up!
There are far too many idiots about these days that are looking for something to take their anger out on.
I think your scenario is a little different, if you called 999 then what would they investigate? The guy pulling out then 'following' you. If the police got hold of him - 'sorry officer, he had a brake light out and I wanted to alert him'.
Best thing is to try and avoid situations like this and unless you need to avoid the horn as you find that makes matters worse - instead of heads up it's more of a wind up!
There are far too many idiots about these days that are looking for something to take their anger out on.
At least the Police seem happy to try and do something, good for them. I dont really think they have much real power in the sort of situation you described, at least not based on an experience I had last year.
I short, I stopped to let a works van out of a junction, right next to the depot they are based from, and for some baffling reason this act of kindness led to a torrent of abuse from the works van driver I let out! I have no clue at all why he chose to stop his van next to me and start mouthing off - culminating in him threatening to cut my throat - in front of my 4 year old daughter. He didn't seem to know either, he just seemed to want to act the hard man in front of his apprentice
I got home, called the Police, whom after making a visit to his work couldn't take it any further, despite my description of him being accurate down to the length of his sideburns and the jewellry the apprentice in the van with him was wearing.
So, I would say yes, call the Police, but unless their is blood on the highway or a knife sticking out of your guts, I doubt there is much they can do.
I short, I stopped to let a works van out of a junction, right next to the depot they are based from, and for some baffling reason this act of kindness led to a torrent of abuse from the works van driver I let out! I have no clue at all why he chose to stop his van next to me and start mouthing off - culminating in him threatening to cut my throat - in front of my 4 year old daughter. He didn't seem to know either, he just seemed to want to act the hard man in front of his apprentice
I got home, called the Police, whom after making a visit to his work couldn't take it any further, despite my description of him being accurate down to the length of his sideburns and the jewellry the apprentice in the van with him was wearing.
So, I would say yes, call the Police, but unless their is blood on the highway or a knife sticking out of your guts, I doubt there is much they can do.
I have had loads of this over the years, LOADS, there are so many people with small d*cks that have to proove themselves. I had some eeeeeeejit in a massive over laden merc van coming right up behind me and doing all of the above for what seemed like hours on a single lane B road once. When I eventually got rid of him, I saw him doing it to the next person. Either mental illness or some kind of intoxication.
OK some people have the red mist and surrounded in their little metal bubble they think they can act like nutters and get away with it. If it goes on for some time, its not the red mist, its beyond that. Its reckless, deliberate endangerment. It can and does go very wrong. Peoples lives are at risk, especially at motorway or dual carriage way speeds.
If I have a passenger, I'll normally try and film them in the act or at least get a photo so I have the no plate. Nothing like a bit of evidence. In the case anything went seriously wrong it would nice to be able to get the nailed.
I think you're well within your rights to call the police. If there was a traffic cop behind them, they would pull them for sure. And at the very least get an ear full about dangerous driving.
If they have followed you for some time, like I said, its more than the red mist, its a nut case who is a danger to themselves and the public, they need a copper to pull them over and give them a talking too.
Personally it would have to be getting very serious for me to call the police. I'd probably try and drop them in traffic, or pull off at a junction last minute etc. But if you feel you're being endangered then that is what you pay your taxes for.
OK some people have the red mist and surrounded in their little metal bubble they think they can act like nutters and get away with it. If it goes on for some time, its not the red mist, its beyond that. Its reckless, deliberate endangerment. It can and does go very wrong. Peoples lives are at risk, especially at motorway or dual carriage way speeds.
If I have a passenger, I'll normally try and film them in the act or at least get a photo so I have the no plate. Nothing like a bit of evidence. In the case anything went seriously wrong it would nice to be able to get the nailed.
I think you're well within your rights to call the police. If there was a traffic cop behind them, they would pull them for sure. And at the very least get an ear full about dangerous driving.
If they have followed you for some time, like I said, its more than the red mist, its a nut case who is a danger to themselves and the public, they need a copper to pull them over and give them a talking too.
Personally it would have to be getting very serious for me to call the police. I'd probably try and drop them in traffic, or pull off at a junction last minute etc. But if you feel you're being endangered then that is what you pay your taxes for.
In my experience people like that are usually very brave when they are sat behind the wheel. When it actually comes down to the business of getting to a position where a confronation outside the security of their car is about to happen, they tend to fold like a warm kit-kat. Best to turn the other cheek in most situations or you could always hit the gym........
Just to clarify - I do not condone violence or road rage
Just to clarify - I do not condone violence or road rage
On a more general point, what could realistically be done when it's one person's word against another? I can imagine the Police get a lot of "I saw ABC 123 driving like a maniac" reports reports when ABC 123 had the temerity to overtake a car doing 42mph in a nsl, or is just someone the reportee (if that's even a word) doesn't like
bmw535i said:
In my experience people like that are usually very brave when they are sat behind the wheel. When it actually comes down to the business of getting to a position where a confronation outside the security of their car is about to happen, they tend to fold like a warm kit-kat. Best to turn the other cheek in most situations or you could always hit the gym........
Just to clarify - I do not condone violence or road rage
The OP admitted he was scared, so don't think you need to insult him further?Just to clarify - I do not condone violence or road rage
That's so right! I had this guy waving like a banshee - the stuff he was going to do to me was unreal.
He just so happened to be in Tesco that evening.
I just mentioned to him I was that homo in the Boxster - you don't look 6ft3 in such a small car do you.
His face dropped!!
Never any need for violence, it's the fear of violence that gets people the most!
He just so happened to be in Tesco that evening.
I just mentioned to him I was that homo in the Boxster - you don't look 6ft3 in such a small car do you.
His face dropped!!
Never any need for violence, it's the fear of violence that gets people the most!
nickythesaint said:
The OP admitted he was scared, so don't think you need to insult him further?
Thanks ... not sure that that was insulting (I didn't read it as such), but thanks for standing up for me! 
Carry on being a saint. The world needs more of 'em.
Back to the conversation ...
Oli.
Plod wont give a s
t, you need to learn to deal with such things yourself. A muppet like that is easy. Slow down to a virtual stop, if he looks like he wants to overtake and get in front, dont let him, but most angry twots will stop behind. So once sure he is behind, (oncoming cars helps) wait for him to get out, all angry, huffing and puffing and throwing his broom, then just as he gets to the back of your car to have his photo taken, rev it up and drive off.
By the time he's back in his car, you'll have a good distance on him.
Alternatively, just circulate a roundabout. They get pretty fed up when you catch them up and start flasing them back, but can dive off at an exit once sure he's past it and have a whole roundabout start on him.
Always stay in front if you can, there's less they can do.
t, you need to learn to deal with such things yourself. A muppet like that is easy. Slow down to a virtual stop, if he looks like he wants to overtake and get in front, dont let him, but most angry twots will stop behind. So once sure he is behind, (oncoming cars helps) wait for him to get out, all angry, huffing and puffing and throwing his broom, then just as he gets to the back of your car to have his photo taken, rev it up and drive off. By the time he's back in his car, you'll have a good distance on him.
Alternatively, just circulate a roundabout. They get pretty fed up when you catch them up and start flasing them back, but can dive off at an exit once sure he's past it and have a whole roundabout start on him.
Always stay in front if you can, there's less they can do.
zcacogp said:
Thanks ... not sure that that was insulting (I didn't read it as such), but thanks for standing up for me!
Carry on being a saint. The world needs more of 'em.
Back to the conversation ...
Oli.
Well it certainly wasn't intended as an insult, just some reassurance that in most cases there is nothing to fear from these so called "hard men". For what it's worth, you probably did the right thing, although you can be sure the police won't do anything as I'm sure they get hundreds of similar calls every day by people who may feel slighted by the actions of other road users.Carry on being a saint. The world needs more of 'em.
Back to the conversation ...
Oli.
Just to clarify - this was not an insult and I was in no way suggesting that you had called the police in a act of pettiness against the other driver.
bmw535i said:
In my experience people like that are usually very brave when they are sat behind the wheel. When it actually comes down to the business of getting to a position where a confronation outside the security of their car is about to happen, they tend to fold like a warm kit-kat. Best to turn the other cheek in most situations or you could always hit the gym........
Just to clarify - I do not condone violence or road rage
Thats right, turn the other cheek, because say you decide to go the 'business' route of dealing with it. When the bloke is laid on the ground with a broken nose or whatever, who do you think is going to jail? Not him.Just to clarify - I do not condone violence or road rage
Is it worth (for me anyways) the loss of my job and not seeing my wife and kids for months due to being inside? Of course not. Not ever, no matter what he has said or done. I'll always turn the other cheek and back down/drive off. No way I'm going to jail over some small penised idiot who has a terrible life, a wife who probably hates him and wants to try and be a hard man from the safety of his tin can. Sod that.
I have a beautiful wife, a great living, fantastic kids and a home I love. I'd never let any t
t wind me up to the point I'm going to lose that.poo at Paul's said:
Plod wont give a st, you need to learn to deal with such things yourself. A muppet like that is easy. Slow down to a virtual stop, if he looks like he wants to overtake and get in front, dont let him, but most angry twots will stop behind. So once sure he is behind, (oncoming cars helps) wait for him to get out, all angry, huffing and puffing and throwing his broom, then just as he gets to the back of your car to have his photo taken, rev it up and drive off.
By the time he's back in his car, you'll have a good distance on him.
Alternatively, just circulate a roundabout. They get pretty fed up when you catch them up and start flasing them back, but can dive off at an exit once sure he's past it and have a whole roundabout start on him.
Always stay in front if you can, there's less they can do.
All sounds very dramatic and would simply inflame the situation. A wave and a smile will normally defuse the situation. Life's a bit too short to be getting all angry and playing tit for tat stupid manouveres for mile after mile. t, you need to learn to deal with such things yourself. A muppet like that is easy. Slow down to a virtual stop, if he looks like he wants to overtake and get in front, dont let him, but most angry twots will stop behind. So once sure he is behind, (oncoming cars helps) wait for him to get out, all angry, huffing and puffing and throwing his broom, then just as he gets to the back of your car to have his photo taken, rev it up and drive off. By the time he's back in his car, you'll have a good distance on him.
Alternatively, just circulate a roundabout. They get pretty fed up when you catch them up and start flasing them back, but can dive off at an exit once sure he's past it and have a whole roundabout start on him.
Always stay in front if you can, there's less they can do.
bmw535i said:
poo at Paul's said:
Plod wont give a st, you need to learn to deal with such things yourself. A muppet like that is easy. Slow down to a virtual stop, if he looks like he wants to overtake and get in front, dont let him, but most angry twots will stop behind. So once sure he is behind, (oncoming cars helps) wait for him to get out, all angry, huffing and puffing and throwing his broom, then just as he gets to the back of your car to have his photo taken, rev it up and drive off.
By the time he's back in his car, you'll have a good distance on him.
Alternatively, just circulate a roundabout. They get pretty fed up when you catch them up and start flasing them back, but can dive off at an exit once sure he's past it and have a whole roundabout start on him.
Always stay in front if you can, there's less they can do.
All sounds very dramatic and would simply inflame the situation. A wave and a smile will normally defuse the situation. Life's a bit too short to be getting all angry and playing tit for tat stupid manouveres for mile after mile. t, you need to learn to deal with such things yourself. A muppet like that is easy. Slow down to a virtual stop, if he looks like he wants to overtake and get in front, dont let him, but most angry twots will stop behind. So once sure he is behind, (oncoming cars helps) wait for him to get out, all angry, huffing and puffing and throwing his broom, then just as he gets to the back of your car to have his photo taken, rev it up and drive off. By the time he's back in his car, you'll have a good distance on him.
Alternatively, just circulate a roundabout. They get pretty fed up when you catch them up and start flasing them back, but can dive off at an exit once sure he's past it and have a whole roundabout start on him.
Always stay in front if you can, there's less they can do.
plus one and then some!Matt UK said:
In any given scenario, if you feel there is a threat to your or others safety, call the BiB. That's what they are there for.
Threatening behaviour is an offence in itself as I understand it, next time it might not be you, but might be an elderly person or anyone else who could be induced into a panicked state by similar actions and whose driving even after the threat has passed may be affected.
I'd not have called 999 myself unless someone was actually chasing me down and I was in fear of a real threat of assault, but it was worth reporting as that person may blow up at someone else causing an incident, at which time it'll be on record somewhere that a prior complaint was lodged for similar behaviour which could count against them in the Police's roadside judgement/in court later.
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