What to do if someone's driving dangerously?

[Robertb]

I was on my commute home last night, and came up behind a driver in a 23 reg car, trade plate in the rear window. I've honestly never seen anything like it... braking for no apparent reason, one minute doing 25mph, the next 45. The worst thing was that they'd stray right across to the opposite carriageway, to the extent oncoming drivers had to take evasive action, flash lights etc.

At one point they were on the wrong side of the road approaching the brow of a hill, so I blew my cars horn and flashed my lights in the hope they would pay attention and correct, which they did, slowly. They continued to weave across numerous times and I genuinely thought a big crash was imminent.

I suspect the driver was either drunk, or looking at phone (or to be fair possibly trying to adjust the cabin temperature in some deep menu option)

I didn't know what best to do... overtake and block the road further on and find out what the hell was going on (quickly decided was a bad idea)? Stay close to try and get them on the right side, or leave a huge gap in case of a collision? I decided to follow from a safe distance and call the non-emergency police number and report, but couldn't remember it (rang the NHS instead!) or would be have been appropriate to call 999?

[anonymous-user]

You probably did the right thing. Trying to physically intervene could go very wrong and end up with you in trouble, or worse.

[squishy]

999 and get a police response. I will only continue following the car if it is on my actual route or at the request of the police. Otherwise, just provide as much details as possible.

I have done this once, quite a few years back when I used to live in Wiltshire and was returning from London quite late at night. Fortunately, the police caught up pretty soon (close to the local HQ) and stopped the driver who was absolutely hammered.

[LennyM1984]

I'm pretty keen on overtaking dawdlers and people who can't maintain a speed but when I see somebody driving like that (very unpredictably), I usually - and often subconsciously - drop back and give myself enough time to stop if the worst were to happen.

Trying to police them yourself could end very badly.

[VeeReihenmotor6]

Report them and hang back/drive defensively to give them as much space as possible. I don't think I'd try and overtake for fear of being sideswiped or having them pile into the back of me later down the road; would rather a 5 min delay on my own journey for a safe arrival at my destination.

[jeremyh1]

Stop them get out and smack um upside the chops

Hope this helps

[Robertb]

jeremyh1 said:

Stop them get out and smack um upside the chops

Hope this helps

That’s what I’d have liked to have done. Then I remembered I’m 5ft 9 and wouldn’t cast a shadow if I stood sideways!

[cuprabob]

Maybe just avoiding the potholes

Around these it seems to be "white van man" that drives erratically, probably because they are on their phone.

[simon_harris]

I had similar the other week, was fairly convinced the driver was drunk so called 999 and followed while on the phone to them, they got to a dead end street and I waited at the end until the police showed up I then drove home.

[Yahonza]

I've seen a few things - one time someone on the A12 was driving down the middle between the lanes despite there only being 2 lanes, bashing cars and taking off wing mirrors, etc, leaving a trail of irate drivers chasing after them, or at least trying to. They must have hit at least 10 cars.

[CoolHands]

I wouldn’t worry about it. ULEZ and low traffic neighbourhoods, 20mph limits and cctv covering all bus lanes mean we’re all safe.

[coppice]

If it's a commercial vehicle , note the firm and then email or ring them . I did, after being followed by a terrifyingly erratically driven van - feet from the back of my car, driver veering all over road and so on. I could see he was spending more time looking at his phone than the road . I emailed the (local) firm , who said mine wasn't the first complaint , driver was now on final warning etc and thanked me .

Doesn't always work - on another occasion I was driving the Caterham in a 30 limit when a police car came up fast behind . I assumed he needed to be somewhere , so indicated left, moved as far over as I could etc. Oh no, the only place he wanted to be was nailed to the back of my car - almost touching it , then dropping back , then accelerating right back at me . This nonsense went on until I turned off , and it was clear he was trying to goad me into speeding .

I made a formal complaint and guess what? The Police said they had no record of who was driving at the time ..In a pig's arse they didn't .

[Gibbler290]

CoolHands said:

I wouldn’t worry about it. ULEZ and low traffic neighbourhoods, 20mph limits and cctv covering all bus lanes mean we’re all safe.

You okay mate?

[CoolHands]

Fine. Just pointing out all the things that have been done to make us safe, that are clearly more important than driving skill and standards. Otherwise the authorities would have focussed on that instead.

[Hoofy]

Gibbler290 said:

CoolHands said:

I wouldn’t worry about it. ULEZ and low traffic neighbourhoods, 20mph limits and cctv covering all bus lanes mean we’re all safe.

You okay mate?

He's taking the piss. I would have said something similar. Knife crime and systemic sexual abuse in governmental agencies has been wiped out thanks to Kahn's ULEZ scheme.

[xx99xx]

coppice said:

If it's a commercial vehicle , note the firm and then email or ring them . I did, after being followed by a terrifyingly erratically driven van - feet from the back of my car, driver veering all over road and so on. I could see he was spending more time looking at his phone than the road . I emailed the (local) firm , who said mine wasn't the first complaint , driver was now on final warning etc and thanked me .

Good for a longer term 'lesson' but it won't prevent the imminent crash. 999/101 it and see how important the police think it is and who they've got nearby. If worst happens and there is a crash, they'll have you on record to provide a witness statement that the driver was somewhat below standard.