Careless driving vs driver improvement

[onedsla]

Hi - I've just been amongst the most stupid people in the world and crashed a brand new Elise 111S by accelerating too harshly in the wet. thankfully nobody hurt - just a Lotus and wall.

The Traffic cop who was called in (by a 'witness' who throught their closed curtains saw it and said I was doing 100mph [try 30]) had a Hitler style moustache but was as fair as could be expected (although I didn't like the way he said Lotus' are rubbish and I should have got a hyundi coupe!) and after a lengthy chat, it looks like he's going to suggest a driver improvement program rather than careless driving (I didn't tell him that I'm IAM and am going for my MSA licence - lol.

I'm wondering if now he's said this, as long as I do my bit (ie return paperwork etc) can he still have this taken to court if he has a change of mind, or will he have to go through with what he's told me?

Cheers for any help (and please don't bother replying to tell me how stupid I am on this forum - you can use the Elise one for this)

[madcop]

I'm wondering if now he's said this, as long as I do my bit (ie return paperwork etc) can he still have this taken to court if he has a change of mind, or will he have to go through with what he's told me?

Cheers for any help (and please don't bother replying to tell me how stupid I am on this forum - you can use the Elise one for this)

It will not be in the public interest to prosecute you if you damaged only your Lotus. The wall and the trees are another matter though but I would think that if he has told you that you will hear no more if you produce the relevant docs, then that will be the end of the matter as far as the Police are concerned.

It is possible to contact you at a later date and report you for a traffic offence but the longer this is from the date of the offence, the courts are of a mind to dismiss it as abuse of process unless there is a very good reason for not reporting and summonsing you earlier. In any case, they have 6 months to lay an information before the court for summons unless it is for insurance or V.E.L. which is 3 years. Once the summons is issued, you can be served with it years later and it is still valid if you have become slippery to get hold of!

I should forget it and put it down to a very bad experience. Remember a little squirt goes a long way in something like the machine you have/had.

[onedsla]

Thanks Madcop - thought that may be the case - just wondering if you could enlighten me as to what the following 2 documents are for:

1) HO/RT 1 - obviously to show my documents, but what does teh line:
Accident not further investigated unless document offences YES

2) A 'business card' from the Con. with his name and the line:

There will be a report on this accident

Is this not a little conflicting?

[chimburt]

just sounds like they will follow you up if you don't produce and that a report will be filed about what was found at the scene and later determined from whatever evidence was gathered.

doesn't sound like the officer is going to try and push for a prosecution - probably feels that you will have learnt your lesson.

i guess the owner of the wall/tree will be advised of what has happened, if they stroll down to the station to enquire, so that they can make a claim against your insurance for the damage.

sorry to hear about your car.

[madcop]

Its exactly as chimbert states. Nothing sinister. The form used was probably from the accident report book and a tear out page as this is the only HORT1 in existence. The specific form which is reminder for the required person to produce named documents apart fron the one in an accident book is now called DPS1. It combines the HORT1 form with that of the requirements of stop and search procedures.

[onedsla]

Thanks again - although I'm having more trouble.
I've recently moved from my parent's house to my own, and am still in a state of transition - I told the traffic cop my local (own) address) whilst my driving licence is at my parents - this is where I intend to keep the Lotus over winter as it has a garage - it's insured at this location at the moment too.

The desk sargent at the police station didn't seem interested in this and is going to prosicute for not informing my DVLA of new address, even though the address is a secure one that I'll spend much of my time at.

Any advice with this one? Am I right to feel this is a little on the harsh side?

[mybrainhurts]

"Driver improvement programme"

Read legalised theft. These scams cost you a fee, and it ALL goes to the local council.

I believe Brunstrom is asking £170 to keep marginal speeders off points. Sounds like official bribery to me.

Sort of protection racket, really.

[madcop]

onedsla said: Thanks again - although I'm having more trouble.
I've recently moved from my parent's house to my own, and am still in a state of transition - I told the traffic cop my local (own) address) whilst my driving licence is at my parents - this is where I intend to keep the Lotus over winter as it has a garage - it's insured at this location at the moment too.

The desk sargent at the police station didn't seem interested in this and is going to prosicute for not informing my DVLA of new address, even though the address is a secure one that I'll spend much of my time at.

Any advice with this one? Am I right to feel this is a little on the harsh side?

Don't worry about it. You are registered as the keeper. Where you keep it is up to you. If the address is your parents I do not think you will have any need for concern!
It may be an idea for you to change the addres on your licence. This is petty beaurocracy and is not worth worrying about.

[Mad Dave]

Mybrainhurts> I had an accident a few years ago and took the Driver Improvement Scheme course instead of a Careless Driving charge - IMHO it was very valuable and i learned a lot from it. Also IMO im a safer driver as a result. It did cost me £140 but was a two day course from which i benefitted. A bit expensive, but cheaper than being prosecuted and more effective in making me a safer driver!

All IMHO

[Mr E]

I'd rather pay 150 quid and get something out of it, than 60 and see it disappear into Jabba the Hutts expenses allowance.

[mybrainhurts]

Mad Dave and Mr E.

If you got something out of this, then fair enough.

But it's still tax, and extortionate.

Have you never heard of police driver awareness courses given to volunteers..........FREE OF CHARGE?

One's being run by my local Dept of Plod, about now.

It's been suggested they've just woken up to the possibility of 3 million banned drivers...lost jobs...higher benefit payments...lower fuel duty take.

So, charging for these courses jacks up the tax, and keeps drivers on the road and in work, thus keeping Gordon McGrab Brown buoyant and grinning all the way to the Treasury.

You know it makes sense. Er, sorry, THEY know it makes sense.

Bunch of............