Police interest in dangerous driving caught on dash cam..?

[Republik1980]

I currently have the "pleasure" of driving a particularly unfashionable vehicle that looks like it should be the exclusive preserve of the over-60s straw hat brigade (granted the National Trust sticker doesn't help).

I get the distinct impression that due to the image the car portrays, people assume that a) the car won't be driven quickly and b) the driver will be an old, passive duffer who'll soak up all manner of abuse. Consequently in this car I seem to have been on the receiving end of some of the worst driving I've encountered in the 15+yrs I've held my license.

The favourite appears to be people pulling out infront of me from slower lanes on motorways while I'm steadily passing them on their RHS. Often I'll be doing 70+, 10-15mph more than the dangerously-bunched up cars in the lane to my left, before one signals and blindly pulls out (often literally feet from my front bumper) requiring swift application of the brakes (and the horn).

My natural reaction to this is to close the distance between my vehicle and that in front, however this makes me uncomfortable for obvious reasons and the smaller gap still doesn't seem to deter the idiots.

I'm absolutely sick of being subjected to this selfish, dangerous behaviour and would love to see those responsible held to account - both out of legitimate concern for road safety as well as to satisfy my own petty sense of justice.

For this reason (and should such driving cause my involvement in an accident) I'm considering getting a dash cam.

My question is, were I to send evidence of such poor driving (that didn't result in an RTA) to the police, are they likely to show any interest? Would I just be better off posting it on Youtube for my own satisfaction? Am I being petty and reactionary by even considering doing either?

I still remember the guidance of my old driving instructor in such situations - brake / ease off to maintain your distance and keep calm. Of course if I followed this advice to the letter I suspect I'd end up going slower than everything in the lanes on my LHS..

Edited by Republik1980 on Sunday 30th August 15:05

Edited by Republik1980 on Sunday 30th August 16:17

[Republik1980]

Thanks both for your input

Jamie, I agree to a point (I hate the surveillance state we live in) however pettyness aside I really want to cover myself in the event of an incident.

This is the first proper "grandad spec" car I've really driven and I'm shocked by how much contempt it courts on the road - a bit of an eye-opener for me and a real shame as I've always liked sleepers

I see your reasoning in buying something more aggressive; however for various reasons I don't really want to change the car - especially if the sole reason is to avoid other people's stupidity and selfishness.

Dinoboy - not sure tbh; although I doubt I could afford one anyway! Perhaps I should just lash some little blue flashing lights behind the grill (j/k, before anyone starts)

In the meantime I've been reading through the various dashcam threads on here and am now braced for a flaming bun fight; assuming anyone else can be arsed to reply!

Edited by Republik1980 on Sunday 30th August 15:16

[Republik1980]

Thanks to everyone for all the sensible and pragmatic advice

samoht said:

I think you're taking this too personally. If people pull out in front of you more in this car, then it's not because they hold you in contempt, it's because they genuinely aren't aware that you are about to pass them.

If you frame the problem as incompetence rather than disrespect, it's less stressful and easier to address.

My suggestion would be lights. A car coming up behind with lights on is a) more visible and b) appears to be approaching faster. I would genuinely get in the habit of using dipped headlights on all dual carriageways and motorways 24/7 - lots of newer cars have DRLs anyway so there's nothing wrong with doing so, and I reckon it'll help you with this issue.

Maybe.. however while I know everyone makes mistakes I do get the feeling that a large proportion of these incidents are due to arrogance and contempt - not nec. for me specifically buy for other road users in general.. IMO a situation that's perpetuated by the image my car projects.

Very good point about perception; tbh I tend to have a "three-tier" aholery scale when driving - arrogance / lack of consideration makes me want to kill, stupidity irritates me and stupidity with an apology (hand in the mirror or whatever) I have little issue with as everyone makes mistakes and I appreciate those who have the grace and manners to admit it and apologise. Of course all of these perceptions are somewhat subjective..

Thanks for the lights suggestion - however given the type of car (scroll down for the great reveal!) the dipped beams are on during the day anyway. Running the headlights during the day is definitely a route I'll be taking with my next vehicle

mybrainhurts said:

No. It's because you can't spell licence...

An "American English" spelling failure.. the worst kind. My sincerest apologies

Sheepshanks said:

Work on your defensive driving - if they're dangerously bunched up then the next thing that's going to happen is that one of them will pull out.

Thanks - I was taught to drive defensively and still try to do so.. I like to think I'm on the ball with regard to anticipating vehicles that might pull out; however were I just to hang back every time I wanted to pass bunched traffic I'd never get anywhere!

gazchap said:

This. I've long had the habit of switching my dipped lights on automatically as soon as I start the engine, even in my Celica which isn't a subtle car as it is. Incidences of people pulling out blindly in front of me dropped to almost nil since I started doing so.

As above - lights are already on but ta for the suggestion!

KAgantua said:

standardman said:

"while I'm steadily passing them on their RHS"

Sounds like you arr either a middle lane hogger or driving at such a slow speed differential to the inside lane you are sitting in their blind spot too long.

Make your overtake and move back in.

Yeah, get on with it, as my old ADI used to say

I can assure you I'm neither of the above! I'm very conscious of lane discipline and getting past people as quickly as possible - you'll certainly never find me floating along bewildered in the middle lane with nothing on the inside, taking half an hour to overtake or just sitting in your blind spot

Usually if I'm passing someone slowly it's only because I'm limited by the speed of the vehicle infront of me, as was the case in the example I gave.

carinaman said:

Will police be that interested in any dashcam footage?

There was a thread in PH with some footage 335d or something near Manchester/M6 way and the police weren't interested when shown it.

I don't think it's you, your hat or your car I think it's just the way it is on the roads today.

With regard to going past people on their OS on M-ways I think it's better to get the pass over and done with. I dislike people taking an age to pass me and seeming to linger in the 3/4 rear blindspot. It's most annoying when their progress is that slow that they box you into the NS lane and you're forced to ease off and sometimes brake because of stuff ahead in the lane in front.

I think it may have been a DHL van that actually moved to the outer of three lanes to ensure it didn't block me into the NS lane on an 3 lane A-road recently. I thought it's going to box me into the NS lane when I want to move out to pass this truck ahead in my lane, but then the van closing on me moved over a lane leaving the middle lane free for me to move into and pass the truck in the NS lane.

People pulling out in front of you at junctions is something most of us have had.

Someone did it to me on a motorcycle once with my headlight on. Rather than back off, I kept going passing them on their OS that was rather stupid as I think my OS footrest was over the kerbing for a traffic island in the main, through road by that junction.

It would have been better to have eased off the throttle rather than think that I'd been disrespected or they'd pinched my piece of road by pulling out in front of me. I'm pretty sure there nothing behind me when they pulled out so they could have just have easily waited a bit and pulled out once I'd passed.

A police officer once said to me, people will do bad and silly things on the road and the best thing to do is let it wash over you, concentrate on your own driving and do not escalate matters or get involved in their accident.

I used to routinely see an elderly gent in a straw hat driving an Alfa 166. I can't say his driving ever caused me any concern.

Thanks - that's unfortunate but sadly not surprising about the Police.

As above I agree about the overtaking and again I try to be accommodating to other road users - for example looking at the speed and positioning of two vehicles in the inside lane to see if one looks likely to overtake, and pre-emtively pulling into the outside lane to give them room (assuming it's safe of course). Likewise pulling over to let vehicles on at sliproads etc.. I really appreciate it when people extend such consideration to me, and IME a little bit of thought just makes everyone's life so much easier and more pleasant.

As with your motorcycle example I struggle not to react to what I perceive as inconsiderate and disrespectful driving - it takes a big man to admit his faults and an even bigger one to change his behaviour accordingly IMO.

I totally agree about keeping a cool head and letting it wash over you -sadly sometimes I struggle to hold my temper when someone has just nearly written me off..

john2443 said:

iva cosworth said:

What car is it ?.....

Profile says Golf GTI 16v, but I suspect that's out of date

Sadly it is - the Golf went a year or two ago

To replace this seminal icon of '80s hot-hatchery I now have a nice, solid navy blue 2001 Volvo V40 estate. Practical, reliable, comfortable, holds the road surprisingly well and sounds nice when wound up.. but slow, insular and uninspring - I can't help but feel that a little piece of me dies every time I drive it.

hairyben said:

I think you're crediting crap driver mongtards with far to much thought and consideration to wonder that your car makes that much difference, I drive a van and people still try it on, constantly. I don't think most of them are even that aware or trying to be "aggressive" with the tailgating, pulling out directly in front etc, they're just the very st driver thats a product of the selfishness of today coupled with the dumbing down of road policing, running around with radar guns etc etc and ignoring most of the other stuff.

I think you're right to a point, although I still maintain that the stupidity isn't the only factor at work here.

aw51 121565 said:

Certainly GMP wouldn't be interested...

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/13629593.Top_c...

This following a car vs. bicycle accident which the police didn't attend. Not having a go at the police - but he makes some interesting comments .

As with the other Police example above, unfortunate but sadly not surprising


So.. I'll try and chill out a bit (although I find that's easier said than done when some prick has just nearly stuffed you and your mrs into the central reservation).

Dashcams are that cheap now that I might still buy one to prove accident liability / special occasions (like the prize bellend in a minibus who tried to undertake me over the cross-hatching of a single-lane sliproad some months ago) but I won't expect any Police interest.

I'm sure the good people of Pistonheads are always happy act as judge and jury in such situations though!

Thanks again for all the thoughts

[Republik1980]

Cheers guys - given how cheap dashcams have become I think I might as well look into one.. ultimately it might get me out of the st one day and might even encourage me to improve my own driving too