Dilema - WOuld you have called the Police ?

[bhaexpress]

I was meandering down the road yesterday and saw this bloke who was driving along, happily changing gears whilst using his phone, naturally no hands on the wheel. It was only a momentary act but a few minutes later I saw somebody doing exactly the same thing. Seems that some people to completely ignore the law. Who you have reported them to the Police ?

 

[scooter1]

No. It really pisses me off when I see this, but there's sod all you can do about it really and the police don't give a shit anyway. The consequences would bother me. I got accused of dangerous driving years ago and reported to the police, in the end I was cleared but after it all I was given the cleareance letter and it included the name and address of the person who had reported me - now if I was vindictive i'd have been straight round there having a bit of a shout up. If you reported someone, they then lost their job(perhaps as a driver/salesman etc) and then turned up on your doorstep......no ta!!

 

[Starry]

I don't know, maybe. I always try to think how would I feel if I saw that that man had caused an accident and I did nothing. The police don't really care/have the time or staff to care but eh, I don't know.

I do report every single car I see with an incorrectly restrained child. Dial 101 is a wonderful resource and I am practically on first name terms with the staff there.

 

[tedebear]

No - I wouldn't report those sorts of things, although if there was an accident where I noticed one of the drivers was on the phone before it happened - I'd gladly wait around and report my views....

 

[Barrel of Fun]

The trouble is, I am not sure the police can convict if there is no evidence. Now if they could get phone records and prove that the driver was mobile at the time, then possibly a conviction would follow. However, I can't see how that is done. Funny that the police get condemned for chasing after the motorist, but then condemned for not cracking down on mobile phone drivers. If there is no proof, then there is surely little that they can actually do. Maybe a warning that they have been spotted?

You seem to see a lot of them about. For some reason they tend to be the bigger saloons/4x4s. Perhaps the perpetrators can afford them as they are always working, hence being on the phone!

It really is a case of "I'm not going to kill anyone" "It won't happen to me".

I should have reported a jogger for dangerous jogging the other day. Two sets of lights running off different sequences and he happily cleared the first one, before running straight out in front of me. Managed to swerve and miss him. I would be the one in trouble and have to live with the pain if I had killed him.

 

[Napper]

Police won't do anything and be wasting there time

 

[Skint Gull]

Yesterday while driving along a dual carriageway i was stuck 2 cars behind someone doing 55 in the fast lane with absolutely NOBODY in front of him in either lane!

When (after the car in front of me flashed him several times) he finally moved over, i went to go past and give him the usual abuse and V signs only to find he wouldn't notice me ranting at him cos he was chatting away on his phone!

Until it was officially illegal I used to chat on my phone while driving all day long and consider myself perfectly safe to do so. Because of TWATS like this who can't do it I am totally in agreement with the law!

I presume it's not something people would call 999 for? Is there an alternate, less emergency number?

For the record I have a fully fitted hands free kit in my car, best £70-100 you could ever spend!

 

[Shegull]

I don't bother for people on phones because I would permanently have the phone glued to my ear but I have on numerous occasions reported people for the suspicious way they are driving. Don't know if it has done any good or not but it makes me feel better knowing that maybe some accident was averted because of it.

 

[bhafc4eva]

No it shows he is a well qualified driver. Im sure most people would admit to doing this. Ive done it more than once.

 

[Tooting Gull]

No, definitely not. Like you, I see that all the time - but life is hard enough without a load of busybodies shopping people to the police for something so minor.

It isn't that dangerous, no more than pissing about with the radio (which as far as I know isn't illegal), and it could be important for all you know.

Like tedebear, if I witnessed this and a subsequent accident I would stop and offer evidence, as I would if someone had driving really badly prior to a crash.

 

[jonny.rainbow]

Why aren't all cars just made with inbuilt hands free?

They did it with seat belts?

 

[Napper]

Yesterday on the way home down the 27 some dickhead was also in the fast lane going slow , when he eventually pulled over i noticed he was on his phone , so I swerved in front of him , jabbed my breaks .....that shit him up and made me feel better , dont call the police....get even instead

 

[larus]

Yesterday on the way home down the 27 some dickhead was also in the fast lane going slow , when he eventually pulled over i noticed he was on his phone , so I swerved in front of him , jabbed my breaks .....that shit him up and made me feel better , dont call the police....get even instead

Another good way to get at the areseholes who drive right up your backside at speed when you're stuck in traffic say on a motorway and can't do anything about it.

Gently touch your brake pedal to get your brake lights to come on (but with your left foot), and at the same time, accelerate enough to keep the gap. Makes the f***ers jump sometimes .

 

[bhaexpress]

No, definitely not. Like you, I see that all the time - but life is hard enough without a load of busybodies shopping people to the police for something so minor.

It isn't that dangerous, no more than pissing about with the radio (which as far as I know isn't illegal), and it could be important for all you know.

Like tedebear, if I witnessed this and a subsequent accident I would stop and offer evidence, as I would if someone had driving really badly prior to a crash.

All well and good but there are more than a few 'experts' who will tell you that using a mobile while driving can be as dangerous as driving while over the limit.

 

[clippedgull]

When the penalties for this offence are mandatory jail then people might take notice, there will still be idiots breaking the law but a month inside with increasing spells for each further offence then the message just may hit home.

This should also apply to drunken/drugged drivers.

 

[house your seagull]

i was driving through burnley on saturday afternoon, about half an hour after the manchester derby, and there was a driver going all over the place, blatently drunk after sitting in the pub watching the game and a massive menace (especially as people drive like lunatics up in burnley anyway!) if i knew a way to report him i would.

 

[sten_super]

No it shows he is a well qualified driver.

Er, what?! Come again?

No, definitely not. Like you, I see that all the time - but life is hard enough without a load of busybodies shopping people to the police for something so minor.

It isn't that dangerous, no more than pissing about with the radio (which as far as I know isn't illegal), and it could be important for all you know.

It's easy to say it's minor now, not so easy when it causes an accident.
I don't know about the statistics regarding radio use, etc. but the difference, as I see it, is that using a mobile phone requires constant attention, whereas pissing about with the radio is a momentary thing. I certainly don't believe that it isn't dangerous.

At the moment people seem to put it in the same category as downloading illegal music when it comes, i.e. it doesn't matter. I'm not sure that those people that have been affected by it would agree.

 

[Meade's Ball]

I get disappointed with humans every single day, but have to slap my moral face by remembering the regular mistakes i also make. I do dislike all other cyclists, resentful of their thoughtless, two-wheeled frolics and robbing of space i believe i deserve. And taxi drivers stopped wherever they wish not for the benefit of pedestrians in an urgent rush, but because their pockets might be filled with modern ducats handed to the first driver who might stand and deliver their services. And buses that forget me despite my illuminous vest and workhard face. And cars seeking to win their races to the next set of lights in which the directors smirk all satisfied and better than the rest.
But when i cycle, or when i walk in street, i am bound to be doing something wrong to someone; something objectionable, or my gait looks too lazy, or my second-hand coat looks too religious and self-praising, or my hair is unbrushed wrongly, or i seem too friendly by glance alone to their young'un in the pram. I have to remind myself that is my inability to read minds that means i'll never know the daily bitterness of others, or their reasons for why they've just made moves.
My point? I don't know. Maybe it's just that we excuse almost every action we undertake, without enough seconds of forethought or perception of consequence.

 

[bhaexpress]

i was driving through burnley on saturday afternoon, about half an hour after the manchester derby, and there was a driver going all over the place, blatently drunk after sitting in the pub watching the game and a massive menace (especially as people drive like lunatics up in burnley anyway!) if i knew a way to report him i would.

Actually all you do is get his registration and dial 999.

 

[Chester Drawers]

I think half the time the polizi cant be bothered with the paperwork .. apologies if the following is fixtures but the following true story always makes me laugh...

A guy dials 999 and asks for the Police ... when he's connected he explains that two blokes are breaking into his shed. The reply was "we havent got anybody available at the moment we'll send somebody round when we can". Five minutes later the guy rings back and says "Dont worry sending anybody round Ive shot them both"...

A very very short while later an armed response unit and several police cars turn up and arrest the burglars..

I thought you'd shot them said one of the policemen.... I thought you didnt have anybody available was the reply .....