Prat !

[lancebond]

If you see someone driving badly, and you're the sort of person who gets off on reporting them, by all means contact the police, however please do not ring 999 to do it, follow the advise given by the police and ring the non critical number or go to a police station.

You get off on reporting them!? You think that's why people do this? Are you some kind of moron? People aren't all curtain twitching snitches... They actively help out by trying to stop people like this... You'll notice that at NO point does the OP just call him a crap driver, he's not talking about some muppet who just drives a little fast, cuts in and doesn't say thanks... He was describing an accident waiting to happen, that driver could have ploughed into the back of your car... With you and your loved ones in... Would you still be on your high horse about 999 then?

Seriously, if the driving is dangerous (as in will cause imminent danger to other road users) then it's a 999 call, I couldn't give a monkeys what you say, having just checked with my local police department (via the phone... Not some website) I was told the following

"any road user who disregards safety in such a way should he reported via 999, any failure to stop such action could endanger lives"

All I can say is well done to the OP, more people like you are what we're missing in the UK... Too many people walk by and do nothing.

 

[John]

You'll notice that at NO point does the OP just call him a crap driver, he's not talking about some muppet who just drives a little fast, cuts in and doesn't say thanks...

Very true - perhaps this reveals certain character traits - our supercillious friend doth protest too much...

 

[nick mercedes]

"Are you some kind of moron?"

"our supercillious friend doth protest too much..."

It's always a bit tragic when people have to turn to abuse when they lose an argument...

 

[snoop51]

"Are you some kind of moron?"

"our supercillious friend doth protest too much..."

It's always a bit tragic when people have to turn to abuse when they lose an argument...

At what point have they lost Nick?

having just checked with my local police department (via the phone... Not some website) I was told the following

"any road user who disregards safety in such a way should he reported via 999, any failure to stop such action could endanger lives"

All I can say is well done to the OP, more people like you are what we're missing in the UK... Too many people walk by and do nothing.

The hint is in the highlighted text above.

 

[PXW]

Mods, please close this thread before we get to pistols at dawn!!


Which would of course necessitate a 999 call....

 

[Dieselman]

^ I'll go for an Uzi 9mm.

 

[lancebond]

"Are you some kind of moron?"

"our supercillious friend doth protest too much..."

It's always a bit tragic when people have to turn to abuse when they lose an argument...

I'm not abusing you i'm just wondering if your the kind of person that wouldn't report such behaviour to the relevant authority post haste.

the kind of person that considers such action as dobbing someone in to the police for kicks.

i'm pretty sure it wouldn't be pushing the limits too far to consider such a person a moron, and that is being kind.

i might add that after actually PHONING my local police, that in a similar situation in the north east of england the OP's original actions were in fact the CORRECT ones. therefore i can't see how that constitutes a losing position on the argument.

you are of course entitled to your opinion, and it seems to be one (as have many of your positions in the past) that you will not budge an inch from, that is fine... but unless you can prove a more compelling argument than "you should phone 999 for this kind of thing" then i'd expect more people to disagree with you than agree, including i might add current members of the constabulary.

 

[John]

It's always a bit tragic when people have to turn to abuse when they lose an argument...

I mis-construed your sarcasm, but I wouldn't have said what you write was abusive...

 

[HughJarse]

Thames Valley Police - Bad driving incidents


Bad driving incidents

Bad driving puts lives at risk. Thames Valley Police deals with bad driving through either enforcement, or driver education schemes.

Being a victim of bad driving includes any situation where you have been made to feel unsafe by the actions of another road user.

How to report bad driving

If you have been involved in an incident of bad driving which has not ended in a collision, call 0845 8 505 505, or visit a local police station to report the incident.

You will need the following information:

The registration number of the other vehicle.
Details of an independent witness or witnesses.
You also must be prepared to go to court to support proceedings.
Police will decide if there is sufficient evidence of an offence which can be investigated. If further information is needed for an investigation, the complainant will be contacted by a member of the Roads Policing department.

If the information provided by the complainant and other witnesses is not enough to enable police to investigate, the complainant will be notified of this result in writing.

 

[markjay]

I just think that if the blast is strong and close enough to blow your head protection off, you wont really have to worry about using your hands to hold it on?

Indeed.

He's not doing it right - he should be covering the back of his neck with his hands. No idea why he is holding on to the helmet, which would have been strapped anyway.

 

[davidjpowell]

In Glasgow to tonight. Taxi was cut up on the way to the hotel, badly.

I thought briefly of this thread and dialling 999. Then thought na, not today!

PS. Not the first time individuals have claimed 'victory' without evidence to back it up.

 

[LTD]

08457 909090

 

[JOB-BLACK-RAT]

08457 909090

LOVE IT!! PMSL :bannana:

 

[Colin_b]

Great thread this, mostly. Most seem to recognise the difference between bad and dangerous, and act accordingly.

I've phoned 999 once from my car to report dangerous driving - a car driving slowly and eratically the wrong way up the A46 at Warwick. They seemed happy to accept the call, I was happy I'd done my bit.

I'd assume us MB drivers have a modicum of common sense, even if I don't necessarily agree with their opinions

 

[nick mercedes]

i might add that after actually PHONING my local police, that in a similar situation in the north east of england the OP's original actions were in fact the CORRECT ones. therefore i can't see how that constitutes a losing position on the argument.

Yet at odds with their website:

How do I report a crime?

 

[NW_Merc]

What about an attempted burglary? Is it only an emergency when the crime has been successful?

What about if this driver had caused a bad smash, possible severe injury and loss of life, is that serious enough to warrant it? Some people would not judge the driving of this person as an emergency, however if I were on the same road as Pontoneer I certainly would.....

Good on you for doing the right thing.

 

[jepho]

Wow! This thread has deteriorated a bit since I last read it.

It is utterly futile to argue over opinions. This issue appears to have become an article of faith over some apparently deep-seated belief held by Nick. 'Tis a pity that he does not permit Pontoneer the luxury of deciding for himself how he should conduct his public life. I certainly would have reported the driver with a 999 call to those who are best placed to deal with him urgently.

That is not going to be some under-strength part-time police station (or manned telephone some miles away) or even a general telephone number, where the sense of urgency is clearly going to be missing from the non-urgent calls made to it. Pontoneer's action is to be applauded and it is more than a tad disingenuous to suggest he acted as he did just because he 'gets off' by making 999 calls to the police... or some-such vigilante nonsense. His actions may well have prevented serious injury to innocent members of the public and if anyone's relatives were at risk, then I am grateful for his public-spirited act.

 

[finisterre]

This is definitely my favourite forum


Nick - When is it okay to use 999? - Looking at the argument through an everyday dilemma we all regularly face as a working example.

Say you pass a raving lunatic with a sheathed samurai sword, hand tooled cowboy boots with spurs, pink balaclava, screeching Boomtown Rats lyrics in a very high pitched voice, and tap dancing outside the library.

Should you return your overdue books and wait for a 'surprise' beheading before ringing 08457123456?



.

 

[MOCAŠ]

Say you pass a raving lunatic with a sheathed samurai sword, hand tooled cowboy boots with spurs, pink balaclava, screeching Boomtown Rats lyrics in a very high pitched voice, and tap dancing outside the library.

You've been in the sticks too long. The mayor positively encourages that sort of thing in London.

 

[stwat]

I'd have thought that Derek, with the job he does everyday having to regularly take pictures of horrific incidents and carnage involving accidents where the fire and rescue service has had to extract victims dead or alive from vehicles due to bad driving, would be perfectly level headed when it comes to making a decision as to whether or not to bother the 999 service with his concerns about a suicidal and potentially homicidally dangerous driver.

The same goes for Joe. He must have attended many a fatal or non fatal accident caused by the shocking driving exhibited by many of the nutters we see on the road each day.

So what are the credentials and true life experiences that you hold Nick, to enable you to argue your case against real members of the emergency services who encounter the outcome of such cases of bad driving day in day out ?

I'm very interested to know as are many members here