Driving without due care!

LSainsbury · 17-10-2005, 09:33

Hi,

Was sat at traffic lights this morning, handbrake on, in neutral, when the car in front rolled back into mine. No damaged was caused as it was about about 1mph. The woman got out and said to me....

"What are you doing? You've hit my car!"

I said to her that she had rolled into me and show her the position of my handbrake, but she was adamant I had rolled into her and used some "abusive" language like - "Silly man" - I tried not to laugh!

I've got her reg number, and I think she took mine - and also she followed me up the motorway. Now this morning it was quite foggy and everybody had their lights and fog lights on - she had no lights on at all!

Shall I see what happens or shall I report her?

Lee

me283 · 17-10-2005, 09:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsainsbury

Hi,

Was sat at traffic lights this morning, handbrake on, in neutral, when the car in front rolled back into mine. No damaged was caused as it was about about 1mph. The woman got out and said to me....

"What are you doing? You've hit my car!"

I said to her that she had rolled into me and show her the position of my handbrake, but she was adamant I had rolled into her and used some "abusive" language like - "Silly man" - I tried not to laugh!

I've got her reg number, and I think she took mine - and also she followed me up the motorway. Now this morning it was quite foggy and everybody had their lights and fog lights on - she had no lights on at all!

Shall I see what happens or shall I report her?

Lee

Just to be safe, I would report it. Previously I would have said to forget it, but a recent experience taught me different. The police may well not be interested, but if it all goes pear-shaped ater on you can fall back on the fact that you reported it.

aliferste · 17-10-2005, 09:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsainsbury

I've got her reg number, and I think she took mine - and also she followed me up the motorway.

Spooky. I would report it, better to be safe than sorry !

Escapee · 17-10-2005, 09:55

I would report it just to get it on record.

A number of years ago whilst driving a company car, I stopped at traffic lights at some roadworks. The lane next to me was coned off, everyone else except one woman had looked at the signs and got into the correct lane.
She drove right up tight and tried to push in, I didn't make eye contact just drove on when the lights cahnged and that was that.

When I got into work on the monday morning the transport manager phoned me about an incident where I had been involved in a collision with someone elses car and shouted a lot of abuse at them! I took the car to him and insisted that he had look at it for any damage, no damage was found and apparently the woman didn't want to go through the insurance company but wanted a cheque for X amount for the damage.

Thats one of the reasons why I hated driving a signwritten company car, you become a target.

Salu · 17-10-2005, 10:18

I was driving on a motorway on Saturday in a 50mph section just about to come off a slip road. I was going at 50mph. I noticed in my RV mirror that a car was coming up behind me at 80mph ish...he then almost "boot bumped" me and then overtook me on the left and went down the skip road AS I was coming off. He used the hard shoulder until it ran out and caused me to veer right. He then ran a red light and sped off. I had my kids in the car and felt so cross that I reported it to the police. He was driving so dangerously that I thought it must be stolen so I gave the registration to them and went on my way. A couple of hours later I got a call from the police asking if I wanted to officially report it. When I questioned them I assumed they wanted me as a witness to a TWOCer but it turned out to be a routine call to see if I wanted to pursue the matter as the car was not stolen. In questioning the police for a likely outcome they told me that there was no CCTV in that area so it would turn out to be "me V him" case so I decided to not proceed. He will get caught one day it's inevitable that if someone drives like that once, he will again.

lippy · 17-10-2005, 10:36

As said above, report it to get it on record.
Next time you're at the spot,take note of whether there is a gradient in the road.
You can't roll uphill.

LSainsbury · 17-10-2005, 10:58

Cool - thanks for the advice - I'll pop into the police station on the way home I think.

jonbr · 17-10-2005, 15:49

God, it's getting to the point where I will have to have CCTV fitted to my car as well as my house

17-10-2005, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonbr

God, it's getting to the point where I will have to have CCTV fitted to my car as well as my house

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/s...es/4341342.stm

- already here

LSainsbury · 17-10-2005, 21:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by lippy

As said above, report it to get it on record.
Next time you're at the spot,take note of whether there is a gradient in the road.
You can't roll uphill.

...so - I went to the police station today only I couldn't find a parking spot, so I phoned the local Police station tonight (got a general county number) then got put through to the local station. Got told I need to visit the station in person to report it - they can't take the report over the phone!!

Why???!!!

Lee

PS - A visit to the police station tomorrow is on the cards!

punky · 17-10-2005, 22:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsainsbury

they can't take the report over the phone!!

Why???!!!

The accident report form requires drawings to depict what happened. Where things were, the point of motion of them.

You're doing the right thing by reporting it. You won't get punished for reporting it unnecessarily, but you can get punished for not reporting it, if necessary.

If it is damage only, no injuries, then you only need to exchange insurance details, you don't need to report it. You only need to report it if

1) someone drives off
2) you suspect they were under the influence of drugs
3) an independent witness (quite important, can't be someone involved) alleges dangerous driving.

By the sounds of it, you were both in agreement there wasn't any damage, so no need to report. However... You should have exchanged details, in case damage was found later. As you didn't (swapping reg numbers isn't sufficient), then its best you report it. She might, and if you don't it'll look bad on your part, or worse, you could be prosecuted.

ZrByte · 17-10-2005, 22:34

Had a near miss last night, The road is clearly marked left lane to go straight on or left turn and right lane for right turn. I was in the left lane wanting to go straight on and there was an MPV wich was a little behind me in the right lane wich I assumed would mean he was turning right. The lights turned green and we both pulled away I was quite a bit faster than him off the mark (probably because he was in a diesel going by the sounds of it), Only problem was he dicided he would rather go straight on instead. the road ahead on the otherside of the junction is a single lane and I was infront, as soon as he saw me move into position so I wasnt stuck in the gutter he suddenly sped up behind me, narrowly missed my rear bumper (was probably hoping to get in front of me before I had moved a quarter inch further into position) then started beeping his horn and flashing his lights at me as though I had caused him to have to take evasive action.
I couldnt take down any registration details or anything since he was behind me though since I noticed he seemed to have this whole speed demon thing going (he tailgaited me a good few hundred yards down the road until i turned off) after the fist hundred yards of tailgaiting I decided to slow down a tiny bit and drive at exactly 29mph in the 30mph zone we where in just to make sure he had to slow down that little bit more (I know how much this annoys people like this and I took great satisfaction in this). Okay probably not the best thing to do when you have what can only be described as a nutter in the car behind but it was very satisfying.

tkiely · 17-10-2005, 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsainsbury

PS - A visit to the police station tomorrow is on the cards!

not trying to put you off, i really think you should report this! I was once in the same position and reported the next day, amazed to get a *******ing and a warning for being out of the 24 hr time limit! you are meant to report within 24 hrs!!!!!

worlds gone mad.

lippy · 18-10-2005, 00:23

ZrByte, didn't you know that MPV and private hire cab drivers have right of way at any junction.
They can also park anywhere they like,even in the middle of the road while they wait for their brain to give them the next instruction.

ZrByte · 18-10-2005, 01:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by lippy

ZrByte, didn't you know that MPV and private hire cab drivers have right of way at any junction.
They can also park anywhere they like,even in the middle of the road while they wait for their brain to give them the next instruction.

I know, I felt so guilty when i realised that I had blocked one of our kings of the road.