Dangerous / Inconsiderate driving in UK

October 15, 2006 6:53 AM

How do you report a dangerous / inconsiderate driver (UK)

Hi all, while we were halfway across the street at Haydons Rd in Wimbledon, some arrogant driver, license plate L657 FWN at 14:41 approached the crossing from about 50m away and made no attempt to stop -- which to me falls under dangerous driving ... where can I make a fuss? I remember seeing a link somewhere 'report dangerous driver' but can I find that again?

thanks

posted by kiwi.es to Law & Government (9 answers total)

Your local police station?
posted by matthewr at 6:57 AM on October 15, 2006

The police? Don't expect any luck though, but they're the only ones who can really do anything.

Regarding a system for reporting drivers, you might be thinking of the schemes used to report dangerous commercial drivers?
posted by wackybrit at 6:57 AM on October 15, 2006

I wouldn't use it myself but there are websites like this. Personally I'd just go to the police if anything rather than make this sort of thing a public complaint. And I'd not expect the police to do anything either.
posted by edd at 7:18 AM on October 15, 2006

It is worthwhile reporting to the police in that if it's one of a series of incidents involving this vehicle or driver then it will likely be useful in building a case (e.g. if this driver was later stopped for drunk driving). But if this is the only piece of information they have, it probably won't go far.
posted by winston at 2:33 PM on October 15, 2006

You haven't even identified a driver. You've identified a vehicle. Good job.
posted by trevyn at 7:28 PM on October 15, 2006

I'm presuming you were in a crosswalk at the time? (If not, I have no sympathy for you) Go ahead and report the car, but I can tell you what will happen: nothin'. But maybe you'll feel a bit better for at least having TRIED to do something.
posted by antifuse at 4:05 AM on October 16, 2006

I'm presuming you were in a crosswalk at the time? (If not, I have no sympathy for you)

I don't know about Ireland, but in the United Kingdom it's not necessary to cross at official crossings, and in many places it's not even possible (without a very long walk). Of course, the OP did say "the crossing".
posted by wackybrit at 7:32 AM on October 16, 2006

I don't know about Ireland, but in the United Kingdom it's not necessary to cross at official crossings

To be fair, I don't *really* know about Ireland either (I've only been here a year, and not much of that time has been spent as a pedestrian). I *do* know that if you walk out into the middle of the road (not at a crosswalk) with oncoming cars, said oncoming cars would be mightily pissed at you for standing in the middle of traffic. However, having said that, walking out into the road when there are oncoming cars and expecting said cars to stop for you outside of a crosswalk seems... somewhat rude, if not outride suicidal. But I guess it depends on what the local laws and customs are.
posted by antifuse at 9:07 AM on October 16, 2006

Kiwi I'm trying to get in touch about a previous blog.
Can you email me at my addy - [e-mail]

Thanks
posted by rumi at 7:19 AM on February 27, 2007