Taking things a bit far?

Padraig Mor

Here's the story:

Yesterday evening I'm on my way home. I'm stopped at traffic lights. (For Cork heads: I'm at the lights on Pouladuff Rd where it intersects Pearse Rd). There's a car in front of me and a motorbike in front of him. Lights at the perpendicular side go red - couple of cars keep going...nothing new there. Lights at 'my' side go green. Motorbike takes off......and very narrowly avoids (by standing on brakes) idiot in Yaris coming from our right who has broken red light by 5 - 7 seconds. She goes straight through junction apparently completely oblivious.

I turn left and am now travelling behind the Yaris, who is punting along at under 25 MPH. We come to next junction. Lights turn red well in advance; another car (in front of Yaris) stops at lights. Yaris overtakes car, goes through red light and attempts to turn right.....directly across the path of a car coming from their right (i.e. the 'green' side) who is also forced to brake. This person, understandably, gives them a good blast of their horn. Yaris sits, quite literally, in the middle of the junction until she gets green and turns off right. I keep going straight and see no more.

I was absolutely shocked. This person (90% sure it was a woman) went straight through two red lights (and 'properly' broke them - she wasn't running the amber light), nearly caused accidents both times and continues merrily on her way. The impression I took was that she didn't even see the lights - whether through drunkeness or (literally) partial blindness or something else I don't know. This is reinforced by the fact that she was going at a steady speed the whole time - i.e. not speeding up to make lights.

Today, I go to Garda station and report her for dangerous driving (noted reg). Never done this before! Garda gives me two options:
(a). Give him details and Gardai pay her a visit and caution her about her driving.
(b). I come back next week and give a sworn statement. She is then brought to court on charges, with me as 'star witness'.

I go with option (b). So, my question: am I doing the right thing or am I taking things a bit far? Would a caution be more appropriate or likely to have an effect at all? Should I mind my own business as she didn't cut me up? Your thoughts, please.

FX Meister

Go with option B. It's about time that spas like this get what's coming to them. I doubt she would listen to a caution. Next time she might kill someone.

oli_ro

Maybe she had mental problems or she/he was stoned.

hmmm

Padraig Mor wrote:

I go with option (b). So, my question: am I doing the right thing or am I taking things a bit far? Would a caution be more appropriate or likely to have an effect at all? Should I mind my own business as she didn't cut me up? Your thoughts, please.

I think you're doing the right thing and thanks for having the balls to go through with it. Someone like that will kill someone eventually.

greglo23

i think your doing the right thing. from what you describe she almost blew the guy on the bike away so maybe tomorrow she might kill or maim some poor unfortunate whose reactions arent so good. good on you for reporting her.

bbbbb

hmmm wrote:

I think you're doing the right thing and thanks for having the balls to go through with it. Someone like that will kill someone eventually.

Second that. Hopefully you're not going to get dragged through a long drawn out process. Let us know what happens.

Anan1

I agree. It's going to be a bit of hassle for you, but you may save someone's life. Even hers.

gerrycollins

i agree with plan b and have done it twice myself never regretted it for a min

DoctorEdgeWild

Fair play to you for doing it - Think about how hard it would be should a loved one be knocked down in the near future and you didn't do anything! Hopefully that won't happen though obviously! It happened to Peter Parker though and he lived to regret it!

I know the junctions you are talking about, not excatly dead roads with no traffic either! Hopefully all goes well in court.

Turner

B

She needs to be taken off the road.

bazz26

Breaking the red traffic light seems to be a very common occurrence these days here and it is getting worse.

Isn't there junctions where the traffic lights have cameras mounted on them to catch these drivers breaking red lights or is it still on the list of things do?

Turner

1 i think at Kilmainham in Dublin.

unkel

Chief--- wrote:

1 i think at Kilmainham in Dublin.

They've been there for many years. Last time I saw it flash was at least 3 years ago though (anybody see it flash more recently?). I still take extra care not to get the wrong side of amber there

bazz26

I remember a good few years back a set of traffic lights down my way had cameras on them. They were new at the time and the cameras were there to judge the traffic flow at each junction. Most people thought they were there to monitor traffic breaking the red lights. It did make people think twice about it at the time alright.

While it is probably impossible to put cameras up at every traffic light junction in the country, maybe a few well placed fake camaras and well posted signs at junctions might deter some of these idots from breaking the lights. It would be hard to tell which is real and which is fake, at the very least it might make them think twice.

junkyard

I don't think your taking things too far and you may save someones life but consider this, there are some serious nutters out there who may take issue with you taking the case to court, namely her family or friends. Secondly, for all your efforts you may find that the legal system will fail you miserably when push comes to shove if she has a good legal Representative and they are very good at turning the table and make you out to be the one at fault who has a grudge against their client. My advice is to let it go as you are the one to be inconvenienced but this is only my opinion.

Esel

(b) for sure.

This person is dangerous. Has probably caused (but probably not been involved in) a few accidents already. Imagine a cyclist, pedestrian or motorcyclist actually being hit by this idiot.

Be sure to make some notes about the incident while it is fresh in your mind. The court case could be a while.

Fair play to you.

Henry Ford III

b/. just do it. You may be saving a life sometime in the future.

miju

Definitely option B

my hat goes off to you as well, idiots like her badly need to be taken off the road, if eveyone started doing this the courts would get even more clogged up and then maybe fianna failure might actually come up with a coherent roa d strategy

The OP

Option B - 100%. Well done.

kluivert

Option B - 100% fully behind you on this one.

I am a firm believer that people should be servely punished for this sort of stupidity.

Very lucky that person on the bike wasnt killed. Only for that person's quick reactions you could have witnessed another road death.

Similiarly going home from work i saw something not as bad, behind a car approach a roundabout (no traffic lights roundabout) and there is traffic coming from the right, however the car infront of me ploughs on regardless and a Mazda 3 had to stand on the brakes and i mean just missed hitting are stupid friend.

I think its time in this country that we start speaking up and ringing the Garda's about this sort of carry on because people who do this dont care and think sure no one will ring the Garda's anyway.

kluivert

junkyard wrote:

I don't think your taking things too far and you may save someones life but consider this,.... My advice is to let it go as you are the one to be inconvenienced but this is only my opinion.

This is what i mean... Ok say he lets this one go and the same person does the same thing again and kills someone...No sorry its not worth it.

phoenix_nights

Padraig Mor wrote:

Never done this before! Garda gives me two options:
(a). Give him details and Gardai pay her a visit and caution her about her driving.
(b). I come back next week and give a sworn statement. She is then brought to court on charges, with me as 'star witness'.

I go with option (b). So, my question: am I doing the right thing or am I taking things a bit far? Would a caution be more appropriate or likely to have an effect at all? Should I mind my own business as she didn't cut me up? Your thoughts, please.

Congrats mate. I never thought the guards would take a complaint of bad driving so seriously. I have seen some truly dangerous driving but didnt know that the guards would act upon a complaint without proof.

Next time i will follow up with the guards as if it prevents some family getting some bad news about a loved one it will be worth it.

Easy to complain about dangerous driving but we all here should act on it. Whats that saying. Bad things happen when good men do nothing.

Kinetic^

oli_ro wrote:

Maybe she had mental problems or she/he was stoned.

Then definately go with option B.

bennyc

(b). I come back next week and give a sworn statement. She is then brought to court on charges, with me as 'star witness'.

I go with option (b).


Fair play to ya, this idiot and idiots like them need to be stopped, mate got rear ended last week from another muppet running lights who was to busy looking either side to see if they would make it and ran up behind them, causing a three car bender. My mate has to pay for the car in front :mad:

crosstownk

Go with B for definite. Drivers like this need to be off the road and not contributing to the ever increasing deaths on our roads.

MrPudding

Option "B" for sure. Well done and good luck.

I have been overtaken a couple of times on the N11 after stopping at the red light. On one occasion the car behind me also stopped and then the driver changed his mind, pulled out past me and went through the light.

I have also had a couple of times where I was second in the queue at the lights and after it turned green we both set off and someone running the red light passed between us. Never got any numbers though to busy trying to avoid them.

Get them off the road.]

MrP

johnnyrotten

B. Fair play to you

daymobrew

B. Fair play.

I've made two reports to the Gardai and neither time have they followed through (one was a red light runner and the other someone who nearly rear ended me as I cycled through a roundabout, scared the hell outta me!).
I've made tons of other requests for cautions but I've given up because the attitude of the Gardai is very inconsistent, mostly uninterested. I've written to the Garda Commissioner about the inconsistency and had the local Superintendent visit me to encourage me to continue.
Padraig Mor's action might encourage me to start again.
Litter Wardens on the other hand are always interested in reports.

Padraig Mor: write the details down now so that it is all clear when you go to make your statement.

mayotom

Take her off the road for good.

There should be better licencing laws.
I think people like this should be made resit the test every few years. there are too many people on the roads who haven't go a clue. privatise the licencing system asap.

franksm

Good on ya if you go for B.

You never know, maybe she has had some warnings in the past and yours will be the straw that breaks the camel's back ie. points & fine.

Padraig Mor

Thanks for all the support! TBH I expected at least a few people to be sending abuse my way so am pleasantly surprised. To clarify the situation, I have already gone for 'Option B'. Apparently I will receive a call next week. I can give the statement in the station or they will call to me at home. According to the Garda, she will be given the opportunity to get legal advice (no surprise really) before it goes to court.......which is where it'll probably get bogged down and forgotten about!

I could be wrong here but I got the impression that the Garda wanted me just to go with the caution - he certainly wasn't pushing me towards court. Maybe I picked up the wrong signals though. One thing which is worrying me though, and was mentioned by one poster, is the possibility of psycho family/friends etc being none too pleased - she could be from a family of drug dealers or something!

franksm

Padraig, you'll get that "what if" worry with anything in life *especially* in this sort of scenario you talk about; in my experience it's best just to do the right thing and not worry about it. You might be saving someone's life by helping take her off the road, and all that without having to wear your jocks outside your trousers

You know yourself - if you choose the do-nothing route you'll be kicking yourself

neacy69

fair play to ya lad I agree wholely....

even if it does only make her think twice in future- knowing this irish legal system it'll probably get bogged down in court but at least it will make her learn from the situation and take more care in future maybe this will even work as a deterrent to other careless drivers if they hear about this kind of case being brought forward by a concerned motorist

Padraig Mor

Couple of people have mentioned about them not being taken seriously when they made similar complaints. I wonder if I am being taken fairly seriously because I myself was NOT involved in the near-accidents? i.e. it's not like she cut me up and I'm just trying to piss her off by reporting her.

Pigeon Reaper

Fair play to you for taking the time out to do this. I always check to see if traffic has stopped before taking off after seeing a crash a while ago caused by a car running the lights. The biker was lucky but should have looked first(I'm a biker with a strong sense of self preservation). Overtaking to run through red lights is a new one. Only ever seen joy riders doing something like that.

el tel

The maniacal way she was driving was as potentially dangerous as a headcase brandishing a gun on the street. You were right to go for (b).

kdevitt

I gave a statement to the guards last night for something similar. Didn't think they'd be bothered myself when I first went to them, but was glad they decided to try and pursue it. Some little scrote in a Starlet GT Turbo almost crashed into me when pulling out from a roundabout where he had no right of way, then repeatedly started jamming on the brakes after I'd sounded my horn to try and get our cars to mate.

Turns out there were three other 'enquiries' about him on file.

impr0v

Option B all the way. Light breaking, and proper breaking as you describe it above, is absolutely endemic at the moment, among all types of motorists in all types of vehicles. At the end of this process, which you should be commended for initiating, there will hopefully be one less person doing it.

Fey!

Fair dues to you. TBH, I wish I had the cahones to do the same thing, but have given up on reporting things to the gardai. I know that's a bad attitude, but I think they're reluctance to do anything can be more to do with lack of manpower than laziness on the officers part.

wreckedhead

It's option B for sure !
There is too much of that going on,as some one else siad ,
a Dickhead like that could and probably will cause a serious accident.
Option B, or a good kick in the ass,excuse the pun " It would drive you mad ":mad:

mike65

Padraig Mor, I would'nt fret about the family of "psycho-billys" possibility.

Chances are they are ordinary people who may also know that this individual is'nt a good driver and fear the worst whenever she steps out the front door.

Mike.

Scubadevils

100% agree with all others here, go with B.

I complained to the garda before about dangerous driving where I live, the guy was a regular offender driving up a residential road at about 60mph - usual little scum bag type with some half assed car. The garda was sympathetic but was definitely pushing towards the caution option and not the court option. I chose the caution option in the fact the guy would know me and where I live...maybe I can be called a chicken or whatever but I didn't want to take the chance in the fact I have a wife and child, you wouldn't know what a little scumbag like this might do, even if to throw a stone or something through the window.

In a situation like what the OP has described, I would without doubt go with option B. Fair play and more (including me) should do something about the crazy driving we all experience on a daily basis.

Green_Martian

Have to agree wit you i would have gone with option b as well.

Especially as she overtook a car to go through the red light:eek: :eek:

Fair play

SprostonGreen

Option B for sure. The fact that she deliberately at the second red light moved out when she shouldnt just shows that she's a dangerous driver and should not be on the road.

You're doing the right thing, we need idiots like this off our roads.

Big Balls

I agree with what you're doing but it worries me how easily the guards assume you are an honest person not out to just pi55 someone off..

For example, a few weeks ago, some prize to55er in a 740i nearly destroyed the entire side of my 6 month old car because he felt he had the right to cut me up and force his way in front on a slip road leading onto the M50.. He then sat up my arse to which I tapped the brakes and then simply accelerated quicker then he could/was willing to and lost him. A few minutes later, he comes flying up the inside of me (this guy was in his late 50s) and starts waving a phone at me as if to say I'm calling the guards.

What's to stop that little pr*ck going to the guards and telling them I nearly killed him and me having to defend myself and all because he felt he was better than everyone else on the road that day and deserved to get to his distination quicker than everyone else?

Litcagral

I almost collided with a Dublin Airport Authority vehicle last week. The driver of the Isuzu pick-up and trailer (for transporting luggage trolleys) had broken a red light by about 3 or 4 seconds. I immediately telephoned the DAA with the vehicle registration number and make/model to make a complaint but was told to contact the Airport Police if I had a problem. When I telephoned the Airport Police they said they would only accept complaints in person. I was on a tight schedule and didn't have the time to do this. I would have thought that a caution could have been given to the driver by the DAA or the Airport Police. He even had a "How's my driving" plate on the rear of the trailer but I didn't get the (mobile) number on it. It's bad enough for a private motorist to break a red light but to do it in an easily identified vehicle beggars belief.

ChristyBrown

a) fair play to ya
b) bring back public flogging