Would you report this guy?

MaxFlower

Apologies if this is the wrong place for this but......

I was on my way into Galway city today on the dual carrageway passing the racecourse near the Tom Hogans Toyota dealership. Anyone who knows the area will know that during race week there are some traffic management systems in place (using the term loosely here!). Anyway, some guys had just place some cones between the two lanes - RH lane for race traffic, LH lane for heading into town. Both lanes were occupied with traffic, I was on the left lane, and we were all ambling along.

A guy on a motorbike came up the RH lane quickly and decided to undertake the car in front of him. I'm guessing at this stage he did not see the traffic cones 'cause as he undertook the car he came face to face with the first in a line of cones and promtly hit it. I thought he was gonna fall off but he stays on and hits another one, ran over a third, hit one more before speeding off. In his wake, a woman in a people carrier hit a cone full on and I ran over another. She pulled over to check her car or maybe she got a fright - I don't know. I kept going just to see if I could get his number at the roundabout.

He was actually pulled just beyond the roundabout taking off his jacket and helmet. I thought he was checking for damage but imagine my surprise when he pulls on his Garda jacket!:eek: I think he may have been on point duty.

What dismays me is that here is someone who has a duty to ensure the road safety of others but obviously not while he is on his bike. Was he worried about the damage to the cars behind him as the hit the traffic cones or swerved to avoid them. It doesn't appear so - he didnt look back to admire his handy work. But if I report him - am I just kidding myself that something will be done?

wet-paint

Report him to the garda ombudsman. He has to respect the rules of the road unless he's got the blue lights a flashin'. Is your car damaged?

JHMEG

The ombudsman is the way to go. He has no loyalties, as witnessed earlier this week.

bazz26

Maybe he had a hot tip and was on his way to the local Paddy Powers to collect his winings.

Seriously though there is no excuse for reckless driving. If you think he was reckless and a danger to other road users then you are within your rights to report him imo irrespective of who he works for.

MaxFlower

Wouldn't have thought of the garda ombudsman tbh and I was a bit reluctant to go into the local station. Thanks.
My car is fine but the girl in the people carrier hit the heavy bottom part of the cone.

bazz26

keithers911 wrote:

Wouldn't have thought of the garda ombudsman tbh and I was a bit reluctant to go into the local station. Thanks.
My car is fine but the girl in the people carrier hit the heavy bottom part of the cone.

If yourself and the girl both made a complaint your case might that bit stronger.

_Kaiser_

Definitely report this clown OP.

Yet another shining example of our Keystone Cops brigade (oh how I laughed yesterday at hearing Noel Conroy insisting the Gardai do apologise when they're in the wrong :rolleyes:) that thinks a badge makes him/her Dirty Harry or something.

No doubt the apologists will be in shortly saying he was on duty and so can break the traffic laws - that's no excuse for the dangerous driving described in the OP though is it?

Personally I would have pulled over, got his name, badge number and station, and rang his Super there and then (I've done it before).

event

Kaiser2000 wrote:

Definitely report this clown OP.

Yet another shining example of our Keystone Cops brigade (oh how I laughed yesterday at hearing Noel Conroy insisting the Gardai do apologise when they're in the wrong :rolleyes:) that thinks a badge makes him/her Dirty Harry or something.

No doubt the apologists will be in shortly saying he was on duty and so can break the traffic laws - that's no excuse for the dangerous driving described in the OP though is it?

Personally I would have pulled over, got his name, badge number and station, and rang his Super there and then (I've done it before).

of course not, dont be silly

but it doesnt stop others coming in and calling the whole force 'keystone cops', does it:rolleyes:

get on to the ombudsman, that shocking driving

rahim

If you don't report this incident nothing will happen about it and this guy will get away without even the notion he has done something wrong, he has no right or power to ignore the rules of the road and even with a flashing blue light he still has only limited scope outside the general rules. The fact that he pulled in further on indicates that he was in no rush to get anywhere and only ads to his ignorance about other people's safety.

NBar

What a tosser if he had come of the bike and that poor woman had driven over him how would she feel. I would deffo report this and keep following it up as this kind of driving for anybody no matter what job they have is a disgrace

Fey!

Report him. That kind of driving is just idiocy.

deman

Report him. He could easily have caused a more serious accident than run over cones.

I think the decision's quite clear here.

_Kaiser_

event wrote:

but it doesnt stop others coming in and calling the whole force 'keystone cops', does it:rolleyes:

I think there's been more than enough examples of Gardai incompetence, arrogance, laziness and corruption reported in the media, courts and even here on Boards over the years to show that we have a largely amatueurish and unprofessional force that is in serious need of cleaning up from top to bottom.

I stand by my comments, but you're equally entitled to believe it's not as bad as all that if you like.

2stageturbo

it would be nice to see this fella getting a taste of his own medicine but whats the worst that is gonna happen to him ? :rolleyes:

_Kaiser_

2stageturbo wrote:

it would be nice to see this fella getting a taste of his own medicine but whats the worst that is gonna happen to him ? :rolleyes:

Which (event) is exactly my point.. it's presently an old boys network where they all look out (and cover up) for each other, which is why many of the general public have no faith in the Gardai or their internal disiplinary procedures (not to mention the lack of transparency).

Encouragingly though, the new Ombudsman looks set to change all that.