Can I / should I report dangerous driving?

baglady

Hi, sorry if this is a stupid question, or in the wrong place etc. I was just wondering if I got the reg number of a car that I saw being driven dangerously, could I tell the guards or is there someone else I could tell, and would anything actually be done about it.
Sorry again if this is a stupid question. I have a really strong aversion to bad, inconsiderate and dangerous drivers, it probably annoys me more than the regular person. I saw this woman the other day coffee in one hand, this same hand on the steering wheel, and texting or something on her phone with the other hand. I just don't think people like that should be allowed near a car. :mad: anyway that's all for my rant. any comments appreciated. thanks

(sorry again if this is in the wrong place))

pvt.joker

Yes you can report it. Bear in mind though you will need to give evidence against this person in court, as it is on the strength of your witness account that the case will be in court.

Geri Boyle

Best ive ever seen is a guy on his laptop whilst driving on the N4! I sh*t you not! Total idiot.. Yea im all for reporting idiotic drivers!..

Run_to_da_hills

Blue Belle wrote: »

Best ive ever seen is a guy on his laptop whilst driving on the N4! I sh*t you not! Total idiot.. Yea im all for reporting idiotic drivers!..

It would depend what he was at, If it was used as a GPS navigaton tool he would probably try to get away with it.

You would also want to be very careful reporting someone while driving.

baglady

Blue Belle wrote: »

Best ive ever seen is a guy on his laptop whilst driving on the N4! I sh*t you not! Total idiot.. Yea im all for reporting idiotic drivers!..

omfg. I don't know what I would have done if I saw that. Probably exploded or something. That makes me mad!! How can these people think things like that are ok to do?!?!?!?! It's just mind-boggling. Mind if I ask you did you actually ever report someone you saw driving dangerously?

Ruffty^

Report it? Don't bother your hole. Nothing will be done about it. Even if they did track the one down, it is your word against theirs. Also I would not want you tying up our gardai's valuable time, remember there is a ban on overtime...:(

TheNog

baglady wrote: »

Hi, sorry if this is a stupid question, or in the wrong place etc. I was just wondering if I got the reg number of a car that I saw being driven dangerously, could I tell the guards or is there someone else I could tell, and would anything actually be done about it.
Sorry again if this is a stupid question. I have a really strong aversion to bad, inconsiderate and dangerous drivers, it probably annoys me more than the regular person. I saw this woman the other day coffee in one hand, this same hand on the steering wheel, and texting or something on her phone with the other hand. I just don't think people like that should be allowed near a car. :mad: anyway that's all for my rant. any comments appreciated. thanks

(sorry again if this is in the wrong place))

As pvt.joker said yes you can report it and no its not a stupid question at all.

Eru

Yes report it. Even if unfortunately, your word against his will not be enough to prosecute the responding Gardai may also see something in his or her driving or a second person may also witness the d driving. It all adds up.

However, there really is no point unless your also willing to give evidence in court

eroo

Eru wrote: »

Yes report it. Even if unfortunately, your word against his will not be enough to prosecute the responding Gardai may also see something in his or her driving or a second person may also witness the d driving. It all adds up.

However, there really is no point unless your also willing to give evidence in court

Few months back I reported a car that I thought was being driven erratically(tbh, it looked like the driver was dui). I gave the Garda the reg no. He thanked me and that was it, didn't ask for my name. Now the car and it's occupant were quite some distance from the station and on a country road, so it was pretty doubtful any patrol car would have caught up with him/her. My question is..would the Gardai have contacted the driver the next day to say that they had been reported?

TheNog

Usually people dont tend to travel very far when drunk so simple reg check would have yielded the name and address of the owner. It is possible that a patrol car would have not been able to get to the address in time or it is possible there was no car available to respond.

However before anyone does jump on any bandwagon this driver would be looked out for again

eroo

Cheers Nog, good to know!

deadwood

Ruffty^ wrote: »

Report it? Don't bother your hole. Nothing will be done about it. Even if they did track the one down, it is your word against theirs. Also I would not want you tying up our gardai's valuable time, remember there is a ban on overtime...:(

.......ah, what's the point.

by8auj6csd3ioq

no criticism allowed huh? called a troll if you criticize, ?

Trojan911

Ruffty^ wrote: »

Report it? Don't bother your hole. Nothing will be done about it. Even if they did track the one down, it is your word against theirs.

Not completely true there fella, I had occasion to report a driver about two years ago that pulled out of a junction onto a main road causing me to swerve my motorbike onto the otherside of the road, otherwise he would have impacted on me.

Reported it to my local station & some months later went to court, gave my evidence, he was found guilty, appropriate sentence handed down & €150 awarded to me for expenses.

Ruffty^ wrote: »

Also I would not want you tying up our gardai's valuable time, remember there is a ban on overtime...:(

Gardai are there to serve the public, and investigating allegations of traffic offences is part of that, so no "valuable" time is being tied up.