Trafficwatch - would you use it?

Thoie

If you saw someone driving in a dangerous and illegal manner, but they hadn't actually harmed you, would you call Trafficwatch?

MagicMarker

I actually wanted to a couple of months back but after a quick google I couldn't find the number.

If they want people to use the service then they should make it easily accessible.

eringobragh

Thoie wrote: »

If you saw someone driving in a dangerous and illegal manner, but they hadn't actually harmed you, would you call Trafficwatch?

Depends..... in my stupider younger years I got pulled for a dodgy manouver from someone that called them! Learned a valuable lesson that day. (I got an ear bashing from the cop and the fella that called [but he told the cop he's not making a statement] )

I've rung them before about a truck full of dead sheep. I ran over a hump (dead sheep) in the road and a while later saw what I thought to be a dead dog, over the next few miles the road was littered with dead sheep,, I thought some poor farmers sheep escaped overtook a few cars and sat behind the truck a sheep dropped out of the air :eek: I hit the brakes WTF. I looked up and the truck had a net and another sheeps legs were dangling from the rear FFS!

eringobragh

MagicMarker wrote: »

I actually wanted to a couple of months back but after a quick google I couldn't find the number.

If they want people to use the service then they should make it easily accessible.

Trafficwatch: 1890205805 - Theres a few signs about but store it to your SIM card!

MagicMarker

eringobragh wrote: »

Trafficwatch: 1890205805 - Theres a few signs about but store it to your SIM card!

Good stuff, now all I need is a pad and pen to write down plate numbers rather than trying to remember them by repeating them over and over:)

Thoie

MagicMarker wrote: »

I actually wanted to a couple of months back but after a quick google I couldn't find the number.

If they want people to use the service then they should make it easily accessible.

I'm now having visions of you googling for the number while driving, and other people then googling the number to report you. Infinite loop!

Anyway, to save you googling in future, it's here:

http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=167

Traffic Watch
Report incidents of aggressive driving or driving hazards.
Tel:1890 205 805

ETA: Ooops, you got it already. Ah well.

Thoie

eringobragh wrote: »

Depends..... in my stupider younger years I got pulled for a dodgy manouver from someone that called them! Learned a valuable lesson that day. (I got an ear bashing from the cop and the fella that called [but he told the cop he's not making a statement] )

I've rung them before about a truck full of dead sheep. I ran over a hump (dead sheep) in the road and a while later saw what I thought to be a dead dog, over the next few miles the road was littered with dead sheep,, I thought some poor farmers sheep escaped overtook a few cars and sat behind the truck a sheep dropped out of the air :eek: I hit the brakes WTF. I looked up and the truck had a net and another sheeps legs were dangling from the rear FFS!

Genuinely interested here - do you think the ear bashing helped make you a safer driver?

Also, what the hell did they say about dead sheep? Bet that was one they hadn't heard before!

NewApproach

I would use it (haven't yet) but the thing that would put me off it big time is if you end up having to go to court or something like that...

L1011

If its just muppetry no.

If there was a serious chance of it causing a crash or nearly did - yes.

I've mostly used the number to phone in cyclists on motorways and kids playing on the Liffey bridge on the M4 though. Called in someone doing lethal weaving on the N7 on Sunday and passed them pulled over by the cops during the call!

eringobragh

Thoie wrote: »

Genuinely interested here - do you think the ear bashing helped make you a safer driver?

Most definately I realised that day I wasn't invincible (Garda mentioned about a wheelchair and even worse death that really hit home), Best thing that could have happened to me TBH, I was young thought I knew it all :rolleyes:(Young Fellas and cars are a bad mix!) ...I do still speed but I am the most cautious overtaker ever now (almost too cautious)

Thoie wrote: »

Also, what the hell did they say about dead sheep? Bet that was one they hadn't heard before!

They asked me if I would go on the record and make a statement. I said I just wanted to highlight the issue. It happened between Mayo & Galway.

L-M

I would never normally use it, or complain about anyone's driving. I keep to myself kinda thing. But i was behind a fella one day who was definitly drunk, and a danger to the roads.

He was heading towards Ennis, so i rang them, gave them the reg etc. etc. etc. and about three weeks later they rang back saying they found him and would i go to court over it.

FFS some job proving he was drink driving then.

I won't use it ever again.

MagicMarker

Limerick man wrote: »

I would never normally use it, or complain about anyone's driving. I keep to myself kinda thing. But i was behind a fella one day who was definitly drunk, and a danger to the roads.

He was heading towards Ennis, so i rang them, gave them the reg etc. etc. etc. and about three weeks later they rang back saying they found him and would i go to court over it.

FFS some job proving he was drink driving then.

I won't use it ever again.

Did you go to court?

What was the end result?

L-M

MagicMarker wrote: »

Did you go to court?

What was the end result?

No, there was absolutely no evidence to back up my case. I would of went to court and fought it because he was a danger to Irish roads. I would of went if they did something about it that day. But three weeks later, pointless imo.

MagicMarker

Limerick man wrote: »

No, there was absolutely no evidence to back up my case. I would of went to court and fought it because he was a danger to Irish roads. I would of went if they did something about it that day. But three weeks later, pointless imo.

So, what you're saying is nothing was ever done because you didn't want to go to court because 3 weeks had passed? What exactly were you expecting?

L-M

MagicMarker wrote: »

So, what you're saying is nothing was ever done because you didn't want to go to court because 3 weeks had passed? What exactly were you expecting?

Sorry, i haven't been clear.

I rang them on the day i saw it. And they did nothing about it until three weeks later.

Thoie

NewApproach wrote: »

I would use it (haven't yet) but the thing that would put me off it big time is if you end up having to go to court or something like that...

AFAIK you don't have to go to court. They'd ask if you'll make a statement etc, but won't force you to do anything. I don't think you even have to give them your details if you don't want to (but I'm open to correction on that).

L1011

Its optional to give your details but they do have caller ID.

MagicMarker

Limerick man wrote: »

Sorry, i haven't been clear.

I rang them on the day i saw it. And they did nothing about it until three weeks later.

Fair enough it's a long wait, it's a good thing the driver didn't hurt anyone on the day. But why refuse to go to court just because it took a few weeks? Don't you see that you were the evidence? If you had of gone to court something may have been done about it.

L-M

MagicMarker wrote: »

Fair enough it's a long wait, it's a good thing the driver didn't hurt anyone on the day. But why refuse to go to court just because it took a few weeks? Don't you see that you were the evidence? If you had of gone to court something may have been done about it.

Lol, but you can't prosecute someone for drink driving with no evidence. IMO it would of been utterly pointless going to court. They had to proof of him on the day.

Thoie

Limerick man wrote: »

Lol, but you can't prosecute someone for drink driving with no evidence. IMO it would of been utterly pointless going to court. They had to proof of him on the day.

They mightn't have got him for drink driving, but they might have done him for driving with undue care if you had witnessed erratic behaviour and could tell what you saw. Meh, nevermind, we'll never know now

MagicMarker

Limerick man wrote: »

Lol, but you can't prosecute someone for drink driving with no evidence. IMO it would of been utterly pointless going to court. They had to proof of him on the day.

That's what witnesses are for.

Do you think you were asked to go to court for a laugh or something?

If you had of gone to court and testified to what you saw then there's a good chance SOMETHING would have been done! Why make a complaint if you're not prepared to follow through?

Seth Brundle

Thoie wrote: »

AFAIK you don't have to go to court. They'd ask if you'll make a statement etc, but won't force you to do anything. I don't think you even have to give them your details if you don't want to (but I'm open to correction on that).

Correct.
I have used it a number of times. The last was when I saw someone repeatedly driving whilst their kid was unrestrained (often standing in the launch position) heading for the N4 is a crappy Suzuki.
I was asked if I wanted to make a statement in a garda station and I agreed. Got a call a short while later and made the statement and with the garda who was genuinely appreciative of it, we decided that the garda would give the driver a proper bollocking and then if it were to re-occur - court.
I have seen the car go by a number of times and the kid is properly restrained now! Possibly a life saved!

eringobragh

kbannon wrote: »

Correct.
I have used it a number of times. The last was when I saw someone repeatedly driving whilst their kid was unrestrained (often standing in the launch position) heading for the N4 is a crappy Suzuki.
I was asked if I wanted to make a statement in a garda station and I agreed. Got a call a short while later and made the statement and with the garda who was genuinely appreciative of it, we decided that the garda would give the driver a proper bollocking and then if it were to re-occur - court.
I have seen the car go by a number of times and the kid is properly restrained now! Possibly a life saved!

I remember that thread. A no-brainer to say the least but fair play for doing the parents job.

Thoie

So, we've had one example of using it for an unrestrained child - where else would you use it?

Dangerous overtaking? Handheld mobile phone? Running a red light? Tailgating?

DarkJager

How about a freephone number instead of lo-call?

Thoie

DarkJager wrote: »

How about a freephone number instead of lo-call?

"That bloke's going to kill someone driving like that, I should tell someone. Dammit, I don't have 20p, best let it go then..."

To answer your question, I don't know - presumably for the same reason that phoning your local garda station costs money. Companies use freephone numbers to attract sales - the gardai are not exactly touting for business (that I know of). AFAIK the Revenue phone numbers etc are all lo-call as well.

littletiger

I was often thinking of buying a video camera to record dangerous driving, if even just to put it on a website and try to embarrass them. I wonder would it be expensive to buy a system?

Thoie

This one's about $400, but you might get something less fancy for cheaper.

Toots

I phoned it one day when there was a van in front of me on the M50 with a load of building supplies in the back, the doors were open cos there were long pipes in the back of it, but there was planks of wood and all sorts falling out as it drove along, which was pretty dangerous.

L-M

MagicMarker wrote: »

That's what witnesses are for.

Do you think you were asked to go to court for a laugh or something?

If you had of gone to court and testified to what you saw then there's a good chance SOMETHING would have been done! Why make a complaint if you're not prepared to follow through?

I made the complaint and i would of followed it through. I could ring in the morning about any Joe Soap and complain that he was drink driving. Like anyone, if they pulled him three weeks later, there's not a thing to prove. The lad i rang about, the gardai confronted him and said it to him. Who's to prove it? I wouldn't waste my time, nor his, nor the courts time trying to prove something with absolutely no evidence.

Don't come to conclusions, believe me, if I wanted to go to court i would have, and i would of went as far as possilbe to prosecute him. If they had gotten off there arses and done something about it that day, I would of done something and i would be posting about my good experiences with ringing the Traffic Watch. Anyone with a bad experience will hardly use something again.

TheNog

Limerick man wrote: »

I made the complaint and i would of followed it through. I could ring in the morning about any Joe Soap and complain that he was drink driving. Like anyone, if they pulled him three weeks later, there's not a thing to prove. The lad i rang about, the gardai confronted him and said it to him. Who's to prove it? I wouldn't waste my time, nor his, nor the courts time trying to prove something with absolutely no evidence.

Ok so the drunk driving was out of the question but his manner of driving wasnt and you could have made a statement to that effect. On occasions a drunk driver may also be prosecutedfor dangerous driving if their driving is really that bad. Yor verbal evidence of his driving could have been enough for a proseuction of dangerous driving. Also you dont know if someone else had rang Traffic Watch or the station ahead complaining of his driving.

Don't come to conclusions, believe me, if I wanted to go to court i would have, and i would of went as far as possilbe to prosecute him. If they had gotten off there arses and done something about it that day, I would of done something and i would be posting about my good experiences with ringing the Traffic Watch. Anyone with a bad experience will hardly use something again.

D'know I reckon some people think that patrol cars sit in the station waiting for a call which is not true at all. For all you know the nearest patrol car could have been miles away
or dealing with an even more serious call
or even dealing with another drunk driver call
or dealing wth a violent prisoner
or at a suicide
or at the nearest phyciatric (sp??) unit with a violent patient


So dont be saying "If they had gotten off there arses and done something about it that day," cos you just dont know and never will know what was going on that day.

L-M

TheNog wrote: »

cos you just dont know and never will know what was going on that day.

And on that note, i see no further point in this arguement.

TheNog

Limerick man wrote: »

And on that note, i see no further point in this arguement.

ah good, problem solved :pac:


/whispers - its alright lads, I've fobbed him off

WHITE_P

littletiger wrote: »

I was often thinking of buying a video camera to record dangerous driving, if even just to put it on a website and try to embarrass them. I wonder would it be expensive to buy a system?

Take a look here, everthing from cheap and cheerful to more expensive kit covered.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/230973/incar_cameras_test.html

http://www.actioncameras.co.uk/

jennyartist

Can anyone advise me about a sticky situation? i live in very rural west of ireland, very happily, except that our neighbours are sheep farmers, and their lambs have very recently worked out how to get around the mostly-substantial fence surrounding my (newly seeded, newly planted!)garden, across our lawn and potentially onto the road. Is the onus on me or them to reinforce the fence gap?
Any advice welcome (besides moving away:eek:)

rocknchef

buy a car run them over and when you damage your car and need advice post here:D or they will make a nice easter dinner:P