Would you report what I witnessed?

Fizman

Just thought i'd put this to you lads.

I was driving home from work yesterday evening from Raheen (Limerick) to Mayorstone at about 6.30. I was at the union cross, waiting for oncoming traffic to clear so I could turn right onto shelbourne road. There was one car that was proceeding VERY slowly, and it was turning left to get on to shelbourne road. I could see that it was a quite elderly man driving, but as he turned, his driver side door began to swing open! :eek:

It opened out about .5m from the car, the only reason it didn't swing open fully was because of the snails pace of the car.

So I turn onto the same road, and at this stage i'm directly behind him. His position on the road left a lot to be desired too, he was very much to the left hand side of the road, not very far from the curb. He continued slowly on to the second exit (Mayorstone entrance) and began indicating left. This is the turn I was taking, and on seeing a parked car ahead, with the corner just after it I thought to myself "This could get interesting"!

He went out around the parked car, but on turning left, his door swung open again, this time a little further, and an oncoming car literally had to slow down and evade it. He continued up the hill at a snails pace.

Now I know that people tend to have a bit more compassion when it comes to our elderly folk, but sweet jesus, to say that this was dangerous driving is an understatement. I can only imagine what the rest of his trip was like, as I only witnessed him driving over a distance of about 600 metres.

I've reread over this, and it does come across as a little dramatic, but its exactly as I saw it. Is this a reportable situation in your opinion? I took note of the reg.

Just seems like an accident waiting to happen, if he didn't cause a few already.

The Insider

Reportable because his door was open?

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Can't see the guards doing anything if you did report it!

Drummerboy08

I would report it. If his door was open, its a potential hazard to pedestrians, and other motorists. Along with his road positioning, i'd say there will be an accident sooner than later with him.

Even if nothing comes of your report, if the driver is involved in an accident in the future, your report will be on record.

Omcd

Bryn wrote: »

Can't see the guards doing anything if you did report it!

Lets all drive around with our doors open then..:rolleyes:

Surely anyone who hadnt lost their marbles would at least stop to close it.

You never know, this may be an old fellow whos determined to drive until he drops dispite his relatives concerns. Maybe some persuasion from the authorites might encourage him its time to hang up his carkeys before something serious happens.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Omcd wrote: »

Lets all drive around with our doors open then..:rolleyes:

And where did I say that? There are far too many keyboard warriors and idiots who have no clue what they are on about in here from time to time

ninty9er

Snails pace in Mayorstone not so much as the driver could have been looking for a house....see that all the time. Not sure what the Gardaí would do about the door being open though.

Damn Micra drivers:D

EPM

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

I would report it. If his door was open, its a potential hazard to pedestrians, and other motorists. Along with his road positioning, i'd say there will be an accident sooner than later with him.

Even if nothing comes of your report, if the driver is involved in an accident in the future, your report will be on record.

+1

That door could easily have swung onto a cyclist and knocked them into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Bit dramatic I know but its still possible. I would report it if I were you. He's obviously going to hurt someone sooner or later with that carry-on. Might not be anything serious but could be prevented if he was to be told cop on/quit the driving

Sleipnir

"Old man leaves door open while driving"

Hardly "Dickie Rock in Mickey-rot Shock!" material is it?

What can the Gardai do? Call around and close it for him!?

Fizman

The Insider wrote: »

Reportable because his door was open?

To summarise my original post:

1. He was 'crawling' around the roads.
2. His door was not locked, therefore opening upon cornering.
3. Positioning on the road was terrible.
4. Came very close to hitting another car.


1+2+3+4 = Seriously dangerous driving/driver, even if he is an innocent little old man.


The reason I didn't ring is because there is a chance nothing will be done. I don't know really. But it was shockingly dangerous, I know that much.

Drummerboy08

The purpose of reporting an incident like that is not to get the driver thrown in jail for his actions, its to have a record of his driving when he is involved in an accident. If more than one person reported him, maybe the Gardai will call around to his home, notify him and his family of the reports, and leave it at that. Its generally the wake up call that people like that need.

Fizman

Sleipnir wrote: »

"Old man leaves door open while driving"

Hardly "Dickie Rock in Mickey-rot Shock!" material is it?

What can the Gardai do? Call around and close it for him!?

What if his 11 year old little banger can't actually keep the door attached to the car anymore? Lock broken etc? Then something could possibly be done about it.

I'm not normally one for pulling people for their driving/vehicles, and i'm a passive driver at the best of times, but i'd rather see an old mans vehicle off the road, rather than hear a story a few weeks later of someone clattered as they were walking along the footpath.

Sleipnir

We've all seen plenty of young people doing 3 and 4 (although maybe not 2) but in place of 1 they're going much, much faster than they should be.
The fact that he's going VERY slow isn't as likely to cause an accident as a young lad going VERY fast.

Door open? Silly old coot.

Report him, or don't.....only YOU can decide...! Decisions, decisions, decisions....

Sleipnir

Fizman wrote: »

What if his 11 year old little banger can't actually keep the door attached to the car anymore? Lock broken etc? Then something could possibly be done about it.

I'm not normally one for pulling people for their driving/vehicles, and i'm a passive driver at the best of times, but i'd rather see an old mans vehicle off the road, rather than hear a story a few weeks later of someone clattered as they were walking along the footpath.

Yeah that would be fairly crappy alright. Again though, I doubt the gardai will do anything but if you don't report it, you'll never know.....
Actually, you probably won't even if you do report it but still.

Fizman

ninty9er wrote: »

Snails pace in Mayorstone not so much as the driver could have been looking for a house....see that all the time.

That is true, and I wouldn't have taken notice if it was only in Mayorstone. He was like that from the union cross onwards.

And i'd like to think that he doesn't need to open his door to look at house numbers. :pac:

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Fizman wrote: »

I'm not normally one for pulling people for their driving/vehicles, and i'm a passive driver at the best of times, but i'd rather see an old mans vehicle off the road, rather than hear a story a few weeks later of someone clattered as they were walking along the footpath.

The OP said that it was his driver's door that was opening, so in reality, unless he was on a one way street and was close to the right hand curb, the chances of that happening are very slim.

Now, i'm not saying he isn't a danger, or what he was doing wasn't wrong, because it was.

Henry Ford III

He (old man) wasn't driving a newish Toyota by any chance was he?

ninty9er

Ah sure you might as well call in to Mayorstone and report it anyway. If they do nothing at least you don't have to worry about it anymore.

Fizman

Henry Ford III wrote: »

He (old man) wasn't driving a newish Toyota by any chance was he?

No, he was in an 11 year old little car.

Guy:Incognito

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

I would report it. If his door was open, its a potential hazard to pedestrians, and other motorists. Along with his road positioning, i'd say there will be an accident sooner than later with him.
.

The problem with these drivers that "never had a crash in my 176 years on the road" is that they often leave carnage behind them when they swing across lanes and whatnot.

I've lost count of the amount of elderly drivers that have come straight across my lanes on roundabouts etc, causeing me to brake heavily, yet no amount of beeping at them registers a reaction.