Dangerous Driving - what to do?

Communicator

Hi All,

So I was on the motorway yesterday, driving pretty fast and going up the slip road, I spotted a 2 seater van behind. Just noticed that neither driver nor female passenger had seatbelts on as they were both moving around alot in their seats - think that's the reason they caught my eye tbh. They stayed behind me for about the next ten miles (doing about 80kph) and when we slowed down again, I couldn't believe it when the lady passenger lifted a very new baby up from her lap and lifted it over her shouler!!! The baby had obviously been on her lap the whole time and I didn't see it - I was horrified as a mother myself with a young child still in carseat...I took their reg but wondering if/can anything be done about this?? I've never rang anyone before about dangerous driving but I was genuinely horrified when I saw the baby in the front seat and I'm still a bit distressed about it tbh.

Seth Brundle

Garda Trafficwatch
1890 205 805

(not really a personal issue though!)

star-pants

I guess you could ring the RSA(EDIT- they can't do anything-- see kbannons post) and report it but I'm not sure if they can do something or not. But definitely no harm finding out.
I'm not a mother but I have siblings & godson & I would be the same as you. Stupid to not secure themselves and the baby in the van/car.
However, I recall on the LongMileRoad I think, seeing a big white van, turning an corner, the guy had a baby on his lap (couldn't have been more than a year old). One jolt and that baby would have been smooshed against the steering wheel. It's stupid and horrible but people will do it.

Seth Brundle

The RSA can't do anything and will recommend discussing the issue with the gardai.

Communicator

Sorry if I posted on the wrong board Mod - just wasn't really sure where else to ask the question! I'll ring that number you passed on, thanks alot. I was honestly waiting to hear of a crash on that road on the radio yesterday - thankfully heard nothing, so they obviously made it home safe tg!

Seth Brundle

You would probably need to go down to the station and make a complaint once you have spoken to trafficwatch. From there the option of a court date (with you as a witness) or just a verbal caution may be offered.
I did it before - see http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055378199

Queen-Mise

you can choose when you go to the police whether you want to take it to court or if you wish the police to talk to the vehicle owner (caution).

Twice in 8 years i have gone to them to report incidents. It is entirely your choice how far you want to go.

Communicator

Did you ever go to court kbannon?

Seth Brundle

Nope - between myself and the garda we decided on a verbal statement and should there be a repeat afterwards then I should call him again and it would go to court. I've seen the car a number of times since and it appears that the kid is well tied down inside the car!

John Mason

highly unlikely the gardai will go anything tbh

i made a dangerous driving complaint once and they basically told they had better things to do :rolleyes:

LegacyUser

If I see that type of behaviour, or dangerous overtaking, I call the cops in the town ahead (or close by) and let them know...

Have seen them then waiting for the car when I drive by....

I'd rather make a call - they always seem to take the calls seriously.

Communicator

Well, I'm APPALLED!!!

I just rang the Garda Trafficwatch number (thanks mod) and I was told that there's absolutely nothing they can do about it and that I should have rang them when I saw it happening. I explained that I couldn't use my mobile as I was on the motorway and driving (!!) and she said, sorry, but if you'd rang when you saw it, I would have rang the nearest garda station and they'd have sent a car to catch them in the act. I explained that I had the car reg (got the little fella in the back to write it down) and I was told 'Well I can take a note of their reg, but there will be nothing done about. I mean, that car could be in Cork for all we know now - we can do nothing about it'/

I can't believe it. So what's that number for????? Reporting an incident as you see it happening....when you can't use your mobile to report it because you're driving!!!!!!

Ian Beale

Communicator wrote: »

I can't believe it. So what's that number for????? Reporting an incident as you see it happening....when you can't use your mobile to report it because you're driving!!!!!!

Pull in to the hard shoulder on a clear stretch and call them........

Communicator

In this instance, that would have been difficult to do - I only got the reg whilst we were slowing down on the slip road and after that was a huge roundabout and a minor road (with no hard sholder) until I got back onto the motorway - they'd have been WELL gone by the time I pulled in to ring.

sillymoo

Ian Beale wrote: »

Pull in to the hard shoulder on a clear stretch and call them........

The rules of the road state (from http://www.rulesoftheroad.ie/rules-for-driving/motorways/stopping-and-parking.html)

You may only stop or park on the motorway when:

* your car breaks down,
* a Garda signals you to do so,
* there is an emergency (such as a crash),
* there are road works, or
* you are at a toll plaza.

So no, you cannot pull in on the motorway to answer your phone. Its highly dangerous to stop on a motorway.

John Mason

Communicator wrote: »

Well, I'm APPALLED!!!

I just rang the Garda Trafficwatch number (thanks mod) and I was told that there's absolutely nothing they can do about it and that I should have rang them when I saw it happening. I explained that I couldn't use my mobile as I was on the motorway and driving (!!) and she said, sorry, but if you'd rang when you saw it, I would have rang the nearest garda station and they'd have sent a car to catch them in the act. I explained that I had the car reg (got the little fella in the back to write it down) and I was told 'Well I can take a note of their reg, but there will be nothing done about. I mean, that car could be in Cork for all we know now - we can do nothing about it'/

I can't believe it. So what's that number for????? Reporting an incident as you see it happening....when you can't use your mobile to report it because you're driving!!!!!!

well, i am sorry but you really expect them to do something

Communicator

Eh of course?

These people were committing more than one crime. No seatbelts and child on lap of front seat passenger. As far as I'm aware, that's a crime. And I reported a crime. So yes, I did expect them to do something. Am I wrong?

markpb

pink fluffy bunny wrote: »

well, i am sorry but you really expect them to do something

That's the whole idea being TW! I've rang several times and they always make sure to tell me there's nothing they can do at that point in time - they just take a message and pass it to the relevant garda station.

sam34

Communicator wrote: »

Eh of course?

These people were committing more than one crime. No seatbelts and child on lap of front seat passenger. As far as I'm aware, that's a crime. And I reported a crime. So yes, I did expect them to do something. Am I wrong?

to be fair to the gardai, what exactly can they do?

they havent witnessed anything themselves, they only have a report from a member of the public to go on.

because of the time between the incident and teh reporting of it, they could not see for themselves or get camera evidence.

who is to know who was driving the car at the time?

the most they can do, i'd imagine, is contact the rregistered owner of the car and inform them that teh complaint was made.

i doubt very much that they could bring a dangerous driving case to court based on the report of one member of the public and no other evidence (i mean, no offence whatsoever OP, but you could just be somebody with a grudge against the driver and might just be being malicious)

cournioni

sam34 wrote: »

to be fair to the gardai, what exactly can they do?

they havent witnessed anything themselves, they only have a report from a member of the public to go on.

because of the time between the incident and teh reporting of it, they could not see for themselves or get camera evidence.

who is to know who was driving the car at the time?

the most they can do, i'd imagine, is contact the rregistered owner of the car and inform them that teh complaint was made.

i doubt very much that they could bring a dangerous driving case to court based on the report of one member of the public and no other evidence (i mean, no offence whatsoever OP, but you could just be somebody with a grudge against the driver and might just be being malicious)

100% correct.

OP, you were doing the right thing. But there isn't a thing that the Gardai can do unless they've witnessed the crime themselves or have evidence that it actually happened. Its just something that has to be let go unfortunately.

Queen-Mise

sam34 wrote: »

to be fair to the gardai, what exactly can they do?

they havent witnessed anything themselves, they only have a report from a member of the public to go on.

because of the time between the incident and teh reporting of it, they could not see for themselves or get camera evidence.

who is to know who was driving the car at the time?

the most they can do, i'd imagine, is contact the rregistered owner of the car and inform them that teh complaint was made.

i doubt very much that they could bring a dangerous driving case to court based on the report of one member of the public and no other evidence (i mean, no offence whatsoever OP, but you could just be somebody with a grudge against the driver and might just be being malicious)

Actually not true, the police can and do go to court and give cautions or verbal warnings on one person's word.

OP go down to your local garda station and make a complaint. Actually speak to a garda face to face and tell him your concerns directly, and show your horror of these people driving without proper restraints for the baby.

And the police don't need to see an incident directly to bring it to court.

sam34

Queen-Mise wrote: »

Actually not true, the police can and do go to court and give cautions or verbal warnings on one person's word.

And the police don't need to see an incident directly to bring it to court.

surely they dont need to go to court to issue a warning or caution?

and while they dont require to see an incident themselves necessarily, they still require evidence of some sort. all they'd have in this case is teh word of the OP and nothing else. i'd say a good defence solicitor or barrister would get the defendant under those circumstances.

dudara

Moved to Motors.

dudara

iMADEtheBBC

Communicator wrote: »

Well, I'm APPALLED!!!

I just rang the Garda Trafficwatch number (thanks mod) and I was told that there's absolutely nothing they can do about it and that I should have rang them when I saw it happening. I explained that I couldn't use my mobile as I was on the motorway and driving (!!) and she said, sorry, but if you'd rang when you saw it, I would have rang the nearest garda station and they'd have sent a car to catch them in the act. I explained that I had the car reg (got the little fella in the back to write it down) and I was told 'Well I can take a note of their reg, but there will be nothing done about. I mean, that car could be in Cork for all we know now - we can do nothing about it'/

I can't believe it. So what's that number for????? Reporting an incident as you see it happening....when you can't use your mobile to report it because you're driving!!!!!!

I called that number once to alert the Gardai to a dangerous driver on the M50. (Speeding, L-plates on a motorway, on a mobile, weaving from lane to lane). I was told off by the Garda on the other end of the 'phone for using a mobile while driving. Eventually I was able to get a word in and informed him that I was not driving, I had stopped at the toll bridge to make the call.

Was anything done ? take a wild guess...