Thumbs up to Trafficwatch & AGS

Drummerboy08

I'm probably not Trafficwatch's biggest fan, and therefore probably didn't have too many high hopes for the next time I had to use them.

Had the younger brother who's recently started driving in the car with me this evening on the way back to Dublin from Wexford. Both of us spotted a car no more than a few hundred yards ahead of us (took that long to see it) running with NO rear lights on at all. The only way we could see it was from the light sent from the headlamps ahead of the car.

I decided to try and set a good example for the brother and called Trafficwatch. Got the reg number and make/model, reported that a car was driving on the Arklow bypass with no rear facing lights on and gave my details in case of any follow up.

I fully expected nothing really to have been done about it, thinking that by the time the report filters down from Trafficwatch to Arklow and then Arklow get a car out the phantom car would be long gone. It did make me feel a little better though, knowing if I got home and heard of an accident caused by a lightless car at least I'd tried to do something about it.

Twenty minutes after my call to Trafficwatch, I get a phonecall from Arklow Garda Station telling me that they'd spotted and stopped the Fiesta with no lights, sorted the issue out and thanked me for taking the time to report it.

To be honest I was kinda speechless, managed to say thanks for following it up and that's it! But, it's great to see how Trafficwatch should and does work at least on one occasion.

It's also nice to see Gardai acting on a report like this and actually following up on it. I've had enough experience of dealing with AGS to have seen stuff not followed up on before, so credit where credit is due, fair play.

Del2005

They are doing a clampdown on missing lights!!

Fair play for reporting it and also to the Gardaí for acting on the report.

Gets onto high horse, I hope you weren't driving?

Stheno

Good to hear, I've only ever rung them once, when a lunatic was driving south on the northern lanes of the M7.

They also called back that time to say they'd intercepted them.

166man

Always nice to see a thumbs up for the Guards on here, makes a change from the usual bashing crap that goes on here.

Drummerboy08

Del2005 wrote: »

Gets onto high horse, I hope you weren't driving?

Was driving alright, but had handsfree on and the brother done the dialling.

CiniO

Nice.
But are you sure they actually did stop him in oppose of just giving you a call after an hour of sitting by the desk at the garda station???


Also did you give a driver of that fiesta know he didn't have lights. (a flash or something)? It's very hard to spot that your rear lights are not working while driving.

ba_barabus

Del2005 wrote: »

Gets onto high horse, I hope you weren't driving?

You can use a mobile while driving if you are contacting the Gardai

Drummerboy08

CiniO wrote: »

Nice.
But are you sure they actually did stop him in oppose of just giving you a call after an hour of sitting by the desk at the garda station???


Also did you give a driver of that fiesta know he didn't have lights. (a flash or something)? It's very hard to spot that your rear lights are not working while driving.

I'd like to think that they actually stopped the car as opposed to simply calling me, if it's the latter then I'd be fairly annoyed about it. It was a female driver and the Garda did say that they stopped the car and spoke to the girl driving so I'm assuming they did stop it.

Gave the car a flash, but as I went by I just got a blank look as if to say "Look at the tosser in the 4x4 flashing his lights at me"

CiniO

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

I'd like to think that they actually stopped the car as opposed to simply calling me, if it's the latter then I'd be fairly annoyed about it. It was a female driver and the Garda did say that they stopped the car and spoke to the girl driving so I'm assuming they did stop it.

Good to hear then.

Gave the car a flash, but as I went by I just got a blank look as if to say "Look at the tosser in the 4x4 flashing his lights at me"

Ehh... People should use flash more to inform other drivers that their lights are gone. I didn't see anyone doing it here in Ireland tbh.

Cungi

A friend of mine was driving one night and the truck in front of him was swerving wildly all over the road.
He rang the guards and they told him to follow the truck and stay on the phone updating them of his location.
5 or 10 mins later, Guards pulled the truck driver over and breathalysed him.

Guards put him in back of squad car and off to the station they went.

CiniO wrote: »

Ehh... People should use flash more to inform other drivers that their lights are gone. I didn't see anyone doing it here in Ireland tbh.

Tbh i do it.

Wexfordian

I saw that car two weeks ago, again on the Arklow bypass. Or at least it was a Fiesta with absolutely no lights at the back. Wasn't in a position at the time to get the plate though.

Del2005 wrote: »

Gets onto high horse, I hope you weren't driving?

Worth pointing out

It will be a defence for anyone charged with the offence of holding a mobile phone while driving to show that they were:

Using it to call the Gardaí, an ambulance, fire brigade or other emergency service
Involved in or acting in response to a genuine emergency

Drummerboy08

It's one thing having one light out, it can go at any time etc etc but to have two out? It's obviously like that a while.

Hopefully it's not the same car because it's a scary thought if it is!!

Mint Sauce

Del2005 wrote: »

They are doing a clampdown on missing lights!!

Fair play for reporting it and also to the Gardaí for acting on the report.

Gets onto high horse, I hope you weren't driving?

Or so they say. I have used nearly a full tank driving in the last few days, all over the NW of Ireland. Hardly seen one Garda car, let alone any check points.

Mc Love

Similar experience as the OP but it was on the old N7 following an avensis with no rear lights, I stayed behind and watched as we passed a parked up squad, who then pulled out, turned on the lights and pulled the driver in.

Didnt get any courtesy call though

the culture of deference

I was on the N4 and the car in front had no rear lights on, front lights were ok. I flashed the driver a couple of times and pulled alongside her, pointing at the lights and she pulled over. I told her about the lights and to stick her hazards on. She was delighted to know about the lights.

I thought I was doing the right thing but then that could have been a security issue.

ION08

Tbh whenever I do come across a car with BOTH tail lights out, it is usually a Garda car

Stallingrad

1890 205 805

They could have come up with an easier number to dial while driving.

MugMugs

Del2005 wrote: »

Gets onto high horse, I hope you weren't driving?

Wow !

Just wow !!!!

whippet

i've called them a couple of times and have gotten a couple of responses along with an offer to give a statement for a possible court case where it would be my word against the drivers, but as the guard said my version would have been a much more believable version - I didn't follow through as the guard told me the driver in question was so shaken by the arrival of a guard on the door asking questions about their driving earlier that day.

however, I did have the privilege to make a call about what I suspected to be a drink driver (swerving all over the road) heading in to Ashbourne one night, the driver in questions pulled up outside the chipper and fell in the door. I watched as two guards waited for his return to the car and as soon as he turned the engine they pounced and bagged him and brought him back to the station.

I got a call the following morning thanking me for the call.

Mc Love

Did anyone ever call and not receive an answer? It happened me once - when two travellers were having a race and cut me up on the road!

Del2005

ba_barabus wrote: »

You can use a mobile while driving if you are contacting the Gardai

Wexfordian wrote: »

Worth pointing out

It will be a defence for anyone charged with the offence of holding a mobile phone while driving to show that they were:

Using it to call the Gardaí, an ambulance, fire brigade or other emergency service
Involved in or acting in response to a genuine emergency

You aren't contacting the Gardaí when you call Traffic Watch

These calls are answered and logged by civilian personnel at the Garda Information Services Centre, Castlebar

But it was more to the point that just because a car in front is missing it's tail lights, and from the OP the conditions weren't good, using a phone isn't the smartest thing to do.

Driving on the phone is dangerous, even with a car kit, no matter who you are calling and the OP had someone else in the car. If they choose to use the phone then who is the bigger danger on the road. The person who is in control of their car but missing a couple of lights or the person carrying out a conversation which requires a lot of information to be passed?

ShatterProof

just stop digging

Big Nasty

Del2005 wrote: »

You aren't contacting the Gardaí when you call Traffic Watch

Ah, would ya go and sh1te lad! :eek:

OldmanMondeo

I have called them several times (Cause I'm a big rat) and have received calls back from them, no lights, dangerous driving, drunk driver. Jesus I am an awful rat...

visual

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

I have called them several times (Cause I'm a big rat) and have received calls back from them, no lights, dangerous driving, drunk driver. Jesus I am an awful rat...

If it makes your day knock yourself out.

Personally I would want to be paid but thats just me a greedy rat