Reporting dangerous driving

BlakeS94

Was on my way into work this evening on the dual carriageway, a car was weaving in between lanes and passed me out as if I was standing still, I'd estimate at least 160+ km/h. There were road works ahead and the right lane was merging into the left, this car didn't slow down and I'd say they were inches away from causing a fatal collision, there was a car in the left lane that needed to swerve to the left to avoid them.

I went through a toll bridge with my tag and they were stuck in traffic going through the standard route. I got up to speed and glanced at my rear view mirror and this car was sitting on my rear bumper, I then got a fright and swerved into the left lane almost lost control of the car.

Not the kind of person to be reporting people but this was just way way too much in excess, completely reckless driving.

Is there much use in reporting to the guards as in will something actually be done or will they just take down details and forget about it.

I can understand in emergency scenarios like if the missus is in labour or someone's having a heart attack and speeding to get there quickly, but this was no flashing of lights, no hazard lights on to give other drivers some sort of heads up.

I have the cars reg and details colour,shape etc.

Apologies for the long winded post but unsure of where to go from here.

billie1b

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058414816/reporting-dangerous-driving

Unless you have footage of it as proof it's your word against theirs, so most likely nothing will be done.

Baseball72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058414816/reporting-dangerous-driving

I would encourage you to report the incident to your local Garda station.

Some 20 years ago I was a witness to some dangerous overtaking on the N11. I went to my local Garda station and made a statement. The officer followed up. Long story short -the driver was prosecuted and was convicted of some road traffic offence. I was willing to testify but it wasn’t necessary. I like to think I did that guy a favour…..

Lenar3556

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058414816/reporting-dangerous-driving

You can certainly report it. But unless you are prepared to give evidence in court as to what you observed, the Garda will be unable to bring a dangerous driving charge.

suvigirl

You can report it, but you have to be willing to go to court and give evidence, you are the witness.

Dr Turk Turkelton

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123518907#Comment_123518907

"I've Sentenced Boys Younger Than You To The Gas Chamber. Didn't Wanna Do It, But Felt I Owed It To Them."

Judge Smails (Ted Knight)

Muppet Man

you can make a report here if you wish…. Never did it… so can’t say if it’s worth your while.

https://www.garda.ie/en/trafficwatchreport/

GavPJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123519130#Comment_123519130

This works. A few of us that live in a housing estate reported the same young guy for

dangerous driving, constantly doing doughnuts, handbrake turns around the green where children

play. The Gardai eventually took his car. I got a follow up phone call from the local Garda to see

was he still around and driving.

magicbastarder

it worked for you; lots of people report that their complaints to trafficwatch ended up in a black hole. it seems to be a lot down to luck, as to what garda gets assigned it.

also:

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41643985.html

magicbastarder

also, on what grounds did they take his car?

GavPJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123520106#Comment_123520106

There was probably so many reports about him that they had to take action.

No matter where you would meet him, he would be driving like a CU (NT). No idea

what grounds they used to take the car but they arrived one eve and loaded it

onto a transporter. They have done this twice already this year.

kippy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123520106#Comment_123520106

I'm sure twould be easy find something on someone who displayed as many braincells as the guy did.

All the guards need to do is observe him once themselves and they'd have enough on him for a few different charges, never mind what you might find when delving into the paperwork or condition of the car itself.

GavPJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123520123#Comment_123520123

Lack of tax, lack of NCT, illegal mods etc. I'm sure they didn't have to look too far

to find a reason to take it. The car he was driving was a Lexus/Altezza and it has sat

on his driveway since being returned to him. He's now driving a Golf and has developed

a habit of bouncing it off the rev limiter in neutral as he is driving in and out. A complete

plonker.

Boardnashea

I have used the Traffic watch phone service a few times. Have gotten calls back to confirm and see if I wants charges or a warning.

But in the case the driving you described a call to the Gardaí on 999 might have been the best way to go. If they are on a motorway then Gardaí may have enough time to monitor the next junction.

You would possibly find you are just confirming another report that has already been received.

magicbastarder

there's another issue with traffic watch (that has been noted in the cycling forum several times) that the offence has to be handled by the garda station responsible for the area in which it occurred; and if the person accused of the offence lives any sort of distance away, they will simply drop the issue.

Donald Trump

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123520105#Comment_123520105

Having a Guard land on their doorstep to let them know they were reported might cause them to rethink their behaviour even if it does not result in a fine. The next person might have good dashcam footage to back up their claim.

Some it would, some it wouldn't. It could even be the case of a person driving a parent's car etc and the parent might not be too happy to hear how they are driving it.

kirving

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123520614#Comment_123520614

Not necessarily. I reported something which happened in Clare to Gardai in Galway and they followed up to be fair to them.

Gar

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123521517#Comment_123521517

oh, i agree fully - but i don't know if anyone keeps figures on how often that garda visit happens, and i've heard too many stories about it being pot luck on how a complaint is handled. some gardai handle it well, some don't.

BlakeS94

Thanks for the replies and advice, to be honest I'd be happy knowing the guards called to the person's door and as another poster said, in my head I'm doing them a favour not trying to get them in trouble.

Wouldn't have any issue going to court but my concern would be that the car was a common car that's driven by members of a certain ethnic community and wouldn't want any backlash because of that, if the person then knew who I was, now I'm just making assumptions based on the vehicle and the added cosmetic items on it but just incase I landed myself in a predicament id rather avoid court in that case.