I've just been down to the police station to report this guy for failing to stop, so thought I'd post a thread to vent, if nothing else!
At 16:30 yesterday, I was driving down Whitehorse Lane in Thornton Heath, South London, approaching the mini roundabout, and intending to go all the way around it, back up Whitehorse Lane. Here's a streetview link of my appproach: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.3...ata=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sWBHYwol34tcd4y4Ibc9DUw!2e0
I was aware that people often don't expect you to go all the way around a mini roundabout, so I slowed right down, put my right indicator on, and positioned myself slightly over to the left so I could make the turn and not "cut off" the roundabout. Despite this someone coming from the high street intending to go down Whitehorse Road pulled out in front of me, so I had to brake. At that point, a silver Peugeot 206 (LJ02 WHC) came flying down Whitehorse Lane, didn't see my car stopped on the mini roundabout, and went into my rear quarter.
I looked through the rear window at him and he looked absolutely devastated, so I was fairly sure he was going to stop. He reversed back quite slowly, and then indicated down Whitehorse Road as if he was going to stop, so I followed him, at which point he put his foot down.
At this point, it occurred to me that I hadn't got his reg, so I chased him down the side streets whilst on the phone to the police, and managed to get the reg as well as a description of where he was going. His driving was very poor and indecisive and I was able to keep up with him without too much risk, right up until the point he decided to overtake several cars on a blind bend in a 20 limit, with cars parked on both sides. I obviously had to back off, but saw him up ahead (on Grange Road) slow down and shout at two teenagers playing football in the road. As I approached them, they ran into the road and tried to slow me down, with one of them chucking the ball at me. Whilst I was busy avoiding them, he entered the same roundabout where the accident occurred and I couldn't see which way he went.
The damage to my car (1998 MR2) doesn't look too bad, but would definitely write it off if I was to go through insurance. The rear quarter panel is pushed in, the rear bumper is damaged, and the lining on the rear quarter panel has come off. This damage also means that the light cluster is now loose, and there is a gap between the panel and light cluster where water would be able to get in. I was initially committed to going through insurance, but I'm leaning towards just seeing if I can get him convicted for failing to stop. If I go through insurance, my premiums will increase (I'm 19), the car will be written off, and I'll have to pay out my excess until it's reclaimed from the third party (if he's even insured to drive the car). Equally, I don't think I'll be able to fix the car myself, although I could probably make it look a good deal better, so I'm not sure what to do.
Either way, I'm very angry! If anyone is in Thornton Heath and sees LJ02 WHC being driven by a young Turkish looking guy with some damage on the front drivers side, let me know
Plenty of people witnessed the crash, but as I had to chase after him, I was unable to get anyone's details.
Here's some photos of the damage to my car
At 16:30 yesterday, I was driving down Whitehorse Lane in Thornton Heath, South London, approaching the mini roundabout, and intending to go all the way around it, back up Whitehorse Lane. Here's a streetview link of my appproach: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.3...ata=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sWBHYwol34tcd4y4Ibc9DUw!2e0
I was aware that people often don't expect you to go all the way around a mini roundabout, so I slowed right down, put my right indicator on, and positioned myself slightly over to the left so I could make the turn and not "cut off" the roundabout. Despite this someone coming from the high street intending to go down Whitehorse Road pulled out in front of me, so I had to brake. At that point, a silver Peugeot 206 (LJ02 WHC) came flying down Whitehorse Lane, didn't see my car stopped on the mini roundabout, and went into my rear quarter.
I looked through the rear window at him and he looked absolutely devastated, so I was fairly sure he was going to stop. He reversed back quite slowly, and then indicated down Whitehorse Road as if he was going to stop, so I followed him, at which point he put his foot down.
At this point, it occurred to me that I hadn't got his reg, so I chased him down the side streets whilst on the phone to the police, and managed to get the reg as well as a description of where he was going. His driving was very poor and indecisive and I was able to keep up with him without too much risk, right up until the point he decided to overtake several cars on a blind bend in a 20 limit, with cars parked on both sides. I obviously had to back off, but saw him up ahead (on Grange Road) slow down and shout at two teenagers playing football in the road. As I approached them, they ran into the road and tried to slow me down, with one of them chucking the ball at me. Whilst I was busy avoiding them, he entered the same roundabout where the accident occurred and I couldn't see which way he went.
The damage to my car (1998 MR2) doesn't look too bad, but would definitely write it off if I was to go through insurance. The rear quarter panel is pushed in, the rear bumper is damaged, and the lining on the rear quarter panel has come off. This damage also means that the light cluster is now loose, and there is a gap between the panel and light cluster where water would be able to get in. I was initially committed to going through insurance, but I'm leaning towards just seeing if I can get him convicted for failing to stop. If I go through insurance, my premiums will increase (I'm 19), the car will be written off, and I'll have to pay out my excess until it's reclaimed from the third party (if he's even insured to drive the car). Equally, I don't think I'll be able to fix the car myself, although I could probably make it look a good deal better, so I'm not sure what to do.
Either way, I'm very angry! If anyone is in Thornton Heath and sees LJ02 WHC being driven by a young Turkish looking guy with some damage on the front drivers side, let me know
Plenty of people witnessed the crash, but as I had to chase after him, I was unable to get anyone's details.Here's some photos of the damage to my car
