What would you do? Drink driver...

Overlag · 15 Jun 2008 at 03:08

What would you do if your driving down the road and the guy in front is weaving all over the show, speeding up and slowing down... (maybe drunk? or maybe just blind?)

1 Would you phone 999? And would they really care or just fine me for using phone while driving.

2 Would you try and get past him as soon as possible, baring in mind hes all over the place?

or 3 would you hang back and wait for the crash?

well i followed someone on the A414 from the M11 to the A12 and he was blantently drunk, but i decided on number 3 because i currently don't have hands free installed...

would you just ignore it?

Akira · 15 Jun 2008 at 03:11

Call the local station and inform them of his registration and whereabouts. 999 shouldn't be used in this instance.

teulk · 15 Jun 2008 at 03:12

In the case of the question no.1 - how would they know your not using a hands free ?
I be hanging back waiting for crash too but hoping they dont injure anyone but themselves in the process.

teulk · 15 Jun 2008 at 03:14

Akira said:
Call the local station and inform them of his registration and whereabouts. 999 shouldn't be used in this instance.

Why should 999 not be used ? In my opinion its a very serious offence, ok it may not be serious while there driving and no ones been hurt but by ringing 999 and getting them off the road as quick as possible you could be saving soneones life.

Akira · 15 Jun 2008 at 03:19

teulk said:
Why should 999 not be used ? In my opinion its a very serious offence, ok it may not be serious while there driving and no ones been hurt but by ringing 999 and getting them off the road as quick as possible you could be saving soneones life.

999 is not to be used to report offences, but only when life is actually in danger. If you don't believe me, ask a policeman or something. If you phoned 999 to report a drunk driver that hadn't crashed they would chew you out for wasting their time and resources.

teulk · 15 Jun 2008 at 03:28

Akira said:
999 is not to be used to report offences, but only when life is actually in danger. If you don't believe me, ask a policeman or something. If you phoned 999 to report a drunk driver that hadn't crashed they would chew you out for wasting their time and resources.

Oh i believe you, i will give you an example of a call i made to 999 - i live in a not so desirable area and a car was abandoned at the rear of my property. After a few hours of it being there the windows get put out, it gets smashed up pretty badly by the kids. I rings 999 and tells them theres an abandoned car - operator replies that this isnt really a 999 call so i tells her your right but in ten minutes time it might be when its on fire cos' the kids have torched it and im calling the fire brigade. Im sure they would rather stop the DD than to be pulling a victim of there from an accident they just caused.

Akira · 15 Jun 2008 at 03:31

teulk said:
Oh i believe you, i will give you an example of a call i made to 999 - i live in a not so desirable area and a car was abandoned at the rear of my property. After a few hours of it being there the windows get put out, it gets smashed up pretty badly by the kids. I rings 999 and tells them theres an abandoned car - operator replies that this isnt really a 999 call so i tells her your right but in ten minutes time it might be when its on fire cos' the kids have torched it and im calling the fire brigade. Im sure they would rather stop the DD than to be pulling a victim of there from an accident they just caused.

Aye, it's a good point. I'd phone the station though.

gavinpoo · 15 Jun 2008 at 03:37

I recently used 999 when following a lorry along the motorway who was apparently attempting to remain in the middle lane but was weaving across all three lanes. I couldn't know if he was drunk or just very tired but either way it was dangerous enough to need something done about it.

I would however only use 999 (in the case of dangerous driving) if it isn't feasible to get the number of a local police force, and if it seemed a great enough risk to the public.

BigglesPiP · 15 Jun 2008 at 03:40

I, personally, would wait for the crash. If no crash occurs, phone it in if I'm in my local area (have the number in my phone).

MaxN · 15 Jun 2008 at 05:58

In California over Christmas, the info boards on the Freeways say 'Call 911 to report drunks'

Meridian · 15 Jun 2008 at 06:16

Most police forces are perfectly happy to receive 999 calls for drink-drinking offences if they are actually in progress. In the very unlikely event you were actually found out, then Reporting an Offence is a perfectly good defence against a charge of using a mobile while driving - it probably wouldn't even go to court as it would get laughed out.

M

qwerty · 15 Jun 2008 at 08:21

Have been in this situation. I did number 2, got past him asap. I didn't have my phone on me, and he was just so unpredictable from behind.

zetec452 · 15 Jun 2008 at 08:55

I'd hang way back and leave him to it.

I can't imagine the police doing much if reported.

Trifid · 15 Jun 2008 at 09:08

qwerty said:
Have been in this situation. I did number 2, got past him asap. I didn't have my phone on me, and he was just so unpredictable from behind.

So what happens when/if he goes flying in the back of you? You have no control over that. The best thing to do is hang well back.

Overlag · 15 Jun 2008 at 09:41

Akira said:
Call the local station and inform them of his registration and whereabouts. 999 shouldn't be used in this instance.

but in the middle of no where i dont know what the local station is, and its probably closed at that time anyway

qwerty · 15 Jun 2008 at 09:50

Trifid said:
So what happens when/if he goes flying in the back of you? You have no control over that. The best thing to do is hang well back.

Out of sight, out of mind I guess. And the fact that people under the influence often go a lot slower than the speed limit so one might as well push past (it was a dual carriageway and iirc he was doing about 50)

therealnerd2 · 15 Jun 2008 at 10:11

999 is for anything that requires an immediate police response. If this guy is weaving all over the shop, then by all means call 999!

And it's perfectly legal to call 999 on a handheld phone

therealnerd2 · 15 Jun 2008 at 10:13

Akira said:
999 is not to be used to report offences, but only when life is actually in danger. If you don't believe me, ask a policeman or something. If you phoned 999 to report a drunk driver that hadn't crashed they would chew you out for wasting their time and resources.

Why is it just when a life is in danger? It's anything that requires immediate (emergency) response. And anyway, a drunk driver weaving over multiple lanes sounds like lives in danger to me

[TW]Fox · 15 Jun 2008 at 10:21

Akira said:
999 is not to be used to report offences, but only when life is actually in danger.

I'd argue somebody heavily drunk on a public road DOES put life in danger - 999 is used to report offences where the offender is still present or nearby. ie pretty much exactly the scenario in the OP.

Dave85 · 15 Jun 2008 at 13:09

I phoned 999 a few years back guy in a golf infront of me on a busy country road speeding weaving all over the place, I followed him into town telling the police woman where he was they came flying up behind me then pulled him over.

woman on phone said thanks and that he was being taken away. So phone 999 if you see someone then keep telling them where they are.