car hit, what would you do?

[johnnyh]

I'm not angry fella, concerned yes, angry no.

He gave details, or rather his female partner did, unwillingly when I had got him to stop, 3 roads on past a roundabout.

So yes, he did give details, but only after being followed, flashed, beeped and approached, the fact is the old duffer didnt stop at the scene of the accident - that is the legal requirement, no?

If he was unaware of the collision, that is even more worrying.

Anyhow, I am not here to get into debate on the rights and wrongs of this old boy, I am more concerned with the fact that will the police look into if this old fella should hang up the driving gloves before he does some real damage.

You get angry at drunk drivers but unless they hit you again there isnt much you can do????? I wasn't aware that first collisions were "on the house" and only the second ones counted

 

[marinyork]

I'm just saying how it is. If you turn up and start waffling on about the driver not stopping they'll laugh at you, whereas I've said you're perfectly entitled to go on about the bad driving aspects, infact it may be deemed a good thing to do.

All right. Here's how it is. Road Traffic Act 1988 Section 170.

(1) This section applies in a case where, owing to the presence of a motor vehicle on a road, an accident occurs by which—

(a) personal injury is caused to a person other than the driver of that motor vehicle, or

( damage is caused—

(i) to a vehicle other than that motor vehicle or a trailer drawn by that motor vehicle, or

(ii) to an animal other than an animal in or on that motor vehicle or a trailer drawn by that motor vehicle, or

(iii) to any other property constructed on, fixed to, growing in or otherwise forming part of the land on which the road in question is situated or land adjacent to such land.

(2) The driver of the motor vehicle must stop and, if required to do so by any person having reasonable grounds for so requiring, give his name and address and also the name and address of the owner and the identification marks of the vehicle.

(3) If for any reason the driver of the motor vehicle does not give his name and address under subsection (2) above, he must report the accident.

(4) A person who fails to comply with subsection (2) or (3) above is guilty of an offence.

(5) If, in a case where this section applies by virtue of subsection (1)(a) above, the driver of the vehicle does not at the time of the accident produce such a certificate of insurance or security, or other evidence, as is mentioned in section 165(2)(a) of this Act—

(a) to a constable, or

( to some person who, having reasonable grounds for so doing, has required him to produce it,

the driver must report the accident and produce such a certificate or other evidence.

This subsection does not apply to the driver of an invalid carriage.

I've highlighted the sections that count. (3), (4) and (5) are not the case.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Report it to the police, but stress you are concerned that he didn't stop - not out of malice - but due to his age and confusion. The police are better placed to offer advice that it might be time he hangs up his driving gloves.

 

[classic33]

I'll have to agree with marinyork. Report it, but leave out any accusations of failing to stop. Leave that to the police.

I don't know if you had anyone else in the car with you, but if you didn't it would be two to one. He has a witness. The police may just go round & have a word with him, they may also go round to have a word after he has hit someone else in the meantime.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Eh? Surely he just reports what happened - he doesn't have to say "I reckon he was doing a runner", leave it to them to decide.

The next thing he clips might just be a pram, or a toddler, or someone's elderly Mum.

Exactly, and they aren't as well protected as a Vectra, or as noticeable when hit!!

 

[marinyork]

If he was unaware of the collision, that is even more worrying.

Yes. I agree very much. That I have explained, perhaps particularly badly is where I think you should focus your efforts.

Anyhow, I am not here to get into debate on the rights and wrongs of this old boy, I am more concerned with the fact that will the police look into if this old fella should hang up the driving gloves before he does some real damage.

Yes, I agree there too.

You get angry at drunk drivers but unless they hit you again there isnt much you can do????? I wasn't aware that first collisions were "on the house" and only the second ones counted

That's how it is. I was nearly polished off by what I'm guessing was a drunk driver the other friday driving on the wrong side of the road. There is absolutely nothing that can be done about it though. Likewise when a Lamborghini could have totalled me off doing the ton on a country road and I was blown off the road, again, not injured, nowt I can do.

Report it to the police, but stress you are concerned that he didn't stop - not out of malice - but due to his age and confusion. The police are better placed to offer advice that it might be time he hangs up his driving gloves.

Got it in one.

 

[johnnyh]

The driver of the motor vehicle must stop - exactly, or should it say eventually when asked to do so?

or maybe it is fine to stop once he gets home and puts the car in the garage?

no, it just says stop, one can only presume at "the scene"??

I dont want this old boy prosecuted, far from it, hence my hesitation in reporting to plod, but how else does one intervene in a way that might remove the danger to himself and others that he currently poses?

 

[johnnyh]

I guess in summary, I will inform plod, let them know I think this old fella is gonna hurt himself or others, and above all, be thankful I was driving my car and not on my bike!!!

 

[marinyork]

You're worrying needlessly, he won't be prosecuted. Plod/relatives pointing out remedial lessons/giving up/scaling back is best to be hoped for.

 

[swee'pea99]

I guess in summary, I will inform plod, let them know I think this old fella is gonna hurt himself or others, and above all, be thankful I was driving my car and not on my bike!!!

Spot on. Nor would I write off plod following up - they do sometimes. It basically depends on the individual plod who become involved, how hey view it, and how busy they are.

One other thing - you probably know this but I didn't - don't be in a hurry to claim on your insurance. Depending on the terms of yours, you can very easily end up spending a lot more on higher premiums than you get in payout for damages.

 

[snorri]

s. I was nearly polished off by what I'm guessing was a drunk driver the other friday driving on the wrong side of the road. There is absolutely nothing that can be done about it though. Likewise when a Lamborghini could have totalled me off doing the ton on a country road and I was blown off the road, again, not injured, nowt I can do.

Perhaps not all police forces take the same approach, but when I reported two very near misses, the police did take an interest. From what was said when they called me back after investigating, they clearly had looked into the incident, and spoken to the drivers concerned. I realise the difficulty of obtaining a prosecution with no independent witness, but I just hope that having been "spoken to" the drivers will take a little more care in future.

 

[Mr Pig]

We're all debating what the police might or might not do but we can't do anything about that. What you can do is report it.

If you report it then you've done your duty in bringing a potential danger to the attention of the police. After that it's up to them what they do about it. They might do nothing or maybe they'll end his driving days, who knows, but you'll have done what you can.

You don't mention sounding your horn as he headed towards you? It's funny how you're so used to using it as a rebuke they you forget what it's actually for! ;0)

 

[Arch]

You don't mention sounding your horn as he headed towards you? It's funny how you're so used to using it as a rebuke they you forget what it's actually for! ;0)

By the sound of it, he might not have noticed it anyway! But yes, you don't often remember to use the horn when you need to - in fact, often you're much too busy simply taking evasive action to think about the horn.

 

[Fnaar]

But yes, you don't often remember to use the horn when you need to - in fact, often you're much too busy simply taking evasive action to think about the horn.

Many guys get that first thing in the morning

 

[thomas]

I thought you had to report it anyway, whether he left the scene or not.

I don't see why you'd have to [legally] report every road accident to the Police. If you, say, knocked a parked cars mirror off and couldn't find the owner you would have to report that to the police within 24 hours.