Reporting dangerous driving.

[Genestho]

Surely you would think like most call centres there would be a "tree" of questions to ascertain quickly the nature of the percieved danger?
Is it about time the Police did a campaign on this kind of thing? (I know more money - always an excuse) Obviously the public are unaware - as myself which line to call.

If that hadnt been a car overheating, the motorist wouldve been seen as a danger, and she wouldve been.. if she hadnt pulled out of the way.
Police still wouldve had to head out that way to divert traffic until the car was towed anyway.
Every phone call concerning an erratic driver should be looked into, even if it turns out to be a waste of time.
How many are not a waste of time? How many accidents couldve been prevented?
I know locally there have been alot of people making that call, and I have emails prooving these people have been drunk, so drunk most of them couldnt stand, let alone driving

[Patrick]

Surely you would think like most call centres there would be a "tree" of questions to ascertain quickly the nature of the percieved danger?
Is it about time the Police did a campaign on this kind of thing? (I know more money - always an excuse) Obviously the public are unaware - as myself which line to call.

If that hadnt been a car overheating, the motorist wouldve been seen as a danger, and she wouldve been.. if she hadnt pulled out of the way.
Police still wouldve had to head out that way to divert traffic until the car was towed anyway.
Every phone call concerning an erratic driver should be looked into, even if it turns out to be a waste of time.
How many are not a waste of time? How many accidents couldve been prevented?
I know locally there have been alot of people making that call, and I have emails prooving these people have been drunk, so drunk most of them couldnt stand, let alone driving

Fair call, but that could be why there were none to attend... chasing up the dodgy ones which turn out to be nothing. Not ideal, but we can't be everywhere every time... We respond when available and if dealing with something not so important, I drop it and go hunting. Sometimes we get the catch, sometimes not, but we give it a crack.

[Goblin]

...We respond when available and if dealing with something not so important, I drop it and go hunting. Sometimes we get the catch, sometimes not, but we give it a crack.

So my lawyer wasn't lying to me when he said that 95% of people falsely accused of dangerous driving type offences through *555 just plea guilty to get it over with? So it seems to me that when you "Go hunting" it doesnt matter if the person is guilty or not, you will believe the complainant to get the catch?

[scumdog]

So my lawyer wasn't lying to me when he said that 95% of people falsely accused of dangerous driving type offences through *555 just plea guilty to get it over with? So it seems to me that when you "Go hunting" it doesnt matter if the person is guilty or not, you will believe the complainant to get the catch?

Had a P1-1U (that a dangerous driving type complaint for the non-plods) tonight, handled it like all the complaints:

Stopped the offending vehicle, got drivers name etc and explanation.

And that's it - if the complainant DOES make a formal statement then yeah, there may be more action taking.

But I ain't doing it just on the say-so of potentially just a disgruntled motorist who wants a moan about somebody driving worse than them - or maybe just held them up.

Goblin, it's a cruel fact that in every occupation there are them what cock things up big time with their decisions and actions......and piss all sort of people off.

Not all of us are like that but sadly like a lot of things in life we get tarred with the same brush..

[Genestho]

Hey Ive just emailed Annette King a few more questions on *555 and 111.

If you witnessed what you thought was a drunk driver...would you call 111?

Do you feel 111 has the capacity to act on potential life threatening situations vs actual life threatening situations? (especially with whats going on in this country with the violent crime)
Would this impede you from making that call knowing you could be tying the lines up?

Or would you make that call, feeling it would be serious enough and if the comms centre cant handle it, its not your problem?

Im just trying to gauge feelings on this one...

As I said im not really that comfy on endorcing 111 for the above reasons.

Please leave feedback
Id create a poll but Im not sure that KB is the place for it, so Id like to continue with this thread if poss

Cheers

[BIHB@0610]

Hi Jos - I think things like 111 and *555 should be used to their fullest extent. We shouldn't have to be thinking about the etiquette of it all, whether lines are tied up etc - they should have filters built into their protocols so that the decision whether services are tied up is made by people who are paid to have the intelligence and time to think about it.

We don't have time to think about it - when you're following a suspected drunk it should be a no-brainer - dial 111 (that's what you've been told is the right thing to do so that's what I'll be doing from now on).

Personally I don't worry too much if I get it wrong, perhaps misconstrue someone's overheated engine. Apologies to the police - it's nothing personal, and I'm coming from good intentions - but if I am seriously concerned I'd rather waste some police time than risk wasting a family.

Keep up your tremendous work Jos - there are loads of us out there supporting you even if it's just with our thoughts. I can never listen to Brothers in Arms now without going to a pretty intense place, you're amazing.

[Genestho]

Hi Jos - I think things like 111 and *555 should be used to their fullest extent. We shouldn't have to be thinking about the etiquette of it all, whether lines are tied up etc - they should have filters built into their protocols so that the decision whether services are tied up is made by people who are paid to have the intelligence and time to think about it.

We don't have time to think about it - when you're following a suspected drunk it should be a no-brainer - dial 111 (that's what you've been told is the right thing to do so that's what I'll be doing from now on).

Personally I don't worry too much if I get it wrong, perhaps misconstrue someone's overheated engine. Apologies to the police - it's nothing personal, and I'm coming from good intentions - but if I am seriously concerned I'd rather waste some police time than risk wasting a family.

Keep up your tremendous work Jos - there are loads of us out there supporting you even if it's just with our thoughts. I can never listen to Brothers in Arms now without going to a pretty intense place, you're amazing.

Heya. Yea Brother In Arms fries me too, cant listen to the album, cant listen to Dire Straits at all even - we danced slowly to a street musician in the middle of broadbeach in the Goldy to Romeo and Juliet, I remember Leon dipping me at the end and me saying to him "Your a Nut" cracking up. Nice memory. He wasn't afraid of what people thought, and romance in public.

Your right, we'd like to imagine and hope that the ones at the top have made decisions based on intelligence.

I just have to make sure If I publish this on my website that I have it straight!
And I have to get answers to my concerns in writing.
I require feedback because Id like to keep a log on feedback for research.
No point blabbering if you dont have the research data.
And your right, I agree at the the end of the day, waste police time - not families.
Thanks Mate

[scumdog]

Personally I don't worry too much if I get it wrong, perhaps misconstrue someone's overheated engine. Apologies to the police - it's nothing personal, and I'm coming from good intentions - but if I am seriously concerned I'd rather waste some police time than risk wasting a family.

Just make sure there's some balance - 'wasting' too much police time may result in a 'real' drunk carrying on driving 'cos the cops are tied up with everybody thinking anybody that doesn't drive 100% is a drunk driver.

I know I've stopped a lot that were old people, people talking to passengers, peole unfamiliar with the vehicle etc.. (and the example with the overheating car that kept swinging to the left,)

But yeah, dob 'em in if really in doubt I'd say......

[BIHB@0610]

Very good point Scumdog - I agree entirely about the need for balance. I chose my words carefully - and I will "dob 'em in" (quote you) if I'm "seriously concerned" (quote me). Between us all we'll stop the dickheads eventually

[discotex]

Had a P1-1U (that a dangerous driving type complaint for the non-plods) tonight, handled it like all the complaints:

Stopped the offending vehicle, got drivers name etc and explanation.

And that's it - if the complainant DOES make a formal statement then yeah, there may be more action taking.

I figure if they're really psycho drivers you'll see it when you catch up to them and can book them on that anway.

Question about the statement though... If you catch up to the person do you ring the complainant back and ask them if they'll make a formal statement or do we need to tell the comms people we will when making the call?

And you know what.. Even stopping them so they realise people are watching probably does a world of good.

[BiK3RChiK]

I have rung both *555 and 111 on different occassions. *555 IMO is a waste of time. I put these drivers down to time wasters and let the letter of the law catch up with them eventually.

Regards 111 call, I distinctly recall following a car home one night that almost hit a bridge. The driver got such a fright, they jerked the car out across the centre line and took up half the other lane! Needless to say, I backed right off and called 111 immediately. A car was dispatched and we met up coming into town at a roundabout. The drunk freaked out when he saw the cop and stopped in the middle of the roundabout! Then when the cop came around he took off like a robbers dog!! I left them to it...

If it's serious and obvious dangerous driving I'd call 111. I don't even bother with *555 now.

[Genestho]

Happy valentines! Instead of bawling my way through the day I have completed updating my site adding more stories,comments, links, and some educational research. (oo ouch let the controversy begin..) a photo of the Trailer as it looked in December with the back door logo'ed up (sorry no photos have the bikes on,Im trying to keep it as low key as poss till the logo'ing down the sides are finished and then I can bring her home to do her job) and also a wee blurb on the fund raising tees) AND and a photo of Tom Hughes and the Badd girls at Summer X Whakatane - specially requested!

I have also updated the request to call the 111 line.
However I have added my concerns, I just dont want to endorce something and the shit hits the fan, however then if I DO endorce and the shit hits the fan..I'll be on the bandwagon, and if theres no shit hitting fans and the line works - that, at the end of the day is what Im trying to accomplish - encouraging the public to be pro-active. I have also updated this info in my flyers that are around my local area.

Have a goodie and please do continue posting experiences either here or fire me an email baddnz@gmail.com

[Genestho]

Oh and nice signature line Planna

[scumdog]

Question about the statement though... If you catch up to the person do you ring the complainant back and ask them if they'll make a formal statement or do we need to tell the comms people we will when making the call?

And you know what.. Even stopping them so they realise people are watching probably does a world of good.

No, I have too much to do without trying to contact the complainant who at the end of the day may not want to make a formal statement.
Ioften ask comms to contact them regarding that - and 1 in about 15 ever bother to get off their arse and make a formal complaint and statement.

Most common thing is for the complaining driver to stop nearby and speak to me in person - then I KNOW they're serious.

Re your last comment, quite true!!

[discotex]

No, I have too much to do without trying to contact the complainant who at the end of the day may not want to make a formal statement.
Ioften ask comms to contact them regarding that - and 1 in about 15 ever bother to get off their arse and make a formal complaint and statement.

I certainly would if I ever get to the point of calling again. Must make a point of telling the comms person I'll make a statement so they realise I'm serious.

Most common thing is for the complaining driver to stop nearby and speak to me in person - then I KNOW they're serious.

Can't remember if I already mentioned it but I did that on the southern motorway with one of the speed patrol guys after a wanker in a beemer came within inches of knocking me off (him doing 140+). The look on the patrol man's face was priceless - "WTF is this sprotsbike stopping for?!?" He quickly grabbed some details and jumped on the motorway.