Man On The Clapham Omnibus Posted June 22, 2023 Share Posted June 22, 2023 If I have dashcam footage of a dangerous driving incident and I report this to the authorities, the offender will see the footage if it is presented as evidence. Any dashcam he has will have recorded my registration number just before the time as I caught his. What price anonymity, eh? I was overtaken on a single carriageway 'A' road with centre islands and a 40mph limit. Just past the first island was a stationary bus and there was oncoming traffic in the middle distance. My speed was about 35 and falling because of the bus but a vehicle passed me on the wrong side of the islands and the past the bus, striking fear into a car coming the other way. No collision but a definite brown-trouser moment for the chap in the other car. I will not report it if my anonymity is at risk. Any advice appreciated please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark (smokey mow) Posted June 22, 2023 Share Posted June 22, 2023 Is it any different to being a witness to more serious crimes where you would be attending court in person to give evidence? You’re speculating that they have a dash cam and that when the NIP arrives in several weeks that they’d still have the footage themselves. if it’s that bad then report it, nobody can do much with just your registration number anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man On The Clapham Omnibus Posted June 22, 2023 Author Share Posted June 22, 2023 Well, Mark, it's pertinent to me because I was very close to a head-on at an estimated closing speed in excess of 100mph some years ago at the same spot. I reported it but because it was far from clear where to send the footage, the time allowed to act on it by the police expired - or so I was told. I know how shaken I was on that occasion so I feel somewhat duty bound to do something on this occasion. This was my footage of the earlier event Near head on It is far closer to a collision than the wide angle shot suggests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Stanton Posted June 22, 2023 Share Posted June 22, 2023 The guy is a dangerous idiot and needs reporting, if he keeps on being as reckless as that one day someone will get hurt. Was it a stolen car ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man On The Clapham Omnibus Posted June 22, 2023 Author Share Posted June 22, 2023 Don't think so Mark, possibly, but it was, and still is, insured and taxed. It was only because it had a three character registration that both my son and I were able to read it so easily. No chance at all of reading the number on the film clip even without Youtube degradation. Yesterday's incident was a 'trade' vehicle a bit larger than an SUV it is possible to read the number plate. It is the sort of vehicle that, if not taxed etc., you wouldn't want to meet the driver. Hence my caution. It's a fair bet that the memory card on any dashcam he may have (or not) will overwrite the file for yesterday if were reported - either by deliberate intent or by passage of time. His guilt is most ably demonstrated on his dashcam if he has one. Police can demand a look I believe. The Audi was more than five years ago so it's a lost cause. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Colonial Posted June 22, 2023 Share Posted June 22, 2023 Just ask the police to blur out your reg number if it goes to court. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man On The Clapham Omnibus Posted June 22, 2023 Author Share Posted June 22, 2023 It's the thought that the offender may have logged it that concerns me Scott. I doubt that he/she would admit to having footage that condemns themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 Trade vehicle? Get some stills from the video, crop out your details and send to the company and the police. Tell the company the police have the same stills. Thames Valley (as do many police forces) have a web page for reporting all sorts of things. I have no idea what info they will ask for or if the offender has a right to know it so I'd ask the cops first: https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/ro/report/rti/rti-beta-2.1/report-a-road-traffic-incident/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man On The Clapham Omnibus Posted June 23, 2023 Author Share Posted June 23, 2023 Thanks Blatters, but 'trade vehicle' means that it wasn't a car but 'may' have had a visible wheelbarrow aboard but no signwriting. I shall drag my feet for a few more days before approaching TVP. The message from Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls' carries some weight for me too. As no motorists were harmed in the making of this complaint I am still in two minds about the virtue of doing anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted June 24, 2023 Share Posted June 24, 2023 I think we need to think about the "observer effect" here, not so much that the observed behavior changes, but in the case of humans, the act of observing also can affect our behavior. If you didn't have a dashcam, we wouldn't be here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man On The Clapham Omnibus Posted June 24, 2023 Author Share Posted June 24, 2023 Schrodinger's nutcase? Only sins when filmed... or ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dombanks Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 if you were able to report it AND it generated a prosecution i suspect the person in the car is far more likely to remember your distinctive car than its number plate. This isnt a reason to not report. next time it could be a head on and it could be with you or your kids or your grandkids ... chances are the person who did this would be doing it any time all the time with impunity and is never challenged Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff oakley Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 I would not worry too much about any come back as they know that is a serious ratcheting if they did try intimidation. The accused does have the right to see all evidence and you might be called to court as a result. usually they will get a offer of not going to court anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 10 hours ago, dombanks said: chances are the person who did this would be doing it any time all the time with impunity and is never challenged Based on what exactly? It could easily have been an isolated incident due to extenuating circumstances. I know personally several people who are otherwise careful and considerate drivers but have had cause to drive "differently" when presented with "situations". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dombanks Posted June 30, 2023 Share Posted June 30, 2023 ok karen, possibly this person might drive like this all the time, but there may be an extenuating circumstance that meant on this occasion a very well mannered individual drove like a total bell end, sorry to have offended your sensitivities Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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