Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Should I contact police to tell them I was overtaken on a 60mph road about 120mph - and then there was a crash?

110 replies

squashedbananasagain · 23/01/2025 09:11

Last night I was driving home through a national park. It's a 60mph limit road but was very dark, (unlit road), the road service isn't great and the white lines are patchy and faded. There are also lots of deer about and there are often crashes, so I was going at 50 miles an hour.

One car passed me at about 63/64mph and then shortly afterwards a car came from nowhere, and overtook me way faster; a car has never overtaken me so fast on a 60mph road before. He flew past both me the car in front of me (that was still doing 63/64mph from overtaking me). He then cut in front of that car because there was something coming the other way. The speed in which he was going was so fast that it actually made me gasp and my hand flew to my mouth - and I am not a gasper. Blush. His numberplate was obscured at the back so I couldn't tell what it was and he was going so fast that you couldn't see anything much else except that it was a black saloon.

About 15 minutes later on the same road everything came to a stop. Local news reports have reported that not only was there a multi car crash, but there was also a separate incident whereby a car was burnt out in a layby on the same road very close by.

My dilemma is: do I do anything? Do I ring the police? What can I tell them if I do that's of any use? The only thing I can tell them is that a car drove past me extremely fast and dangerously but that I don't have a number plate, I don't have the car type, or see the driver or occupants. Nor do I know that the cars involved in the multi car crash or in the fire were the same car. It's just a coincidence and based on a strong suspicion that a car driving that dangerously would shortly be involved in a crash.

Would the police actually be interested with this information and would it ever be of any use - or shall I just leave it? I worry that this driver has hurt other people and will try and blame them for bad driving whereas, he was driving atrociously beforehand and people need to know that.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 23/01/2025 09:59

In my area you can fill in an online form for something like that and then they contact you if they want further information

Sillysaussicon · 23/01/2025 09:57

Yes, you can easily report it online on their website and type in everything you noticed. You can give your contact number and if they want to talk further they might call you. For the sake of 15 mins and being a good citizen I'd get it off your chest.

PrincessAnne5Eva · 23/01/2025 09:56

Even telling them the colour or style (saloon, 4x4 etc) of the car could help them.

Bjorkdidit · 23/01/2025 09:55

Tell them, but make it clear from the start that you don't know the number plate, couldn't identify the driver and aren't even sure about the type of car (eg couldn't be certain whether it was a BMW or an Audi for example). Tell them what you know and don't get into discussions about any details you're unsure about.

I witnessed a similar crash and it led to being interviewed by both parties insurance companies multiple times including by an investigator who was an ex police officer who picked apart my version of events because it contradicted the person who I said caused the crash who was driving dangerously and lying to get out of it.

Hwi · 23/01/2025 09:53

It is when we keep our mouths shut, awful things happen. We are too embarrassed to contact the police about neighbours-extremists, we are too embarrassed to ask a child, being dragged down the street - little one, do you know the man/woman who is dragging you or do you want me to contact the police? We are too timid to open our mouths and report to the police, authorities, etc.

MaryBeardy · 23/01/2025 09:53

Why would you not?

Octopies · 23/01/2025 09:52

I would, the advice in Police appeals is usually to come forward if you think you were in the area a crime took place. If you can give a rough time and place then it may help them narrow down where to look for CCTV or prompt other drivers to check their dashcam footage.

Kdkdkfj · 23/01/2025 09:51

Yes. There are sometimes appeals for information/footage of a vehicle before a crash.

Keepingittogetherstepbystep · 23/01/2025 09:51

squashedbananasagain · 23/01/2025 09:39

Thanks for the replies. Is there a way of reporting it online? It's not a 999 case.

Most forces have an online report form but you may struggle to fill it in with limited info. For lancs it's a one size fits all form that obviously doesn't fit all.

You could ring 101 or look up the community police officer for that covers the area and send them an email it helps build a picture of where there are issues.

SummerHouse · 23/01/2025 09:45

100%

Call 101.

Mymanyellow · 23/01/2025 09:44

I’d report then let the police decide if it’s relevant. Even if the driver wasn’t directly involved in the crash he/she could well have caused it.

Afraidofhimrightnow · 23/01/2025 09:43

squashedbananasagain · 23/01/2025 09:39

Thanks for the replies. Is there a way of reporting it online? It's not a 999 case.

101? Google it.

MeanMrMustardSeed · 23/01/2025 09:43

For me the question is, why wouldn’t you tell them? There’s no reason not to.

cheezncrackers · 23/01/2025 09:41

I would absolutely report it OP and let them decide whether your info is relevant. Without dashcam footage or any details such as make or reg it probably won't add much to the investigation, but there is no harm in reporting what you saw for context.

rosehipstalk · 23/01/2025 09:39

call 101 - police non emergency line

squashedbananasagain · 23/01/2025 09:39

Thanks for the replies. Is there a way of reporting it online? It's not a 999 case.

OP posts:
EarlyBird12345 · 23/01/2025 09:38

Definitely report. I saw a documentary yesterday where young men were talkingvabout racing at 100+mph and filming themselves doing so while driving so that you could see the speedometer. The risks they took were horrifying. You might have been seeing something like this.

MagnoliaGirlie · 23/01/2025 09:33

Yes, I would tell them. You don't know what pieces of the puzzle they don't have yet and you might just bring some important info (or confirming some) without knowing it (speed, location, time, numbers of cars...).
I'm sorry you were in this situation, it must feel quite scary and sad.

Iheartmysmart · 23/01/2025 09:31

It’s worth reporting. I was overtaken on a 40mph road by two lads racing, goodness only knows how fast they were going. I phoned the police with the make and colour of both vehicles and there was a story in the online version of the local rag later that day to say that two drivers had been caught racing at up to 100mph on local roads. Might not have been them but I’d like to think it was.

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 23/01/2025 09:31

You would not be unreasonable, op

Although you don't have loads of info, it could help

I hope you're okay and that no-one has lost their life 😳 x

pointswinprizes · 23/01/2025 09:23

Probably, yes.

caramac04 · 23/01/2025 09:23

Report, it could be part of a jigsaw puzzle. I hope all who encountered this idiot driver are ok.

CreationNat1on · 23/01/2025 09:23

Yes, give them the info you have.

WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout · 23/01/2025 09:20

I would. Hope you are ok.

HotCrossBunplease · 23/01/2025 09:20

In the time you took to post this you could already have told them! What’s the downside?