Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Reporting Neighbours Driving

35 replies

HollyMolly0212 · 21/02/2024 20:28

Does anyone know if I can report someone's driving anonymously and if so, will anything actually be done about it?

I live in a small close and my neighbours (a couple) drive like complete idiots. They come into the close on a blind corner at easily 15 MPH and then proceed to drive through the close at a ridiculous speed before slamming on to turn on their drive. Last week, she reversed off her drive at such speed, she almost lost control of the car and managed to slam on her breaks about a foot from my car on my drive and the day after, hit my neighbours car doing the same thing.

The children play out in summer and I'm on edge already about what could happen if something doesn't change.

OP posts:
Mummyofthewildones · 21/02/2024 20:34

Have you spoken to them and asked them to slow down a bit?

NewIdeasToday · 21/02/2024 20:38

15 MPH doesn’t sound that fast?

The kids shouldn’t play out in an area where cars might drive. As you never know who will drive there, delivery drivers etc.

Neriah · 21/02/2024 20:43

Are your children playing on the street?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

MarnieMarnie · 21/02/2024 20:44

They sound like fuckwits, but they haven't broken any laws so unless one of them actually hits something/one there isn't much you can do. I would definitely speak to them about slowing down a bit though.

Azandme · 21/02/2024 20:46

15mph isn't fast. Kids shouldn't be playing on roads.

Unless they are breaking the law (15mph isn't and unless there is a specific speed limit in place your road is 30mph), not sure you'll get anything done.

Peaceupatown · 21/02/2024 20:48

It’s difficult to just knock on someone’s door and ask them to slow down, they may turn aggressive …. Perhaps post an anonymous letter?

Peaceupatown · 21/02/2024 20:49

Azandme · 21/02/2024 20:46

15mph isn't fast. Kids shouldn't be playing on roads.

Unless they are breaking the law (15mph isn't and unless there is a specific speed limit in place your road is 30mph), not sure you'll get anything done.

15mph on a blind corner is too fast

HollyMolly0212 · 21/02/2024 21:09

The children play on their gardens/drives but they play together so will cross over the close to get to each other. Even with checking before they cross, the speed the neighbours come into the close, the children don't stand a chance if they're mid crossing.

15MPH doesn't seem much normally, but turning into a blind corner and to drive across a small close of 10 houses is excessive. That factored with hitting a neighbours car and almost hitting mine on more than one occasion shows they're not always in control of their car.

They're not the type of neighbours that I would think would be approachable, they're quite hostile. When they hit my neighbours car, he got a quote from a local body shop at their request to get his car fixed. When the neighbour knocked on to give it to them, he got a bit of a mouth full about how it's barely damaged and he could have over looked it ( he's got a brand new, quite expensive car and the damage was definitely visible), a door shut in his face and the money for the works was posted through his door the next day and they've not spoken to him since.

OP posts:
NewName24 · 21/02/2024 21:09

Report them for what ?

It doesn't sound like any laws are being broken.

Not being a very good driver isn't a crime or that would take about 1/3 of drivers off the roads .

maximist · 21/02/2024 21:14

Do you have CCTV? If you could get footage of the dangerous driving the police may be more likely to take it seriously.

HollyMolly0212 · 21/02/2024 21:24

I don't but my neighbour whose car they hit does and he has a ring doorbell too. I may ask him if he'd be happy to share it with me.

I fully understand that just reading the post, it may sound like nothing but I honestly think if someone saw it, they'd agree it's concerning.

OP posts:
PollyOrange · 21/02/2024 21:31

15kk mph in a small space IS fast enough to do damage especially if they're out of control. I think ring footage is a good idea to review and maybe a letter asking if they can moderate driving to allow children to play safely. If it's within speed limit and they're just being arseholes they may not change sadly.

sleepyscientist · 21/02/2024 21:34

Honestly I would just stop the kids playing in the street and alternate who has them in the back garden. 15mph isn't that fast and reversing into someone's car is just one of those things.

HollyMolly0212 · 21/02/2024 21:42

The children do play in back gardens sometimes but they're back and to for drinks/toilet/speak to parents so it's inevitable that they have to cross over at times. When they're all together there are 9 of them so it's not feasible to have an adult cross them over every time anyone needs to nip home.

OP posts:
Mwnci123 · 21/02/2024 21:50

sleepyscientist · 21/02/2024 21:34

Honestly I would just stop the kids playing in the street and alternate who has them in the back garden. 15mph isn't that fast and reversing into someone's car is just one of those things.

"Just one of those things" they did while driving like arseholes.

Dismayed by people saying the children shouldn't be crossing the road, rather than considering that adults should drive with care in a residential area.

I think gather evidence. Would consider getting a ring doorbell also under these circumstances. I don't know whether it would be a police matter but potentially helpful to be able to evidence how reckless they're being. Good luck with it op- this would really bother me.

Treehugger22 · 21/02/2024 21:51

Won't do anything, i have been reporting a neighbour who is a known alcoholic and clearly drunk sometimes when he gets into and out his car (usually whilst buying more beers) and he still drives. He will kill someone one day.

jollygreenpea · 21/02/2024 21:56

A long time ago we did report an idiot driver, they did much the same as the ones you're describing. I think many people reported them, back then I think we phoned the local station. Guess you could call the non emergency number.
Sadly they hit and killed a child.
They had to move soon after.

Have also called and reported a drunk neighbour as well.

GrumpyPanda · 21/02/2024 21:56

Could you use the recordings to lobby for speed bumps or other modifications/obstacles?

HollyMolly0212 · 21/02/2024 22:13

Thank you for everyone's comments. I'm going to speak to my neighbour tomorrow and ask if he will share his footage and I think I'm going to get my own ring doorbell. Luckily my car has a dash cam that records all the time so if they were to hit my car, I'd know it's them.

The set up of the close wouldn't allow speed bumps or anything of the sort unfortunately.

OP posts:
MarnieMarnie · 22/02/2024 07:07

I really can't understand why people on this thread are defending arsehole behaviour. Of course 15mph is too fast in a tiny cul-de-sac, as is reversing too fast out of a drive and not looking at what's behind. Wtf should everyone on the close change their behaviour because a pair of fuckwit neighbours won't drive carefully.

Personally I would get all of your neighbours on side, encourage everyone to get ring doorbells, and encourage everyone to report every instance of bad driving. If you keep pushing the police may come and talk to them. Otherwise, a joint letter from everyone through their door might make them slow down.

Saltandpeppero · 22/02/2024 07:10

I really can't understand why people on this thread are defending arsehole behaviour

Because that’s how they or their husbands drive!

Mairzydotes · 22/02/2024 07:40

I believe you can .

An elderly relative got a letter from our local police force , saying three was concern about the driver of a vehicle registered to them, and the purpose of the letter was to give them advice.

mindthespace · 22/02/2024 07:56

HollyMolly0212 · 21/02/2024 21:42

The children do play in back gardens sometimes but they're back and to for drinks/toilet/speak to parents so it's inevitable that they have to cross over at times. When they're all together there are 9 of them so it's not feasible to have an adult cross them over every time anyone needs to nip home.

How old are the children playing?

LameBorzoi · 22/02/2024 08:06

We worry about kids being on screens too much, having poor mental health, and being overweight, and then people come on here and say that the kids don't have a right to cross a quiet cul de sac because some idiot might hoon in? I think we need to examine our priorities.

Lochroy · 22/02/2024 08:19

I'm not sure on the legalities of filming people driving, but assume it's fine given the prevalence of dashcams. I'd try and get together about five bits of video and then get in touch with your local PCSO and see what they advise.

The police can decide if it's dangerous, and if it is, what happens next is their decision.

I agree with the OP, it does sound dangerous.