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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...To have told a bin lorry driver to get off his phone?

39 replies

PoisonousSmurf · 07/04/2017 15:38

I came up to a crossroads near my home and a bin lorry driver was right opposite me. He had a phone clamped to his head, chatting away as if nothing was wrong.
I shouted over to him to 'Get off the phone', of course he gives me a mouthful of abuse and V signs.
I then pointed to my dashcam. He went bright red!
Now, what do I do with the footage?

OP posts:
DoesAnyoneReadTheseThings · 07/04/2017 15:39

Send it to his employer?

scurryfunge · 07/04/2017 15:39

Send it to the council of course!

Salmotrutta · 07/04/2017 15:40

You report him to the police and show them the footage.

He could lose control whilst on his phone and kill someone.

bigmouthstrikesagain · 07/04/2017 15:40

The council will be interested I imagine as they operate waste disposal service contracts.

JennyOnAPlate · 07/04/2017 15:40

Yes absolutely send it to the council. Think of the damage he could do with a bin lorry Angry

Salmotrutta · 07/04/2017 15:41

Police not employer.

The employer might just give him a telling off for all you know.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 07/04/2017 15:41

I do that too. I need to get a dash cam. In the past, I have looked up the Facebook page or email for a company and sent them the reg plate and details. You could contact the bin lorry company.

Patriciathestripper1 · 07/04/2017 15:42

Was he parked and stopped? Or moving!
Not exscusing his language and hand signals.

Salmotrutta · 07/04/2017 15:43

I'm genuinely puzzled as to why people are saying council/employer rather than the police.

Confused
Patriciathestripper1 · 07/04/2017 15:43

So what sort of dash cam have you got? I want one but there are so many out there I don't know which one to go for.

NonsensicalNonsense · 07/04/2017 15:44

Definitely report him to police and council/company. He is driving a killing machine effectively and its disgusting these "professional" drivers think they can get away with it.

Original poster
PoisonousSmurf · 07/04/2017 15:45

Pariciathestripper1. He was waiting to go across the junction (straight on), I was turning left. He should not be on the phone full stop, even if he was at traffic lights he should still get done for it.
This is in the countryside. Too many drivers out here in the sticks think they can get away with it.
But narrow roads, horses and pedestrians on the road don't mix well with distracted drivers.

OP posts:
Salmotrutta · 07/04/2017 15:46

I see lorry and car drivers on their phones all the time still.

Unfortunately I don't have a dash cam though.

OP posts:
ApocalypseNowt · 07/04/2017 15:48

Car drivers who use phones while driving are dicks.

Lorry drivers who use phones while driving are massive dicks.

Report to the police.

Babypassport · 07/04/2017 15:48

Send it to the police, council, local news websites... if it takes a dose of shame to persuade people to stay off their phones while driving then so be it! And we'll done OP for standing up to him as it takes guts!

MissBattleaxe · 07/04/2017 15:48

Go to the police. People who use their phones whilst driving get complacent and that's when the fatalities happen.

seven201 · 07/04/2017 15:49

Police and employer

SheSaidHeSaid · 07/04/2017 15:51

Definitely police.

LurkingHusband · 07/04/2017 16:00

Personally, if people are getting dashcams, it's well worth ensuring you get one that records behind as well as in front. (I have a Nextbase "Duo"). That way you can catch people on their phone in all their thick as shit glory. It's also a great protection when the car that runs up your arse because they were on the phone claims they reversed into me.

Rainydayspending · 07/04/2017 16:02

Fantastic advertising here Wink

Original poster
PoisonousSmurf · 07/04/2017 16:04

Lurking, do you have a separate one on the back window, or are there two lenses on the front one.
I tried one that was made to look like a rear view mirror, but the lens couldn't focus on the outside of the rear of the car due to it being dark inside but too bright outside.

OP posts:
Mulledwine1 · 07/04/2017 16:06

It's difficult isn't it.

Do we want an unemployed lorry driver claiming benefits and unable to get another job because as soon as an employer finds out what he was sacked for, they won't employ him.

Or do you let it go, given he saw you have footage he might have sweated a bit. Maybe he won't do it again. It might have been a one-off (unlikely though).

I hate people who text while driving. But I am not sure losing them their job is a good thing.

I think for me the ideal outcome would be for the police to go around for a strong word. But if you report it, it could go further than that.

Well done for calling him out on it, OP.

Maybe all drivers' cabs should have CCTV in them so they can't use their mobile phones or read the newspaper while they're driving?

Original poster
PoisonousSmurf · 07/04/2017 16:10

I'll let him sweat for a bit. The footage is clear that he's on the phone. But I can't make out the full reg and the company logo is in purple. That's all I can see on it. There was glare from the sun!
Hopefully, he will think twice about doing that again.

OP posts:
Chickoletta · 07/04/2017 16:12

Send footage to police and also to the council dept to which he's responsible stating that you've sent it to the police. Incredibly dangerous and also a knobhead who needs to be dealt with.