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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

What would you do?

30 replies

Twiggy71 · 11/04/2017 15:35

Just literally got home from work, my journey consists of at least five miles of country roads.
The car that was in front of me kept going slightly over the white line on the incoming side.
I tried to overtake because they were driving erratically by continually driving like this but i was unable to overtake because they had no awareness of 1 me being behind them and 2 that i was trying to overtake.
I've taken down their registration which i've never ever felt the need to do before.
Are you able to report someone driving like this? I'm in N Ireland by the way..

OP posts:

UppityHumpty · 11/04/2017 15:41

It would be classed as dangerous driving here but tbh the police wouldn't make an effort to catch the person.

FABpMummy · 11/04/2017 15:42

I might report to the police but wouldn't expect anything to come if it (unless they have a history/do something more serious later on today).

Heratnumber7 · 11/04/2017 15:44

Really? You want to report him? What do you think the police will do?

If I reported every driver that went over the central white line I wouldn't have time for anything else all day.

Get a life OP.

Can you honestly say you follow the highway code to the letter all the time yourself?

BearHunting · 11/04/2017 15:49

AFAIK the police have to actually catch someone driving badly to do anything about it.

Heratnumber7 · 11/04/2017 15:51

the police have to actually catch someone driving badly to do anything about it

This too. They can't just take your word for it.

Original poster

Twiggy71 · 11/04/2017 15:55

What its really ok to not allow someone to overtake you for 5 or 6 miles?
I'm far from perfect and i've been driving for 25 years and i do have a life Hereatnumber 7 so no need to be so nasty. I only asked for an opinion??
I just found it very frustrating that's all and i don't think a driver in front of you should necessarily dictate how you use the road as i pay my road tax too

OP posts:

Birdsgottaf1y · 11/04/2017 15:56

I wouldn't try to overtake someone driving erratically, tbh, you're asking for trouble.

I would have put, more-than-usual breaking space between us and just got on with it.

Birdsgottaf1y · 11/04/2017 15:58

"I just found it very frustrating that's all and i don't think a driver in front of you should necessarily dictate how you use the road ""

You're getting into a dangerous mindset.

Original poster

Twiggy71 · 11/04/2017 16:02

Gosh really Birdsgottafly i'm really not that type of person as I'm generally very laid back. I've just gotten off for the easter holidays so i must admit i am grumpy and tired. Going to watch some netflix and chill for a while.
I just wondered what the general opinion on this was

OP posts:

melj1213 · 11/04/2017 16:16

So they were occasionally going over the white line, is that genuinely classed as "erratic driving" nowadays? YABU

What speed were they going? Are they narrow roads? What kind of car were they in? Was there any other important things you left out as to why you felt their driving was dangerous?

If they were driving at 20 mph, along fairly wide, well maintained roads and were clearly on the phone YANBU ... if however they were doing the speed limit with not the best road conditions, the road was narrow and they have a wide car and were just driving along, YABU.

I live in the Lake District, so most roads outside of town are winding, narrow country roads ... my car is a little Kia Picanto, so I zip around on the correct side of the roads with no problem, but my mum lives out in the country so has a 4x4 and she often drives more in the middle of the road, unless there's cars coming in the other direction obviously, because her car is quite wide and if she religiously sticks to the "correct" side of the road, she can end up with her car scratched up from branches and bushes and often the edges of the roads aren't well maintained so they sort of "fade" off into the fields and there are lots of loose tarmac/stones/uneven surfaces so if she can avoid having to drive on those surfaces and cause more wear & tear on the car, she will.

Original poster

Twiggy71 · 11/04/2017 16:23

They were driving erratically for at least 5 or 6 miles back and forwards over the white line continuously for no reason. So much so that there was no chance of overtaking at all.
There is no need to drive like that none at all. They will clip oncoming traffic at some stage its an accident waiting to happen.

OP posts:

NabobsFromNobHill · 11/04/2017 16:27

You were mad to even think of overtaking in that situation.

If you reported it to someone, what do you think would happen?

HaveCourageAndBeKind · 11/04/2017 16:30

You actually sound as bad, if not worse than, the other driver. Driving standards in NI are fucking shocking though so the bar isn't too high.

Original poster

Twiggy71 · 11/04/2017 17:03

I bow out when people are now being insulting about the country i live in.
Have an opinion but no need to be insulting

OP posts:

NabobsFromNobHill · 11/04/2017 17:04

They are being insulting about the driving in the country you live in. And they have a point!

Original poster

Twiggy71 · 11/04/2017 17:11

Stereotyping at best

OP posts:

NabobsFromNobHill · 11/04/2017 17:18

Nope, plenty of truth in it. Your OP contributes to that opinion, your bad driving on top of the others bad driving...if you don't like the stereotype, don't embody it!

MabelFurball · 11/04/2017 17:23

There's another thread somewhere about a woman being tailgated for 5 miles along a country road

SquatBetty · 11/04/2017 17:29

I always keep well back from erratic drivers, I wouldn't dare try to over take one unless it was very, very safe to do so as you just don't know if they'd suddenly swerve out in to you. Driver could have been under the influence for all you knew.

Heratnumber7 · 11/04/2017 17:40

I can understand that it was annoying but it was only 5 miles, so would have been for about 10 mins if you were doing 30mph.
And hardly a major crime.

If you do report it, please come back and let us know what the police say.

HaveCourageAndBeKind · 11/04/2017 17:56

LOL! Not stereotyping st all, just personal experience. I lived there for many years and drove there. Quite frankly compared to the mainly it's terrifying.

Original poster

Twiggy71 · 11/04/2017 18:02

No i won't be reporting it as it's over and done with now. The responsibility lies with the driver of the other car and i'll not be loosing any sleep over it.
Though i never realised N Ireland had a bad reputation for its drivers.
I've driven in both Scotland & England and not noticed any difference.
I may add I've never once in 25 years of driving been in an accident or had any points on my license or even a parking ticket

OP posts:

WhiskyIrnBru · 11/04/2017 18:07

Op the comments here are totally ridiculous. I am not sure what the process would be for reporting but surely if this person could be under the influence and was spotted the police cpuld take action. No need for some of the comments on here.

walchesterweasel · 11/04/2017 18:07

My local police do actively ask people to report driving that is anti-social careless / dangerous or inconsiderate. They send the owner a letter

RiversrunWoodville · 11/04/2017 18:12

Actually in NI police can and do follow up reports of careless/dangerous driving so despite some really odd responses you would be unreasonable. Yes I am in NI and yes I have police contacts

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