To have reported this driver

[Bouncingbelle]

Was sitting in a shop car park this morning when a man came out of the shop clutching a bottle of whiskey. He was doing what I call the "drunk man dance" - two steps forward, one back, obviously wobbly. I was shocked just watching him walk out the shop like that but then he got in a car and drove off, after jolting the car forwards at first. I was so concerned I dialled 101 and reported it but since then I,ve been worrying that it was none of my business and what if he was just an old man with some kind of neurological problem that made him walk like that? But my gut instinct at the time. Was that this man was not just drunk but steaming. WWYD?

If he's not drunk, then he's got nothing to worry about if the police do a breath test. If he is, that's on him. YWBR.

I probably would have done the same. Whether he has something wrong with him or not, he could hardly walk and came out of a shop with alcohol, which doesn't sound like he would be able to drive a car at all.

You did the right thing! No question. If he has a reasonable explanation for his behaviour, the police will find it and he won't be in any trouble.

I think you were very probably right about him though.

Well it doesn't sound like he should be driving no matter if it was because of the alcohol or not. Better to be safe than sorry, you did the right thing.

Regardless to being drunk or not the fact that he couldn't coordinate would mean imo he wasn't fit to drive.

You did the right thing. My Ds was knocked off his bike by a drink driver. It was only luck that prevented him being killed. I would never want anyone to go through that.

I'm sure you would have regretted not ringing if you'd heard something on the news about someone being killed because of the driver.

I'd have done the same.

Are you serious?

People sometimes thought my Dad was a drunk because of his Parkinson's but given that you also saw the whisky, I don't think it was bad of you to report it just in case.

He could have been drink driver.....

But what you saw was a man, with possible mobility issues, buying a bottle of alcohol and stalling his car before driving off.

Even if the cause was neurological he may not be safe to drive anyway.

It sounds more likely to be alcohol in the circumstances.

This happened locally to me about a year ago. A bunch of people saw a guy come out of a shop holding booze, fall over, get up, get in the car and drive off.

They reported him.

Shortly after he crashed into a car, then when the police arrived he refused to take a breathalyzer test.

Because of all the reports they were able to charge him with DUI.

Turned out to be his 10th DUI and he's now been imprisoned for 6 years.

A dangerous alcoholic is off the roads because people bothered to report him.

Not unreasonable at all.
My friend saw a couple who were stinking drunk get into a car with a small child strapped into a child seat. She called the police who followed the, pulled them over and breathalysed them.

Even if he is not drunk, if he has neurological/physical problems that mean he can't walk., he's probably not fit to drive either.

If someone is killed by a drink driver or by someone who's ill, they're still dead, aren't they? Report every time.

Phew, glad the majority would do the same. I think it's maybe cos my grandfather had Parkinson's and hated being mistaken for being drunk that I suddenly felt bad for potentially putting someone in that position. But if he WAS a drunk driver I have zero sympathy for him. Good point that if he was stopped, if he is ok then he has nothing to worry about.

I have a father with Parkinsons, and it would not be safe for him to drive with his involuntary movements etc. Another friend (young) had to give up his license for a neurological condition.

Sounds like this guy wasn't fit to drive, drunk or otherwise. And 101 may not have caught him in time - I know we have severely alcoholic relatives that drive and reporting them never results in them being pulled over before they get to their destination.... much to our frustration. I'm sure the only time the police will get to them before they get to their destination is because they've been in an accident - hopefully not hurting anyone innocent.

It sounds like the man wasn’t safe to drive, drunk or not. You did well to report him. You really would have worried about it if you hadn’t reported it.

My husband has controlled epilepsy and is safe to drive, however his medication can make his speech sound slurred when he gets tired. I have been telling my husband this for years, however he never believed me until last year. My husband had taken our son to a museum that is two hours away by car, however on the journey home they were stuck in traffic for three hours, due to a road accident involving an oil tanker turning over. Our son is autistic and was getting very distressed and hungry, so my husband stopped at a local chipper before reaching home. My husband had to try to calm our son, as he was tired and distressed at the change of routine.

Anyway my husband and son got home, (very late 9.30pm) and within five minutes there was a knock on the door. The police arrived, having been called by the concerned owner of our local chipper who thought my husband was drunk. The police were shocked when my husbands breathalyzer result came back at zero, until I explained about his medication and my husband explained he had been delayed by the accident (which the police were aware of. My point is, that neither my husband, nor I were angry with the man who reported my husband. In fact, we asked the police to thank him for us and we thanked the police for their swift action. As parents, we were very touched that a stranger was concerned enough about our child to report to the police. If this man truly has nothing to hide then he has no reason to be angry with you. You absolutely did the right thing op!