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AIBU?

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Original poster

To report dangerous driving to company

38 replies

xogossipgirlxo · 23/02/2023 09:18

I was driving to work on the motorway on the left lane. All of a suden HGV started changing lanes, if I didn't brake he would drive into my car. I wasn't in his blind spot, he was overtaking me (there was 50mph limit and no possibility for me to switch to middle lane). I'm still shocked. I had many weird and dangerous situations, but this is the worst. I remembered his reg plate number and company name, wrote it down on the first possible red light. What do I do now? Do I email company? Report somewhere else? I'm wondering if they treat such reports seriously or just say "'we're really sorry blah blah blah" and this driver won't get any consequences. Unfortunately I didn't have dashcam (my husband is buying one just now).

OP posts:
Dotjones · 23/02/2023 11:57

Report it, it might be a waste of time but if you don't report it it definitely won't be investigated.

Some companies will take this sort of thing seriously. For a good company a "near miss" like this is not a bad thing if it leads to lessons being learned and a serious incident avoided in future. My employer for example has targets for the number of near misses that should be reported by each site based on the size and number of people working there. A building with a hundred employees would expect a certain number of near misses in any year. If they're not reported it doesn't mean they didn't happen, it just means that nothing is being learned from them.

Chickenly · 23/02/2023 11:58

BeetleyCarapace · 23/02/2023 11:29

I remembered his reg plate number and company name, wrote it down on the first possible red light

I think technically this is illegal, isn’t it? Is it not the same as using a phone while driving?

If written with a pen and paper and done safely, no, it’s not illegal. The law that bans using a phone prevents you using a device that sends or receives data - a pen and paper doesn’t. Technically things like wireless headphones do but I think discretion would be applied. Other, less specific, laws would cover dangerously or recklessly using a pen and paper whilst driving but if it’s done safely then it’s perfectly legal.

eurochick · 23/02/2023 11:58

fUNNYfACE36 · 23/02/2023 10:50

You also need to remember with long vehicles it takes longer to change lanes and you need to be careful you don't speed up and close the gap he was going to pull into.

It's the responsibility of the overtaking party to check it has the space to pull in.

Elphame · 23/02/2023 11:59

xogossipgirlxo · 23/02/2023 09:18

I was driving to work on the motorway on the left lane. All of a suden HGV started changing lanes, if I didn't brake he would drive into my car. I wasn't in his blind spot, he was overtaking me (there was 50mph limit and no possibility for me to switch to middle lane). I'm still shocked. I had many weird and dangerous situations, but this is the worst. I remembered his reg plate number and company name, wrote it down on the first possible red light. What do I do now? Do I email company? Report somewhere else? I'm wondering if they treat such reports seriously or just say "'we're really sorry blah blah blah" and this driver won't get any consequences. Unfortunately I didn't have dashcam (my husband is buying one just now).

Something similar happened to me a few years back. I was in the left lane and the lorry on my right just cut into me. I was able to "escape" by turning sharply on to the chevrons and cutting over into the slip road for the motorway.

It was that or be crushed. I had a long detour and was fuming. Unfortunately I didn't have a dash cam either ( I do now) or I would have publicly named and shamed.

SiobhanSharpe · 23/02/2023 11:59

You could also tell them you are also reporting the matter to the police (whether you are or not) as you believe it's a case of dangerous driving.
They might take more notice of the complaint then... but not necessarily. However if you believe it was indeed dangerous then it would be the right thing to do.

Original poster
xogossipgirlxo · 23/02/2023 12:03

Thank you. It was dangerous. I really wish I had dashcam, you could see for yourselves 😥Will have one from now one, it gets delivered today.

OP posts:
Loics · 23/02/2023 12:57

Courtorder · 23/02/2023 11:52

I’d report it. I remember when DH was driving us on a motorway on one occasion a truck (like a building site type vehicle) tried to pull into our lane and almost hit us before pulling back into the left lane when DH beeped. He then repeatedly swerved towards us causing us to have to move into the third lane. At that point, he drove straight from the left lane to the third lane and pulled in front of us and slammed on his brakes. It went on and on for ages. I was pregnant and we had DS in the car too, I ended up calling 101.

Woah I'm surprised he managed it for so long, lorries are limited to 56mph max. (some less) so it would usually be easy enough to avoid them by doing more than that. Braking like that would cause him to lose momentum too and really hinder most HGV drivers, sounds like this was a rogue driver with a screw loose! Calling 101 was a good idea, a collision wouldn't have hurt him, but would likely seriously have damaged your car. 😕

Courtorder · 23/02/2023 12:59

Loics · 23/02/2023 12:57

Woah I'm surprised he managed it for so long, lorries are limited to 56mph max. (some less) so it would usually be easy enough to avoid them by doing more than that. Braking like that would cause him to lose momentum too and really hinder most HGV drivers, sounds like this was a rogue driver with a screw loose! Calling 101 was a good idea, a collision wouldn't have hurt him, but would likely seriously have damaged your car. 😕

Show quote history

It wasn’t a lorry, it was a truck-type vehicle.

kitsuneghost · 23/02/2023 13:05

I wouldn'd be getting notepads out and writing things down at red lights. You still need to keep aware of traffic (this is why using mobiles are banned even at red lights)
As for reporting - I doubt anything will be happen. You will be passed off as a pure Karen.

KarmaStar · 23/02/2023 13:08

I take it that you were in the inside lane,he or she overtook you and pulled in too early cutting you up?
I doubt very much that your complaint will go anywhere.

Original poster
xogossipgirlxo · 23/02/2023 13:40

KarmaStar · 23/02/2023 13:08

I take it that you were in the inside lane,he or she overtook you and pulled in too early cutting you up?
I doubt very much that your complaint will go anywhere.

yes, basically this

OP posts:
ChildrenOfTheQuorn · 23/02/2023 15:57

I've written emails of complaint before re: dangerous driving. Never received a response. I'd still do it though on the off chance it may end up proving useful.

Copperoliverbear · 23/02/2023 21:02

Yes report. X

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