Think about reporting driver who splashes pedestrians?

FurierTransform · 2024-09-06T08:46:56+00:00

I saw a car splash a family walking with two toddlers this morning - 2 parents, 2 kids near a giant puddle in road. It was obvious what was going to happen, one of the parents pulled the kids away from the kerb as far as possible & actually stepped to the curb & held their hand up in a 'stop' type signal but driver ploughed on regardless. I asked them if they were ok as the kids were crying & covered in road grit, & the parents were washing the kids eyes out with a flask of water, but they said it was fine & I went on my way. I did get the registration of the car. I vaguely remember reading that this isn't technically legal to splash pedestrians but now after the fact it occurs me how serious this could have been, & could easily cause eye infections in infants etc if they do it again So i'm thinking as I have the registration & witnessed it, is it worth reporting it? i've honestly no idea how I would go about doing that having never contacted the police outside of an emergency, or if it would be considered a waste of time/police resources, but views welcome! YANBU = yes report it

curiouscat1987 · 06/09/2024 09:48

Theres probably a form online or process for reporting non emergency things locally such as this. I would, but you might find they cant do anything without having the details of the family affected.

People can be such arseholes!

BooToYouHalloween · 06/09/2024 09:50

Do you drive? I ask because if not you may not be aware of how many hazards drivers are constantly on the lookout for and unfortunately a puddle isn’t one of them unless it looks so deep the car will get stuck. It’s also likely the car may not have had any space to drive round the puddle (eg if it was a one lane road) as that would mean swerving into oncoming driving to avoid the puddle, potentially causing an accident. Or there may have been a motorbike on their right hand side. The driver may also not have been able to just break suddenly upon seeing the puddle if there were cars behind him.

I appreciate it’s unpleasant for the family and I’ve also been on the receiving end of car splashes but You’re not meant to break suddenly or swerve for animals so I can’t imagine the rules are any different for a puddle and I’m not sure what the point of reporting the car would be.

Original poster

FurierTransform · 06/09/2024 09:53

BooToYouHalloween · 06/09/2024 09:50

Do you drive? I ask because if not you may not be aware of how many hazards drivers are constantly on the lookout for and unfortunately a puddle isn’t one of them unless it looks so deep the car will get stuck. It’s also likely the car may not have had any space to drive round the puddle (eg if it was a one lane road) as that would mean swerving into oncoming driving to avoid the puddle, potentially causing an accident. Or there may have been a motorbike on their right hand side. The driver may also not have been able to just break suddenly upon seeing the puddle if there were cars behind him.

I appreciate it’s unpleasant for the family and I’ve also been on the receiving end of car splashes but You’re not meant to break suddenly or swerve for animals so I can’t imagine the rules are any different for a puddle and I’m not sure what the point of reporting the car would be.

The car had loads of space, and with the kids being pulled to the side & parent holding their hand up as the car approached, i'm not sure there is much excuse for not seeing/being aware of what was going to happen?

OP posts:

LlynTegid · 06/09/2024 09:54

If the driver had made some attempt to slow down and reduce the impact, I would say forget it, but not in this case.

Definitely if it was a BMW or Mercedes given the presumption most owners of those cars have about not observing basic driving standards. I cross a road on the way to the station where some cars turn left. A BMW indicating is rare.

5475878237NC · 06/09/2024 09:54

BooToYouHalloween · 06/09/2024 09:50

Do you drive? I ask because if not you may not be aware of how many hazards drivers are constantly on the lookout for and unfortunately a puddle isn’t one of them unless it looks so deep the car will get stuck. It’s also likely the car may not have had any space to drive round the puddle (eg if it was a one lane road) as that would mean swerving into oncoming driving to avoid the puddle, potentially causing an accident. Or there may have been a motorbike on their right hand side. The driver may also not have been able to just break suddenly upon seeing the puddle if there were cars behind him.

I appreciate it’s unpleasant for the family and I’ve also been on the receiving end of car splashes but You’re not meant to break suddenly or swerve for animals so I can’t imagine the rules are any different for a puddle and I’m not sure what the point of reporting the car would be.

The driver should stop the car, wait for the family to move then drive through the puddle. Simple. The point of reporting them is so they're educated on how to drive.

https://www.btp.police.uk/ro/report/rti/rti-beta-2.1/report-a-road-traffic-incident/

Report it here. It's under driving offence - inconsiderate driving

Citrusandginger · 06/09/2024 09:55

Potentially the driver faces a chunky fine although a fixed penalty would be more usual.

The point is it's not OK and the law agrees. Its one of those where even if it doesn't lead anywhere, the police getting in touch might - just might - change the driver behaviour.

I would probably phone 101

www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/drivers-splashing-pedestrians-face-fines-of-up-to-5000/

Irridescantshimmmer · 06/09/2024 09:55

Yeah report it, that was nasty, they were only babies.

Jollein · 06/09/2024 09:56

I would and have reported other issues (eg. Running red lights at pedestrian crossings) through my local police forces website. As I expected they couldn't do anything serious about it without evidence but they did say they make records of these things and do speak to drivers about them and it helps build a case if anything further was to happen with evidence.

carrotcard · 06/09/2024 09:57

BooToYouHalloween · 06/09/2024 09:50

Do you drive? I ask because if not you may not be aware of how many hazards drivers are constantly on the lookout for and unfortunately a puddle isn’t one of them unless it looks so deep the car will get stuck. It’s also likely the car may not have had any space to drive round the puddle (eg if it was a one lane road) as that would mean swerving into oncoming driving to avoid the puddle, potentially causing an accident. Or there may have been a motorbike on their right hand side. The driver may also not have been able to just break suddenly upon seeing the puddle if there were cars behind him.

I appreciate it’s unpleasant for the family and I’ve also been on the receiving end of car splashes but You’re not meant to break suddenly or swerve for animals so I can’t imagine the rules are any different for a puddle and I’m not sure what the point of reporting the car would be.

Do you drive? If so then I think you should be paying more attention to the highway code.

ForgotThePlantsAgain · 06/09/2024 09:57

I'd log it 100%

GrandHighPoohbah · 06/09/2024 09:58

It's worth reporting, even if this specific incident doesn't see further action. If this driver makes a habit of doing this and it's reported enough times, something might ensue.

Serencwtch · 06/09/2024 09:59

It's only an offence if it has been done deliberately so if the driver has gone through a puddle on the road they are not doing anything wrong. If they deliberately left the lane they were in to deliberately drive through a puddle in order to splash someone then that could be an offence. So it depends on the specific details and whether there was evidence that it was deliberate.
You can submit the evidence through Next base dashcam portal (assuming you are England UK) if you have dash cam or mobile footage.

KimberleyClark · 06/09/2024 09:59

I try to avoid splashing pedestrians.

It’s one of the areas where having a 20mph speed limit actually helps.

Jollein · 06/09/2024 10:00

As an aside a car once swerved across the road to splash me when I was out running one night. It made me smile because he was a pathetic little man trying to ruin my day and in fact I was already dirty and the splash was quite refreshing. Obviously not the case here but can you imagine having to live your life being the type of arse hole who deliberately splashes people, especially children, how pathetic.

AgileGreenSeal · 06/09/2024 10:01

5475878237NC · 06/09/2024 09:54

The driver should stop the car, wait for the family to move then drive through the puddle. Simple. The point of reporting them is so they're educated on how to drive.

https://www.btp.police.uk/ro/report/rti/rti-beta-2.1/report-a-road-traffic-incident/

Report it here. It's under driving offence - inconsiderate driving

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Great!
Thanks for posting 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Serenity45 · 06/09/2024 10:01

I've reported similar to 101 a few years ago (I was walking on my own, very wide road / pavement, plenty of option for the driver to avoid puddle / slow down to minimise the splash). I was pretty sure they actually accelerated through the puddle and even though I was dressed appropriately for the weather I had grit / muck all down me.

The police took it seriously and the driver was spoken to about it. They also said at the time that reporting this kind of thing can show patterns of behaviour.

networkname · 06/09/2024 10:04

Call me cynical but the police will do nothing, especially if you don’t have video evidence or the evidence of the family affected. So I wouldn’t waste my time reporting it.

UrbanFan · 06/09/2024 10:08

Yes report it. It is an offence and no doubt the driver took some joy in it. If they treat other road users like this then their standard of driving certainly needs looking into. There are far too many drivers on our roads are ignorant and selfish and think they own the road.

Please report it.

Ladyzfactor · 06/09/2024 10:09

I wouldn't bother. The police have know way of knowing if it was deliberate or not. They're is enough plausible deniability to not go far with.

Paisleydad · 06/09/2024 10:10

Probably difficult for police to take any action, but if done deliberately, probably common assault. If accidentally, possibly driving without due care and attention. Yes, drivers have a lot to be aware of. Not an excuse. Looking out for hazards is what we are required to do.

Seeline · 06/09/2024 10:10

If you're in an area that had as much rain as we had overnight, I think it would be virtually impossible to safely avoid puddles this morning.
I think if it is obvious that the driver deliberately chose to drive through the puddle, or accelerated on approach, I would report. If not, I would put it down as an unfortunate accident.

TooBored1 · 06/09/2024 10:14

BooToYouHalloween · 06/09/2024 09:50

Do you drive? I ask because if not you may not be aware of how many hazards drivers are constantly on the lookout for and unfortunately a puddle isn’t one of them unless it looks so deep the car will get stuck. It’s also likely the car may not have had any space to drive round the puddle (eg if it was a one lane road) as that would mean swerving into oncoming driving to avoid the puddle, potentially causing an accident. Or there may have been a motorbike on their right hand side. The driver may also not have been able to just break suddenly upon seeing the puddle if there were cars behind him.

I appreciate it’s unpleasant for the family and I’ve also been on the receiving end of car splashes but You’re not meant to break suddenly or swerve for animals so I can’t imagine the rules are any different for a puddle and I’m not sure what the point of reporting the car would be.

Rubbish. Either the driver was aware of the puddle and carried on regardless or they weren't paying sufficient attention to the conditions around them and didn't see the upcoming hazard.

Either way, they should be reported

JohnofWessex · 06/09/2024 10:15

BooToYouHalloween · 06/09/2024 09:50

Do you drive? I ask because if not you may not be aware of how many hazards drivers are constantly on the lookout for and unfortunately a puddle isn’t one of them unless it looks so deep the car will get stuck. It’s also likely the car may not have had any space to drive round the puddle (eg if it was a one lane road) as that would mean swerving into oncoming driving to avoid the puddle, potentially causing an accident. Or there may have been a motorbike on their right hand side. The driver may also not have been able to just break suddenly upon seeing the puddle if there were cars behind him.

I appreciate it’s unpleasant for the family and I’ve also been on the receiving end of car splashes but You’re not meant to break suddenly or swerve for animals so I can’t imagine the rules are any different for a puddle and I’m not sure what the point of reporting the car would be.

The point is that its an offence, pure and simple.

TooBored1 · 06/09/2024 10:15

Seeline · 06/09/2024 10:10

If you're in an area that had as much rain as we had overnight, I think it would be virtually impossible to safely avoid puddles this morning.
I think if it is obvious that the driver deliberately chose to drive through the puddle, or accelerated on approach, I would report. If not, I would put it down as an unfortunate accident.

You don't have to avoid the puddle. You can wait before the puddle to allow pedestrians to safely pass or drive at a speed that doesn't cause an issue.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 06/09/2024 10:16

Report for sure - if intended this is an offence. I had to go to hospital once when a vehicle did this to me, because of the grit that got in my eye.