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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Should I contact police to tell them I was overtaken on a 60mph road about 120mph - and then there was a crash?

110 replies

squashedbananasagain · 23/01/2025 09:11

Last night I was driving home through a national park. It's a 60mph limit road but was very dark, (unlit road), the road service isn't great and the white lines are patchy and faded. There are also lots of deer about and there are often crashes, so I was going at 50 miles an hour.

One car passed me at about 63/64mph and then shortly afterwards a car came from nowhere, and overtook me way faster; a car has never overtaken me so fast on a 60mph road before. He flew past both me the car in front of me (that was still doing 63/64mph from overtaking me). He then cut in front of that car because there was something coming the other way. The speed in which he was going was so fast that it actually made me gasp and my hand flew to my mouth - and I am not a gasper. Blush. His numberplate was obscured at the back so I couldn't tell what it was and he was going so fast that you couldn't see anything much else except that it was a black saloon.

About 15 minutes later on the same road everything came to a stop. Local news reports have reported that not only was there a multi car crash, but there was also a separate incident whereby a car was burnt out in a layby on the same road very close by.

My dilemma is: do I do anything? Do I ring the police? What can I tell them if I do that's of any use? The only thing I can tell them is that a car drove past me extremely fast and dangerously but that I don't have a number plate, I don't have the car type, or see the driver or occupants. Nor do I know that the cars involved in the multi car crash or in the fire were the same car. It's just a coincidence and based on a strong suspicion that a car driving that dangerously would shortly be involved in a crash.

Would the police actually be interested with this information and would it ever be of any use - or shall I just leave it? I worry that this driver has hurt other people and will try and blame them for bad driving whereas, he was driving atrociously beforehand and people need to know that.

OP posts:
Mulledjuice · 23/01/2025 09:12

Would the police actually be interested with this information and would it ever be of any use

Let them decide that

HansHolbein · 23/01/2025 09:14

I probably would, yes. Hope you are ok.

Edenmum2 · 23/01/2025 09:14

Well it won't hurt to tell them and at least you'll know you've done all you can. Do you know the colour at least?

Seawolves · 23/01/2025 09:15

Yes absolutely, it could be an important part of the bigger picture.

PickAChew · 23/01/2025 09:15

Tell them. It costs you nothing and the information might be important eg which direction the car came from.

PheasantPluckers · 23/01/2025 09:15

Yes definitely. Any information at all you can give could help

Nicecatneighbour · 23/01/2025 09:17

I would tell them, it may or may not help but at least you've done something. Hope you are okay.

rainbowstardrops · 23/01/2025 09:18

Yes, I would definitely tell them!

TiramisuThief · 23/01/2025 09:19

Mulledjuice · 23/01/2025 09:12

Would the police actually be interested with this information and would it ever be of any use

Let them decide that

Agree with this

SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 23/01/2025 09:19

Tell them. They can say Thanks, Bye if not interested but they might well be.

HotCrossBunplease · 23/01/2025 09:20

In the time you took to post this you could already have told them! What’s the downside?

WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout · 23/01/2025 09:20

I would. Hope you are ok.

CreationNat1on · 23/01/2025 09:23

Yes, give them the info you have.

caramac04 · 23/01/2025 09:23

Report, it could be part of a jigsaw puzzle. I hope all who encountered this idiot driver are ok.

pointswinprizes · 23/01/2025 09:23

Probably, yes.

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 23/01/2025 09:31

You would not be unreasonable, op

Although you don't have loads of info, it could help

I hope you're okay and that no-one has lost their life 😳 x

Iheartmysmart · 23/01/2025 09:31

It’s worth reporting. I was overtaken on a 40mph road by two lads racing, goodness only knows how fast they were going. I phoned the police with the make and colour of both vehicles and there was a story in the online version of the local rag later that day to say that two drivers had been caught racing at up to 100mph on local roads. Might not have been them but I’d like to think it was.

MagnoliaGirlie · 23/01/2025 09:33

Yes, I would tell them. You don't know what pieces of the puzzle they don't have yet and you might just bring some important info (or confirming some) without knowing it (speed, location, time, numbers of cars...).
I'm sorry you were in this situation, it must feel quite scary and sad.

EarlyBird12345 · 23/01/2025 09:38

Definitely report. I saw a documentary yesterday where young men were talkingvabout racing at 100+mph and filming themselves doing so while driving so that you could see the speedometer. The risks they took were horrifying. You might have been seeing something like this.

squashedbananasagain · 23/01/2025 09:39

Thanks for the replies. Is there a way of reporting it online? It's not a 999 case.

OP posts:
rosehipstalk · 23/01/2025 09:39

call 101 - police non emergency line

cheezncrackers · 23/01/2025 09:41

I would absolutely report it OP and let them decide whether your info is relevant. Without dashcam footage or any details such as make or reg it probably won't add much to the investigation, but there is no harm in reporting what you saw for context.

MeanMrMustardSeed · 23/01/2025 09:43

For me the question is, why wouldn’t you tell them? There’s no reason not to.

Afraidofhimrightnow · 23/01/2025 09:43

squashedbananasagain · 23/01/2025 09:39

Thanks for the replies. Is there a way of reporting it online? It's not a 999 case.

101? Google it.

Mymanyellow · 23/01/2025 09:44

I’d report then let the police decide if it’s relevant. Even if the driver wasn’t directly involved in the crash he/she could well have caused it.