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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:
Arlanymor · 23/01/2025 10:35

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.

Exactly this. Call 101.

vapourtrail · 23/01/2025 10:39

I'm side tracked by wondering about whether I would characterise myself as A gasper or as a Not a gasper...

Mrsbloggz · 23/01/2025 10:41

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.

I agree with this.
It sounds very shocking and upsetting OP!

SharpOpalNewt · 23/01/2025 10:42

vapourtrail · 23/01/2025 10:39

I'm side tracked by wondering about whether I would characterise myself as A gasper or as a Not a gasper...

My MIL has a strong startle reflex so would definitely gasp at things or physically jump, or drop something, where I would have no reaction or react ten minutes later! Probably due to slow processing rather than some kind of superpower.

MaryWhitehouseExperienced · 23/01/2025 10:49

Wow, just reading your description made me feel anxious. What a thing to witness. I hope you got to contact the police and that you are OK.

SerafinasGoose · 23/01/2025 10:50

andthat · 23/01/2025 10:20

And that’s the only response you need.

Agreed - but thank you, OP, for posting this thread and reminding me to do something I've been meaning to do for a long time: order a dash cam.

I'm witnessing some death-defying driving on the local motorways of late - it seems to me to be getting worse - and am often a lone female driver with a long commute.

This serves as a timely reminder.

SerafinasGoose · 23/01/2025 10:51

vapourtrail · 23/01/2025 10:39

I'm side tracked by wondering about whether I would characterise myself as A gasper or as a Not a gasper...

Guess it beats being a squealer!

MaryWhitehouseExperienced · 23/01/2025 10:52

SerafinasGoose · 23/01/2025 10:50

Agreed - but thank you, OP, for posting this thread and reminding me to do something I've been meaning to do for a long time: order a dash cam.

I'm witnessing some death-defying driving on the local motorways of late - it seems to me to be getting worse - and am often a lone female driver with a long commute.

This serves as a timely reminder.

I'm going to get a dash cam too. Why are people driving like this? It's as though they've been watching too much Formula 1.

MaryWhitehouseExperienced · 23/01/2025 10:53

SharpOpalNewt · 23/01/2025 10:42

My MIL has a strong startle reflex so would definitely gasp at things or physically jump, or drop something, where I would have no reaction or react ten minutes later! Probably due to slow processing rather than some kind of superpower.

Edited

My friend actually screams, which is so off-putting. She did this once when someone cut me up. Her screaming could have caused an accident.

SharpOpalNewt · 23/01/2025 10:56

MaryWhitehouseExperienced · 23/01/2025 10:53

My friend actually screams, which is so off-putting. She did this once when someone cut me up. Her screaming could have caused an accident.

Oh god, yes. Some people are terrible passengers.

ArchMemory · 23/01/2025 10:57

vapourtrail · 23/01/2025 10:39

I'm side tracked by wondering about whether I would characterise myself as A gasper or as a Not a gasper...

I’ve learned I am definitely a gasper. I audibly gasped in the office causing a man at his desk turned round when I saw that the Archbishop of Canterbury had resigned (on the rolling news channel on the screen where the Comms team sits). I’m not even a member of the CofE.

SheWasPureSound · 23/01/2025 10:57

squashedbananasagain · 23/01/2025 09:39

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

What is it with people on here and not using common sense? yes OP, if you use Google! Jesus wept.

SheWasPureSound · 23/01/2025 10:59

SerafinasGoose · 23/01/2025 10:50

Agreed - but thank you, OP, for posting this thread and reminding me to do something I've been meaning to do for a long time: order a dash cam.

I'm witnessing some death-defying driving on the local motorways of late - it seems to me to be getting worse - and am often a lone female driver with a long commute.

This serves as a timely reminder.

I recently got one as my car was stolen off my driveway 😭 but I need to put it in the car so I will do that today.

RegimentalSturgeon · 23/01/2025 11:04

I can’t imagine that what the OP can tell them would be remotely useful to the police.

CorduroySituation · 23/01/2025 11:07

MeanMrMustardSeed · 23/01/2025 09:43

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

Yes this is my view too. It could be helpful and if not, there is no loss or negative to you passing on what you know.

FoxInTheForest · 23/01/2025 11:08

Tell them. The car may have slowed by the time it crashed and that helps them build a picture. Being able to say "you were witnessed going this fast on this part of road" could give the push they need to get more of a confession about it too.

CorduroySituation · 23/01/2025 11:09

Hwi · 23/01/2025 09:53

It is when we keep our mouths shut, awful things happen. We are too embarrassed to contact the police about neighbours-extremists, we are too embarrassed to ask a child, being dragged down the street - little one, do you know the man/woman who is dragging you or do you want me to contact the police? We are too timid to open our mouths and report to the police, authorities, etc.

Speak for yourself! If I saw a child being dragged unwillingly I would definitely stop to check. Not everyone is meek.

stillljh · 23/01/2025 11:11

I would definitely contact them. You know it was a black saloon and that could be useful information because if a black saloon was involved in the incident the police then have a witness who said a black saloon was driving too fast and dangerously shortly before the crash.

CorduroySituation · 23/01/2025 11:11

Costcolover · 23/01/2025 10:31

I wouldn't unless you've got the number plate as you can’t be sure that was the car which crashed

Ignore this bad advice.

SineJoanie · 23/01/2025 11:15

Many years ago I had a similar experience, but I ended up passing the scene of accident. It was serious. I was convinced the cars that passed me were racing. I stopped and left my name and was later asked to give a statement. I remember having to try to pinpoint details like where I was when I was overtaken, seeing as I didn’t actually see the crash. I would definitely report again in similar circumstances, as others have said, let the police be judge on relevance. Hope you’re ok, it was well over 25 years ago for me but I remember it shook me.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 23/01/2025 11:18

Yes

Cakeandusername · 23/01/2025 11:19

I’d call 101 or log online. Say if you have dashcam footage.

HolyPeaches · 23/01/2025 11:21

squashedbananasagain · 23/01/2025 09:39

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

It’s quite concerning how some adults have no idea how to contact the police in non-emergency situations. Also how they are simply unable to do a quick search. No critical thinking skills whatsoever.

Hwi · 23/01/2025 11:22

CorduroySituation · 23/01/2025 11:09

Speak for yourself! If I saw a child being dragged unwillingly I would definitely stop to check. Not everyone is meek.

And God genuinely bless you for that! I still feel bad because a friend of mine, a single mum, had a sister who would slap my friend's dd across the face so hard and it would be so marked (she had long nails) that my friend had to keep dd off school for the marks to heal - I wanted to report her, but my friend said that in that case her sister would cease paying for her niece's private school and I never reported her. I feel awful now, really do.

Peony15 · 23/01/2025 11:28

100 % tell the police !

The amount of reckless driving I see daily beggars belief, people watch stuff on their phones looking down whilst " driving " , zig zagging in and out of traffic squeezing into tiny gaps etc etc
I have front AND rear dashcams, so glad I do.
What you describe is standard behaviour too, night time racing, witness it all the time.