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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To pass these peoples car number plates onto the police?

64 replies

AgentZigzag · 22/01/2010 13:11

I had DD2 three weeks ago, I don't drive, so I have to walk DD1 to school every day taking about an hour a day, and DD2 obviously comes with us in her pram.

I've been walking to and from school with the pram for two weeks now, and I'm getting mightily pissed off with the amount of car drivers who don't bother fkg indicating when I'm crossing or just about to cross a road, with DD2 right out in front of me ready to get run over first.

I was looking back to see if any cars were turning down a road yesterday, and saw none were indicating, but one bloke decided he was turning down the road when I'd already stepped out, so he just steered round us on the other side of the road, not fkg bothered we were there at all

I'm sure I'm more sensitive to this because DD2 is a newborn, and it makes me upset as well as angry when I think of all the ways I try to keep her safe when she's with me might be in vain because some wanker of a car driver can't be arsed to flick a fkg lever in their car might run her over and take her away from me.

Some drivers might say they don't indicate because there's nobody around, but I'm there with my pram aren't I??

Am I being unreasonable to take down the cars number plate/date/time/place of those who do it to me, say, over a week, and hand them in to the police? Or will I get laughed out of the station, or banged up for wasting their time?? Will it do any good anyway?

OP posts:
BrahmsThirdRacket · 22/01/2010 13:14

YANBU to be upset, I can't stand people who don't indicate. But I don't think the police would do anything about it unless there had actually been an accident.

memoo · 22/01/2010 13:14

UANBU to be upset but the police won't do anything, its just your word against the drivers.

PrivetDancer · 22/01/2010 13:15

Oh I hate people who do this! I feel your pain. I often fantasise about being in an undercover police car so that when nobbers don't indicate (or indicate completely different actions from that which they actually do) I could whip on some lights and book em!!

Ahem. having said that, I don't think they would take you seriously at the station. Be interested to hear how you go on if you try it though..

Sonilaa · 22/01/2010 13:15

I would do it!

Did it when nearly got run over at a zebra crossing.

PuppyMonkey · 22/01/2010 13:17

I think you'd be far better off just giving the crap car drivers the finger - and you'll feel a lot better for it too.

Jamieandhismagictorch · 22/01/2010 13:18

I am of the opinion that even if the police don't take you seriously, then you will have DONE something, and that will make you feel better, at the very least.

If we all don't do anything about these sorts of things, then, really, we're not entitled to moan.

Maybe you could ask if a Community patrol could focus on poor driving in the area.

GypsyMoth · 22/01/2010 13:19

er,no,would not do that for fear of being laughed at

but what would you expect the police to do with your information??

Bunnyjo · 22/01/2010 13:21

YANBU at all but, as other replies have said, the police will take little notice. I usually walk daily, rather than drive and I am astounded by the how idiotic some drivers are; it is only luck that there are so few accidents.

Jamieandhismagictorch · 22/01/2010 13:23

Thing is - we all THINK the police wouldn't care, but do we know that for a fact ? They do sometimes have crackdowns on certain problems - eg driving with mobile phones.

CinnabarRed · 22/01/2010 13:24

I seem to recall from learning the HIghway Code for my test that indicating is not a legal requirement in any case - more a strong recommendation.

Ivykaty44 · 22/01/2010 13:26

The police will tell you they have no proof and these drivers havn't caused an accident yet

I wonder what would happen if you had a camera in your hand every time a passing driver was on the phone, didn't indicate or crossed a red light?

Angelcat666 · 22/01/2010 13:28

YANBU Maybe you could have a talk to the CSO's as opposed to the police about it iyswim

Original poster
AgentZigzag · 22/01/2010 13:29

Puppy, DD1 has nearly learnt the swear words she doesn't know yet a couple of times when I've had a go at the tossers.

It's when I see how small DD2 is that it really gets to me, I try to wait for all the cars on the road to pass before I cross, but sometimes it's impossible and I'd never get DD1 to school if I waited for them all.

Tiff, I'm clutching at straws really, I feel so powerless. I thought about it yesterday and what I could do, mentioned the non-indicating to DH last night and he thought the same thing ie handing the numbers over. He thought the police might have a word with them, we live in a rural town so they've got fk all else to do really

OP posts:
greensnail · 22/01/2010 13:30

They won't do anything because indicating isn't a legal requirement. Drives me mad too though.

PureAsTheColdDrivenSnow · 22/01/2010 13:32

What CinnabarRed said.

Just assume everybody on the roadis an idiot, assume that they will probably turn right as you want to cross the road, and be ready to flip them the finger when they do.

Is your route to school along a route where lots of children walking? Might be worth mentioning the problem to the local police station, rather than reporting the individual drivers (as they wont be able to do anything either)

Jamieandhismagictorch · 22/01/2010 13:36

I'm always having a go at drivers. The most common reason is us nearly being run over on the zebra crossing near school by people over-taking on the crossing.

I did get spat at once, so be ready to duck !

Bramshott · 22/01/2010 13:37

Is it a particular problem in one place? If so, it might be worth talking to the police to see if they can send someone out during the school run for a couple of days?

GypsyMoth · 22/01/2010 13:43

well if they arent breaking the law there is nothing the police can or will do....i'm ex police myself so kind of know that.

however...i DIDN'T know it wasn't a legal requirement to indicate!!!

YouKnowNothingoftheCrunch · 22/01/2010 13:46

It is a legal requirement! It is also the pedestrian's right of way if a car is turning onto the street they are crossing.

Original poster
AgentZigzag · 22/01/2010 13:52

Unfortunately not Bram, it's on most of the roads, main and quiet ones. Although saying this it is balanced by the amount of lovely people who stop and let us cross, which I also noticed when DD1 was tiny and we lived in a city.

OP posts:
ln1981 · 22/01/2010 13:52

YANBU

dd nearly got hit a few months back as the guy didnt bother indicating and we had started to cross. he gave me a mouthful of abuse, but he got as good back from me! the worst of it was, that he was a taxi driver taking kids from the school back home.
In fact, if its quiet enough (and I dont have the kids) i stare the driver out so he knows that im waiting to cross- 9 times out of 10 they then put it on!

jujubean · 22/01/2010 13:52

You could film it on your mobile and give that to the police.

hormonalmum · 22/01/2010 13:55

"with DD2 right out in front of me ready to get run over first"

Agentzigzag, whilst I have every sympathy, do you oush the pram into the road and stay with your dd1 on the pavement?

kellze · 22/01/2010 13:57

just read the Highway code as I have this problem all the fecking time. It clearly states that the car must indicate in plenty of time and give way to any pedestrian already crossing the road before you indicate/turn into it.

Jamieandhismagictorch · 22/01/2010 13:58

No, I think she is crossing the road, because the drivers aren't indicating. Naturally the buggy will be in front of her