Another example is Sweden, which has one of lowest road death rates; it is said by anti-speed campainers that it is due to strict speed limits and enforcement that Sweden has such safe roads. But this completely ignores the fact that for most of the year you cannot drive at anywhere near the speedlimits.
Only during the winter months, and the rate of road deaths does not go down in Sweden in the winter months. People in Sweden disobey speed limits just like people do in other countries. But from what a Swedish and Finnish colleague have told I gather that their driving schools are excellent. Lots of time spent on instructions on adjusting speed to the prevailing conditions.This would therefore reduces the instances of speeding.
Personally i do think that speed is one of the main causes of road death, that and people not using seat belts.
How many of us go to the bother of reporting incidents of dangerous driving to the Gardai?
How many of us go to the bother of reporting incidents of dangerous driving to the Gardai?
Well I know I'll be accused of paranoia but basically I wouldn't trust the gardaí with my info.
I tried to do it once in Co Waterford. I was driving from Dublin to Cork (the scenic route) and was in one of three cars which were nearly ran off the road at the end of the climbing lane. Some lunatic came up behind us with high beams on at ridiculous speed and then decided to pass us all out about 10m before the end of the lane (which is very clearly marked and signed).
I took his / her reg plate and rang 999. I explained where I was (didn't know exactly but had a pretty good idea and knew which was the next village / town in front) and what happened. I also gave the make, model, colour and the reg no of the car. Then the person on the other end of the line told me that there wasn't enough time for the patrol car get get out on the road and stop the car in question and there was no pint notifying the next garda station as the driver may turn off before the second town. IMHO these are fair points but thought there was a bit of 'ah it's late at night and we can't really be bothered'.
Obviously, I don't do this for every chancer that I see breaking a red light, but I do it when I see serious offences that put me or other cyclists at unnecessary risk.
Could you expand on this? Are you concerned that they might then target you as some kind of trouble-maker?
I've never managed to get the reg number of a cyclist! To be honest, I've seen lots of rule-breaking by cyclists, but I've never had my safety threatened by another cyclist. I do have occasional 'little chats' with other cyclists from time to time, which is probably as much as I can reasonably do.I assume you report both drivers and other cyclists?
Why not give the Garda a call and chase him up? Or write to your local Supt asking what happened? I know you shouldn't have to do this, but ...7 months ago I reported an incident of dangerous driving for the first time ever, it was that bad that I could not let it go unreported.....Anyway I popped into garda station, gave outline details, got a call back to go in again and give statement, when I went in to give the statement they said it was a state vehicle and sure probably not worth taking a statement. I insisted they should indeed take a statement and asked what dept it was registered to, they said Revenue/Customs so I commented that Revenue don't get official emergency call outs and should abide by usual rules of the road. I gave a formal statement. I heard nothing since.
7 months ago I reported an incident of dangerous driving for the first time ever, it was that bad that I could not let it go unreported.....Anyway I popped into garda station, gave outline details, got a call back to go in again and give statement, when I went in to give the statement they said it was a state vehicle and sure probably not worth taking a statement. I insisted they should indeed take a statement and asked what dept it was registered to, they said Revenue/Customs
Why not give the Garda a call and chase him up? Or write to your local Supt asking what happened? I know you shouldn't have to do this, but ...
Partly that, and partly that I would be concerned that my contact details would be passed on to the offender - it has happened before.
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