Learner Driver Hub - FUN STUFF
STOP RECKLESS DRIVERS

Like most deliberate law-breakers, those behaving recklessly, showing off with burn-outs, speeding and dangerous driving think they can et away with it. Often they do, because police can't be everywhere. By the time the law arrives the offenders fled far away.

At present a motorist who notices unruly driving, who wants to take an incident further, must first make an official report at a police station. But as I understand it, without a witness the matter will go not further. Even if there is one, they must be prepared to appear in court. Very few people have the time and energy to go to that length.

Let's envisage a system, whereby a plain clothes citizen is given power to report on bad behaviour on the road! Here is how it works:

1.  Only a selected, registered group of motorists report bad drivers. They are volunteers, who already spent a lot of time on the road e.g. bus drivers, courier drivers, taxi drivers, driving instructors etc. They would need to be clearly trained as to their duty which offenses to report, i.e. extreme, deliberate misbehaviour. (All drivers make mistakes). 

2.  Three details must match up to make it a valid report: The make/model must match the registration number of offending vehicle. Any mismatch - no action is taken. This eliminates mistaken identity. 

3. If another person, other than the registered owner, is the alleged offender, a dispute process is followed, like the one in place for ordinary traffic infringements. 

4..  Only one offence is recorded by a registered spotter against a particular driver. No action is taken after a first offence. This is to eliminate using this system to unfairly settle a grudge with a sour neighbour etc.

5. After the second offence a written warning is issued. The third reported offence results in a fine, with harsher penalties (loss of licence, prison) for continuous offending. A tribunal, rather than a court should be the deciding authority as to the punishment.

6. There is no possibility of offenders taking revenge. Since there is no court session, offenders do not face any accuser.

Knowing that anyone on the road nearby, not only police, could be watching and reporting irresponsible behaviour, may make immature show-offs think twice. 

Motoring should not be a nightmare to fear, but a pleasure to enjoy.

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