MK5 Golf GTI
General => Random Chat => Topic started by: Matto on May 18, 2014, 11:29:34 pm
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So the other day (2nd May) on my way home from work I was on the receiving end of some dangerous driving and a rather angry motorist. I was driving home and caught up 2 cars doing around 45 mph in a national. I followed for around a mile until the road opened up and was safe to overtake. I indicated, moved out and gave it some toe to get by both cars as the one in front of me seemed happy enough sitting at 45. As I pulled out, the car in front of me moved towards the white line as I went to overtake. I just kept accelerating to get out the way. I have overtaken on this road a million times before with no issues.
So a couple of miles further down the road, it comes into a village and speed reduces to 30 mph. Next thing I know is I have a Mazda 3 inches off my rear end with his full beam on. I sit at the speed limit and do nothing to antagonise him further. Knowing another national was coming up I waited until we hit the signs then gunned it thinking I need to gain as much distance as possible if he is prepared to drive like that.
Left him no issues. The problem came in the next village after getting held up by a motorbike and Transit van. He came up the side of me and then swerved straight in font of me. I braked and swerved away and thought nothing of it. I didn't get the reg and he turned off further down the road so left it at that.
It wasn't until the next day that my mate noticed my front bumper. When he cut me up, he had actually made contact with me and scuffed my bumper, headlight and wing. Obviously I was pissed off but thought what could I do about it? I couldn't report it as I had no reg to go on and would be my word against his. Plus he had his Mrs in the car who was no doubt going mental at his driving but would stick up from him.
So fast forward 2 weeks to last night. I travelled down the road where he turned off as went that way to drop my brother in town and on the way back I spotted the car and where the owner lives.
What I am wanting to know is, is it worth reporting at this late a stage now I have an address and reg number bearing in mind it will still be my word against his? He collided with me and didn't stop so just wondered where I stood on the matter.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
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Surely there will be a mark on the back of his car???
If you don't think that reporting him to the police will help, I would go and take a sh*t on his bonnet
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Surely there will be a mark on the back of his car???
If you don't think that reporting him to the police will help, I would go and take a sh*t on his bonnet
I would like to think so but it was around half 9 last night so getting dark and couldn't see. It was more of a quick drive by to confirm if it was the correct car.
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Id go back and have a quick look in day time take a photo of the back of the car if there is damage and a photo of the front of yours and call 101 and report it and email them the photos then its up to thwm if they think there is a case.
This is where im glad i have a dash cam, may seem expensive to buy but cheeper than having to have a bumper resprayed
Tom
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In the eyes of the law - he left the scene of an accident.
You were the victim of a road rage attack which resulted in aggressive driving that HAS caused damage to your vehicle and COULD have injured/killed you! (The police love all that kind if thing) and you were only confident on reporting the incident once A. The trauma had worn off and B. You could positively ID the offending vehicle.
They won't start taking paint samples and giving it the old CSI treatment but once you plead your case, and if they find obvious matching paint scuffs on his car then they might go and give him a right good bollocking.
The guys obviously got some anger issues. Likelihood is that bricks would've fell out of his back door if you confronted him over the matter but now you have the upper hand you can choose; the law abiding, harmless phone call to the local constabulary (they take RR very seriously) or you can rally a team of vigilantes and go and paint his car with paint stripper in an aerosol can :)
Option 3 is just knock on his door and ask him what he was playing at!? but this might result in fisty cuffs and/or some coarse language...
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In the eyes of the law - he left the scene of an accident.
You were the victim of a road rage attack which resulted in aggressive driving that HAS caused damage to your vehicle and COULD have injured/killed you! (The police love all that kind if thing) and you were only confident on reporting the incident once A. The trauma had worn off and B. You could positively ID the offending vehicle.
They won't start taking paint samples and giving it the old CSI treatment but once you plead your case, and if they find obvious matching paint scuffs on his car then they might go and give him a right good bollocking.
The guys obviously got some anger issues. Likelihood is that bricks would've fell out of his back door if you confronted him over the matter but now you have the upper hand you can choose; the law abiding, harmless phone call to the local constabulary (they take RR very seriously) or you can rally a team of vigilantes and go and paint his car with paint stripper in an aerosol can :)
Option 3 is just knock on his door and ask him what he was playing at!? but this might result in fisty cuffs and/or some coarse language...
In the eyes of the law , he didn't leave the scene of an accident as he would not have known that he had had one , even the OP didn't know .
It will be your word against his in relation to the incident and unlikely to result in any prosecution without any independent evidence . The damage to your car could possibly be matched to the other car , but it will still be your word against his about what happened .
Finally as you did not get the registration number at the time of the accident you will struggle to prove that the car you found 2 weeks later is the one involved (unless there is some damage of course)
As far as getting a successful prosecution it is very doubtful , the damage could have been done by your car hitting his , is an example of what he might say .
What you do is up to you
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In the eyes of the law , he didn't leave the scene of an accident as he would not have known that he had had one , even the OP didn't know .
How do you know? he might have realised he made contact and that's the reason why he bolted. :surprised:
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In the eyes of the law , he didn't leave the scene of an accident as he would not have known that he had had one , even the OP didn't know .
How do you know? he might have realised he made contact and that is the reason why he bolted. :surprised:
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Think the point that he was making is that it'd be difficult to prove
The scuff on the rear bumper could have been due to the OP driving too close to him?
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In the eyes of the law , he didn't leave the scene of an accident as he would not have known that he had had one , even the OP didn't know .
How do you know? he might have realised he made contact and that's the reason why he bolted. :surprised:
Think the point that he was making is that it'd be difficult to prove
The scuff on the rear bumper could have been due to the OP driving too close to him?
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Best just let it be or pay him a "friendly" visit.
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A creative phone call to the old bill on the none emergency number would be enough for them to visit him, they give him a talking to and he might take something away from it, like in future - not driving like a bell end!
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A creative phone call to the old bill on the none emergency number would be enough for them to visit him, they give him a talking to and he might take something away from it, like in future - not driving like a bell end!
:happy2: he wouldn't be expecting it.
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Go and piss on his door handles.
And buy a dash cam.
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A creative phone call to the old bill on the none emergency number would be enough for them to visit him, they give him a talking to and he might take something away from it, like in future - not driving like a bell end!
What do you mean by creative ?
The OP has no other witnesses and there is the problem
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I can imagine there are many instances where there are no witnesses, the police still have a duty of care to at least follow up the case (I've experienced it myself) If the op has the reg of the car and/or the address then there is something to follow up on.
Re the phone all:
No lying just the facts. Now the op can ID the vehicle I'd be very surprised if the police did nothing at all.
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Just out of interest, how do you know that the damage to your car was not caused earlier in the day wherever it was parked up. Amazed you did not feel the impact however small it may have been been
Obviously we are only hearing your side of the story, it seems he was mightily pissed off with something he thinks you did to him
Just playing devils advocate so please do not take any offence
These are all things he may use in defence
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I'd just like to say that I'm not saying the old bill are gonna roll up mob deep and knock his front door down but I'd be very surprised, from my own experience if they didn't follow it up and did nothing at all given they have his reg and address.
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Just out of interest, how do you know that the damage to your car was not caused earlier in the day wherever it was parked up. Amazed you did not feel the impact however small it may have been been
Obviously we are only hearing your side of the story, it seems he was mightily pissed off with something he thinks you did to him
Just playing devils advocate so please do not take any offence
These are all things he may use in defence
You'd be surprised at how angry some people get over nothing mate :confused:
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I'd just like to say that I'm not saying the old bill are gonna roll up mob deep and knock his front door down but I'd be very surprised, from my own experience if they didn't follow it up and did nothing at all given they have his reg and address.
Take it from me that the Police will look at the evidence , they don't follow up everything is the first thing you need to know . Secondly a possible for the car/index were obtained 2 weeks after an incident that wasn't reported , thirdly the OP is obliged to report the accident when he found the damage to his car and he didn't . It is a similar car to the one that was involved in the original incident , where is the proof that it is ? There is none , if the car was a mk2 rs2000 or a e type yes a possibility but a white mazda ! Get some actual evidence , ie the car is damaged on its nearside .
Then if they are going to prosecute the mazda driver then they also have to prosecute the OP as he has also not complied with the law
OP - How do you actually know it was the car ? My mum has a white mazda , and she is sh*t at driving :wink:
Now with all that mentioned above - They will not take the matter further - Take it from me i have experience in these things through my previous employment :innocent:
Another Edit ! I have re read the original post and also see that there were two people in the Mazda - Likely that the two people will say the same thing whether its the truth or not and this could lead to a false allegation from their part , to protect themselves
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Hi mate, firstly sorry to hear what happened. as far as there being 2 people in the other car, this won't help them, the extra person cannot be classed as an independant witness. so it's still basically him against you. i'm sure if your straight with the police and tell them the truth which i'm sure you've done so far they'll entertain your complaint, what will go in your favour will be your the one reporting the matter and not him, that's hoping he hasn't already stating simular about you, and if the signs of the impact are found on his car i think you have a fair to good chance imo. good luck. :happy2:
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Going on one step further to reporting it to the police where are you hoping to go from there?
If you think a telling off from the police will make him think carefully about his actions, I very much doubt it .
If you are hoping to claim on his insurance to cover the costs of your repair you will have to inform your insurance.
If you inform your insurance UP goes your insurance premium next year. :sad1:
I, personally, would look at other ways of dealing with the issue. :wink:
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Having also experience of such things through my employment I agree with garrard, no way would lead to anything by reporting to the police.
However, if you can get photographic evidence and is there any paint transfer on his vehicle? You could report to insurer for notification purposes only but run his VRM through MIDIS and ring his insurer and advise you wish to claim for damage.
He will then deny but you can invite his insurer to inspect both vehicles for a consistency report. Any engineer worth his salt will be able to tell you whether the two areas of damage are consistent, if yes then his insurer pays for damage and hopefully his premium increases
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Hi mate, firstly sorry to hear what happened. as far as there being 2 people in the other car, this won't help them, the extra person cannot be classed as an independant witness. so it's still basically him against you. i'm sure if your straight with the police and tell them the truth which i'm sure you've done so far they'll entertain your complaint, what will go in your favour will be your the one reporting the matter and not him, that's hoping he hasn't already stating simular about you, and if the signs of the impact are found on his car i think you have a fair to good chance imo. good luck. :happy2:
The only way the OP can report this incident legally is "As soon as reasonably practicable" after the event , this would be when he found the damage . The OP did not and therefore he has failed to report an accident . The OP was on his own and would give one statement about the matter , the two other witnesses (in the Mazda) would give their side of the story too . Who would be deemed to be the victim here ? Who do you believe ? There are no independent witnesses so no action would be taken by the Police/CPS .
Many times have the guilty party called the police and stated they have been hit by an offending vehicle and it turns out to be incorrect even though using DDM's logic that they called the police first , no true . The Call , whoever it is from starts an investigation (of sorts) .
If there is damage on the suspects car how can it be deduced who hit who without independent witnesses , it can't , Still no Case for the CPS
The OP will need to report the matter to his insurance company whatever he does as far as the police are concerned , will the OP do that ?
I used to specialise in the Police in everything pertaining to Motor Vehicles from Road Traffic Collisions (used to be Accidents!) to examining vehicles for construction and use offences , Stolen vehicle examinations , examining RTC sites after fatal accidents , liasing and visiting insurers , repair centres , working with the VOSA/DVLA , prosecuting all manner of people in Magistrates and Crown courts and can be used as a Professional witness in cases (If you pay the fee :happy2: ) etc etc , I did alot of this for around 24 years :innocent:
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Tbf I think the OP should have reported this on the day, even tho he didn't have the reg. he had a description of the vehicle and knew which road he had been driving on. Obv I agree with the above that there's very little that the police can do
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Go roud one night, wipe dog poo on his car door handles and ram a big potato up his exhaust :signLOL:
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Damage had to be done before, I clipped a parked car last year and heard it. Two cars at 30 mph would be a massive noise.
Still doesn't excuse the driving thou pop round and give his car a polish... :wink:
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Hi mate, firstly sorry to hear what happened. as far as there being 2 people in the other car, this won't help them, the extra person cannot be classed as an independant witness. so it's still basically him against you. i'm sure if your straight with the police and tell them the truth which i'm sure you've done so far they'll entertain your complaint, what will go in your favour will be your the one reporting the matter and not him, that's hoping he hasn't already stating simular about you, and if the signs of the impact are found on his car i think you have a fair to good chance imo. good luck. :happy2:
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I did alot of this for around 24 years :innocent:
Off topic....but lucky man!! :laugh: :grin:
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So have been sitting back to see how this thread panned out with other peoples' opinons and ideas etc. There are some valid point and that is why I posted to gain some knowledge and advice.
Just to clear up a few things though, after seeing the car in question again it was most definitely the same car as I recognised the reg. Also as he spent a fair bit of time up close and personal with my rear bumper I got a good look at make, model and colour but far too close to see the number plate.
The reason I paid no attention to his number plate the first time round is I thought it had not done anything. People say I should have felt it but this was not the case. His NS rear end scuffed my OF front end so for those saying that it was me that hit him I just don't get it. Plus witht he bumper being plastic and reasonably flexible I am almost certain you'd be doing very well to feel a graze.
I believe alot of the damage will polish out. It seems it has just left his plastics and paint on mine. I am yet to sort it as I want a proper detailer to sort it for me. Not worth going through the insurance for what it is.
I had basically given up on the fact that I would never see his car again so would have no chance of tracing it. My original question was is it worth doing something about it this late on? Obviously there are 'other' options which I have considered as it really got to me once i had had chance to think things over. I had never come across driving like it and a part of me wanted to retaliate in someway as I couldn't let him get away with it.
I am a a curteous and considerate driver and don't go around driving like a dick. I would be interested as to what made him so angry that he felt the need to drive like he did. Maybe he just didn't like the fact someone overtook him? I ride a motorbike also and see this all the time when filtering.
I do know nothing would probably come of anything whether I reported it or now, that is why I was after some help on the matter. Its done now but it was only by chance I spotted the car again that sparked me into wanting to know what I could do, if anythig.
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Report it,you might be preventing some other innocent driver being hit by this goon
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I am a a curteous and considerate driver and don't go around driving like a dick. I would be interested as to what made him so angry that he felt the need to drive like he did. Maybe he just didn't like the fact someone overtook him?
Get that all the time mate, i wouldnt worry about it. I overtook a cooper S on the way to work. Next thing I know he comes flying up and then goes into my lane at a roundabout. you can go straight ahead in both lanes, right lane was clear, he just wanted to cut me up before I turned left at the roundabout!!!!
Just gotta let it go over your head, some people have a superiority complex and can't let someone else "get one over them"
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Report it,you might be preventing some other innocent driver being hit by this goon
How will that help though?
They're not going to follow the bloke 24/7.
There's no evidence.
No witnesses.
I agree with you, i would probably report it, but its not going to prevent anything else happening.
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I am a a curteous and considerate driver and don't go around driving like a dick. I would be interested as to what made him so angry that he felt the need to drive like he did. Maybe he just didn't like the fact someone overtook him?
Get that all the time mate, i wouldnt worry about it. I overtook a cooper S on the way to work. Next thing I know he comes flying up and then goes into my lane at a roundabout. you can go straight ahead in both lanes, right lane was clear, he just wanted to cut me up before I turned left at the roundabout!!!!
Just gotta let it go over your head, some people have a superiority complex and can't let someone else "get one over them"
I agree and this is what I had done. I had to, to put my mind at ease. It was stressing me out what had happend and in all honesty shook me up a little. Like I say I had mostly let this one slide but it was just by chance that I spotted the car and that raised the question in my mind as what I should do about it.
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Hi mate, firstly sorry to hear what happened. as far as there being 2 people in the other car, this won't help them, the extra person cannot be classed as an independant witness. so it's still basically him against you. i'm sure if your straight with the police and tell them the truth which i'm sure you've done so far they'll entertain your complaint, what will go in your favour will be your the one reporting the matter and not him, that's hoping he hasn't already stating simular about you, and if the signs of the impact are found on his car i think you have a fair to good chance imo. good luck. :happy2:
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I did alot of this for around 24 years :innocent:
Off topic....but lucky man!! :laugh: :grin:
?
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it's a good job you were in your car and not on your bike, you'd of certainly come of worse then,
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I am a a curteous and considerate driver and don't go around driving like a dick. I would be interested as to what made him so angry that he felt the need to drive like he did. Maybe he just didn't like the fact someone overtook him?
Get that all the time mate, i wouldnt worry about it. I overtook a cooper S on the way to work. Next thing I know he comes flying up and then goes into my lane at a roundabout. you can go straight ahead in both lanes, right lane was clear, he just wanted to cut me up before I turned left at the roundabout!!!!
Just gotta let it go over your head, some people have a superiority complex and can't let someone else "get one over them"
I agree and this is what I had done. I had to, to put my mind at ease. It was stressing me out what had happend and in all honesty shook me up a little. Like I say I had mostly let this one slide but it was just by chance that I spotted the car and that raised the question in my mind as what I should do about it.
If you think phoning the Police is pointless you could maybe knock on his door...but he may just pull a knife on you lol
i would just be childish and egg his house or chuck paint all over his car :happy2:
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Get some nettle seeds and write on his lawn. Something constructive like CNUT or similar. :evilgrin:
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Superglue the door locks & windscreen wipers, the get artistic with some MEK.
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Hi mate, firstly sorry to hear what happened. as far as there being 2 people in the other car, this won't help them, the extra person cannot be classed as an independant witness. so it's still basically him against you. i'm sure if your straight with the police and tell them the truth which i'm sure you've done so far they'll entertain your complaint, what will go in your favour will be your the one reporting the matter and not him, that's hoping he hasn't already stating simular about you, and if the signs of the impact are found on his car i think you have a fair to good chance imo. good luck. :happy2:
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I did alot of this for around 24 years :innocent:
Off topic....but lucky man!! :laugh: :grin:
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retired after 24 years (or something near?)??....just saying no way I will be able to do that!
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Hi mate, firstly sorry to hear what happened. as far as there being 2 people in the other car, this won't help them, the extra person cannot be classed as an independant witness. so it's still basically him against you. i'm sure if your straight with the police and tell them the truth which i'm sure you've done so far they'll entertain your complaint, what will go in your favour will be your the one reporting the matter and not him, that's hoping he hasn't already stating simular about you, and if the signs of the impact are found on his car i think you have a fair to good chance imo. good luck. :happy2:
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I did alot of this for around 24 years :innocent:
Off topic....but lucky man!! :laugh: :grin:
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retired after 24 years (or something near?)??....just saying no way I will be able to do that!
Retired after 30 - didn't do all that stuff i mentioned till about 6 years in - CID was boring office wallah stuff - No offence if thats what you do , but the reason i joined the Police was to stay out of an office :smiley: .....................................oh and retire at 50 :drinking:
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Get some nettle seeds and write on his lawn. Something constructive like CNUT or similar. :evilgrin:
I would get some very strong weed/grass killer and design a giant "phallus 'n balls" on his lawn :signLOL: