Safe Speed Forums

what happened to me was that I was on my way to work - 7:00am - in May. I saw a couple of lads further up the road, so I didn't speed up as much as I usually would, figuring they would be across safely by the time I got there. They seemed to be fighting in the road, then when I got close and stopped one of them launched himself at the bonnet, pucnhed 2 fists down (creased the bonnet) and shouted at me as if I was going to run him over.

His mate pulled him away, and I drove along a few yards. I looked in the mirror and thought he had calmed down, so I (in a misguided spirit of concern for my fellow man) reversed back and asked what was up.

I had opened the passenger window about 3 inches, he was trying to get in that gap. I'm not saying he was stupid, but that door wasn't even locked. Actually, I AM saying he was stupid. His mate said "just go, he's drunk" at which point he stepped back and launched kicks at my wing and door. I drove off, round the corner, and called the police.

The police caught him, apparently he had damaged loads of cars across the estate because he was drunk and upset that his girlfriend had left him. I can't imagine why she left him, he seemed just so charming. He was kept in a cell for 12 hours or so whilst he sobered up, then claimed that he had 'no recollection' of the attack. He later pleaded 'not guilty', hence I am appearing in court on Friday.

I had to claim on my insurance, and pay £325 excess, to have my car repaired (total cost about £700 - that was how badly damaged it was).

I am now very nervous, day or night, driving past young people, young men especially. I also think that subconsciously this attack was the reason I changed from a 206 Gti to a boring sensible passat - for the added sense of security?

I am nervous about the court appearance as I think he will try to claim that I tried to run him over and he was only acting in self defence. Anyway, I wanted to get this off my chest.

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COAST Not just somewhere to keep a beach.

A young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.

Ouch! Good luck mate.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Yes, agreed, but while such behaviour was more common in the 1960s (and continued well into the 1970s) it would be wrong to suggest it was in any way general. Even then, a large majority of drivers would not have contemplated driving after eight pints or anything like that.

It is also undoubtedly the case that driving after 8 pints would have been illegal before 1967, although in the absence of an objective standard of proof it was often difficult to make charges stick.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Good luck ,handy.

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

Brilliant, handy. He's probably just over-romantic, I mean, he's courting again already.

Handy, I you will be ok.

The Police thought him dangerous/aggressive enough to lock up for 12 hrs and he had been vandalising other cars as well.

Also, self defence does not include kicking in the passenger side if you think you are going to be run over (creases to bonnet to prove it was punched ad not hit by an innocent body).

If you are called to say anything, be clear and honest and have the insurance claims and details to hand. You are not in trouble, he is.

Good luck.

Slightly off topic, but on the lighter side of things


clickthis

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

My day in court ended with the Cheshunt Yob in question pleading guilty ... apparently he nearly got away with it as the only person who could formally identify him was his best mate ... who, funnily enough, didn't turn up as a witness.

I understand they waited to see how credible the 3 witnesses were, and when they realised that he didn;t have much of a chance, he changed his plea to guilty.

It turns out that he was a thoroughly unpleasant little scrote, with previous convictions and known for beating up all and sundry.

I have to wait until January to see if I get any compensation, as they have deferred sentencing until then. I don't know if the deferral means that incarceration is more likely?

As an aside, the court volunteer witness support type person mentioned that she had seen fines as low as £2.50 being levied on people on benefits, as the fines are adjusted to what the criminal can afford. Isn't the point of a fine to be what the criminal CANNOT afford?

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COAST Not just somewhere to keep a beach.

A young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.

Have you asked for a compensation order to be placed on him?

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Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code

I completed all of the required compensation forms - but didn't include asking for compensation for the psychological damage I suffered (like having to avoid other youths by the side of the road).

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COAST Not just somewhere to keep a beach.

A young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.

Chipping in very late here, I know, but this only applies to the various incarnations of black cabs and other cars that have been designed to be taxis from the outset. There are plenty of cabs, not just private hire but Hackney too, that are off the peg saloons, estates and MPVs, and the drivers still have to pick up passengers who are going to be the worse for wear.

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Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler - Einstein

Local regs - possibly national -- the driver has discretion as to whether to pick up or not .A decent proprietor will back him/her, least of all because of possible damage to the vehicle.
Some black cabs are modified to carry a passenger in the front.

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

From what I hear aggressive types can be turned down, but if not anyone has to be taken even if they are drunk. I guess cabbies have to cross their fingers that they don't turn nasty once they're in the cab.

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Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler - Einstein