What do you do about dangerous driving?

[Brenhden]

I was heading along the M4 fast lane tonight and there was a new E class merc in front of me and it was having a problem. It kept drifting into the middle lane and then swerving back in to the fast lane, speeding up, braking, slowing down drifting and repeating the loop. We were in heavy fast moving traffic and the middle lane was packed with cars. After a while I worked out that the driver must have been falling asleep and the lane assist alarm in his car was waking them up. This went on about once a minute for about 15 minutes. I wanted to get away from it but I couldn't and daren't overtake. Several times I had to honk my horn to alert people to this nutter. It was terrifying to watch as I was sure I was about to see road traffic accident. Eventually the traffic in front slowed and then driver norrowly missed by diving into the middle lane.

Later I caught up and it was an old grumpy looking guy.

I was tempted to call the police on the hands free. Thinking back I probaly should have done. I feel like if I hadn't spotted this and done a lot of beeping there could well have been serious accident. What is the correct course of action?

[Mike54]

I'd have called the feds, and have done in the past. Was in traffic on the m6 and the guy in front was smoking a huge spliff, drifting all over the road. I stayed behind on the phone shouting out the marker posts and after around 20 minutes, bingo, blue lights appeared and pulled him over. Result.

[92kk k100lt 193214]

I would call it in too. No question. Call it in and let the police deal with it.

Did it one night driving the car a long distance. A guy was wandering all over and no one could pass him. Anyway eventually police car came up behind me and flashed him off at the next town and the police car pulled in ahead of him. The guy was so bad he hit the back of the police car. Its not the only time I have done it.

You leave a guy like that wander on then read the next day about how he took someone out then its not nice.

[ysbytymike]

Agree. Report him 'before' someone gets killed.

[zimtim]

Was he falling asleep because he was tired or was he just pissed. Definitely call it you may just be saving your own life.

[Redmurty]

if you have the reg you can still make a statement

cheers Spud

[Brenhden]

I didn't take it down. I wish I had now.

[Redmurty]

still might be worth a call as someone else may of reported it and you can give further evidence.

cheers Spud

[Richard Simpson]

In those circumstances it's best to get the description of the car, inc the reg, then pull over and use the roadside phone.

The roadside phone goes through to the relevant motorway control room, and they may well be able to pick the guy up on the CCTV while you are talking. Much better than calling 999 or 101.

[Fordy]

On my commute into North London I regularly ride through fogs of canabis smoke, though it's quite hard to identify the source given the pace filtering through.

I have phoned in red light jumpers to the company operating the vans as they're more likely to get a bollocking from their fleet manager than putting a call into the police.