We get it. It’s hard enough to keep your own eyes on the road ahead and own hands on the wheel when the music needs turning up, that itch on your back needs scratched and your child needs chatting to. And that’s before your phone starts ringing and the dashboard flashes a light you’ve never seen before. There’s enough to worry about inside your car, let alone the behaviour of other cars on the road. But it is really important to pay attention to those you’re sharing the road with, and be vigilant to bad driving and misbehaviour. So, here are 4 motoring misdemeanours to look out for, and the IDEAL ways to deal with them.
Drink Driving
Research from Motorpoint has delved into the tricky subject of your fellow driver’s road behaviour from the perspective of badly behaved celebrity drivers. Alison Weatherley, Head of Marketing at Motorpoint, said “while some might find it entertaining to see celebrities getting into trouble in such ways, there is a serious message behind this research, which is that, celebrity or not, they are breaking the law and potentially putting themselves and others at risk’’.
Countless celebrities have been caught for drink or drug driving recently. However, by far, the most high profile was footballer Wayne Rooney, who was pulled over and caught driving at three times the legal drink drive limit. It only gets in the press if the perpetrator sells papers, but in reality, it’s happening much more than you’d think.
So, if you see a driver driving erratically, report them – for the safety of themselves and others on the road. If there is someone close to you who you know to be a persistent offender, then things can get more complicated. Offer guidance, advice and prevention techniques, but if all this falls on deaf ears, you may well have to get the authorities involved.
Speeding
Speeding happens a lot, whether you’re a celeb or simply Joe Public. Former X-Factor winner James Arthur managed to amass a staggering 15 points from speeding in one year alone, along with a hefty £2,000 fine while Geordie Shore star Stephen Bear has received multiple parking fines recently.
If you’re witness to someone doing well over the limit, especially in a residential area where kids may be playing or an elderly person crossing the road, then the advice is clear; firstly, hang back to avoid collision and secondly, report it if possible, taking in the number plate registration and make of the car. The DVLA provides an anonymous number to call if you wish to do this.
Phones At The Wheel
While the Kardashian family are routinely caught on camera using their phones when behind the wheel, it’s not just celebrities snapchatting and instagramming as they drive. In fact, it was recently reported that a third of us still do this with abandon.
If you see someone doing this, official advice is again simple; report them via the non-emergency 101 number. Of course, we don’t want to spend all of our time judging and snitching, so a simple tap on the window and a disparaging wag of the finger should guilt them into ceasing the activity.
‘Careless’ Driving
This catch all legal term refers to a number of activities that may or may not be illegal, depending on circumstance, the effect on driving and the discretion of the law enforcement body. Activities which can result in being charged with careless driving include eating, smoking or using headphones when at the wheel. So, if you’re in the car with someone doing this, a gentle reminder that it could land them in trouble seems to be the best way to go.
