What can the police do about a drunk driver?

kmb500

I was driving behind a drunk driver last night, he was driving very erratically so I pulled closer to see the plate, and called 999. I gave them the car details and the road he was on, and they said they'd dispatch a car to try and chase him down. I don't imagine they would have caught the car as he could have gone in any direction once he sped off from me, but just wondering if anyone knows what the police can then do? Given that they have the car details would they send an officer to the car owners house to speak to them?


Don't particularly want to call the non emergency police to enquire about the procedure as I'm sure they have more important things to do. But if anyone knows what they might do, would put my mind at ease.

Mercdriver

How do you know he was drunk? You don't know what box junctions are, you don't know what red light cameras are, but you can tell a drunk driver from an erratic poor driver.

spadoosh

I imagine they would despatch a patrol if there was one in the area. Rest would be informed of potential drink driver with registration blah blah blah. I doubt they would send someone to the house as it would be nearly impossible to prove who was driving.

Every time i think im watching a drink driver i usually find out they are on their phone.


Ooo this isnt the poster that appealed the box junction fine because shes from the country is it? How did you get on with that?

kmb500

Mercdriver wrote: »

How do you know he was drunk? You don't know what box junctions are, you don't know what red light cameras are, but you can tell a drunk driver from an erratic poor driver.

I might never have seen a traffic light camera but I can tell that you're meant to drive on the left hand lane of the road! This guy was driving like a nutter. Trying to overtake into oncoming traffic at 60mph, swerving all over the place and driving on the wrong side of the road.


Really don't see what you're getting at, no I'm not very familiar with box junctions what has that got to do with anything? I have enough experience of drunk drivers to know one when I see one.

spadoosh wrote: »

I imagine they would despatch a patrol if there was one in the area. Rest would be informed of potential drink driver with registration blah blah blah. I doubt they would send someone to the house as it would be nearly impossible to prove who was driving.

Every time i think im watching a drink driver i usually find out they are on their phone.


Ooo this isnt the poster that appealed the box junction fine because shes from the country is it? How did you get on with that?

No that's not me.

lovinituk

I've followed what I suspected was a drunk driver (very erratic driving, almost struck several other vehicles) and phoned the police. They told me to stay on the phone until a patrol car caught up which it did. They overtook me with a thumbs up and pulled the car over. I didn't stop to find out what happened.

Several years a go I was almost hit head on by a car swerving from the opposite lane. I did a rapid u-turn, chased it down, overtook and forced them to the side of the road. I grabbed the keys from the ignition and shouted at someone who had come out of their house to see what the commotion was to call the police. The lady driver ran off and went home just round the corner. The police arrived, went to the house and arrested her. I had to give a statement but they omitted the part where I forced them off the road She blew 4 times over the limit at the station. The police were very grateful for my actions.

There was yet another incident at an old local pub where I nearly got lynched for grabbing a drunks keys from his ignition and the regulars didn't like it.

I do seem to find them!

I hate drunk drivers. The father of an old friend of mine was killed by a drunk driver and it affected him badly for years.

Mercdriver

kmb500 wrote: »

I might never have seen a traffic light camera but I can tell that you're meant to drive on the left hand lane of the road! This guy was driving like a nutter. Trying to overtake into oncoming traffic at 60mph, swerving all over the place and driving on the wrong side of the road.


Really don't see what you're getting at, no I'm not very familiar with box junctions what has that got to do with anything? I have enough experience of drunk drivers to know one when I see one.




No that's not me.

No, you didn't get done for it but didn't have the first clue about them.

I find it implausible that you have more experience of drunk drivers than red light cameras and box junctions. Quite apart from the fact that box junctions are part of suggested reading for the driving test and that most test routes will encounter one.

The driving style you suggest could just as easily be someone on the phone or opening a bottle of pop with their hands off the wheel.

You've encountered drivers who are erratic and they can be erratic for any kind of reason whatsoever, be it drink, drugs, reaching for a map on the passenger seat, opening a drink, eating a sandwich.

Hong_Kong_Phooey.

Cambridgeshire probably haven't got the manpower to do anything about it.

Strider590

If I called the Police for every driver I think is drunk, the entire Police force would be out pulling over German car drivers, pickups, Nissan Jukes and whole array of small cars being driven excessively slowly (40 in a 60 limit)..

The biggest indicator of a drunk driver is driving too cautiously.

On the other hand, statistics wise, did you know that 95% of accidents are caused by sober drivers? Only 5% by drunk drivers

BeenThroughItAll

Strider590 wrote: »

If I called the Police for every driver I think is drunk, the entire Police force would be out pulling over German car drivers, pickups, Nissan Jukes and whole array of small cars being driven excessively slowly (40 in a 60 limit)..

The biggest indicator of a drunk driver is driving too cautiously.

On the other hand, statistics wise, did you know that 95% of accidents are caused by sober drivers? Only 5% by drunk drivers

You really need help.

What exactly do you have against Germans? Still harbouring World War 1 and 2 chips on your shoulder? I'm surprised there's any room up there for them.

Johno100

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

You really need help.

What exactly do you have against Germans? Still harbouring World War 1 and 2 chips on your shoulder? I'm surprised there's any room up there for them.

Close, I bet they bombed his local chippy.:rotfl:

Strider590

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

You really need help.

What exactly do you have against Germans? Still harbouring World War 1 and 2 chips on your shoulder? I'm surprised there's any room up there for them.

I have nothing against Germans, I just don't like the way British people behave in German cars.