Should I report this to the police?

BatCat

Hi Folks,
Let me just qualify this with 2 points.
1: I am not from Northern Ireland
2: I don't drive

Taking those in mind... I was taking my son to nursery this morning when as we were crossing the road a woman reversed her car into us. We were both unharmed (very luckily) but I was incredibly shaken up. I was just glad to get my child off the road and into his nursery up the street (and then have a good weep as I'm 4 months pregnant).
As far as I can see it the woman was completely at fault. We were crossing a side road (Dundela Avenue which branches into the Holywood road) and she had pulled out into the Holywood road. We were halfway across the road when she reversed, backing into the pushchair. It was only me screaming and hitting her car that stopped her.
Thing is that I'm now going to press my local councillors to implement some form of traffic calming on this street. Would it help my case if I reported this incident to the police? Would they even care? I don't have her licence plate number (too shaken up) but there were a couple of drivers nearby who had been involved in a previous accident who witnessed the whole thing and were interviewed by the police (relating to their own accident).
Thanks,
BatCat

davetrousers

Did the woman stop and get out and apologise, or just drive off?

happymummy24-7

my goodness Batcat...what a horrible thing to happen
I would advise you to report it to the police,someone who can reverse into a pram and mother and only stop because they heard the screams needs to be found!! Im sure the police could cross reference both accidents and perhaps the other people got a good look at the car-is there any cameras in the area for traffic monitoring or anything,perhaps they caught it?
I hope you get it sorted out and in the mean time :grouphug: big hugs to you and your son!
xxx Laura.

belisha-beacon

Yes, definitely report this to the police. If the driver didn't stop and get out, this would count as a hit-and-run, and who knows if they have done it before to someone who didn't get away uninjured? They could well be uninsured or something like that, which meant that they didn't want to stick around and be caught breaking the law.

Legally, if you are in an accident involving another person or another car (or even a dog) then you have to stop and call the police. If they did not, they are even more in the wrong than they were by running into you! Even though you didn't get the plate, you probably have some details which may be of use, and there may be CCTV or the other drivers might be trackable and have info that could help.

Francophile

I thought the rules had changed now and that the police only get involved if someone is injured.

leftieM

You could phone the PSNI non-emergency number (08456008000) to discuss the incident. I'm sure they could advise you.

sleepymy

Did she actually hit the pushchair or you?

I don't understand how having traffic calming would stop an incident like this from happening?

belfastgirl23

I know in my own local area the police encourage you to report everything although it is unlikely they will attend. I'd say if in doubt then report it. I had this happen myself lately BTW in exactly the same circumstances although luckily managed to jump out of the way in time.

Unlikely to have much to do with traffic calming though I'd say

ballyblack

Sympathies!!

But this is supposed to be a MONEY Savings website and not a discussion board for traffic management in East belfast??

darich

ballyblack wrote: »

Sympathies!!

But this is supposed to be a MONEY Savings website and not a discussion board for traffic management in East belfast??

Agreed but there are also gardening, motoring, relationships and vets sections and not every post in every thread relates directly to money. It doesn't make the post any less valid.

As far as the OP is concerned and without knowing the area at all I get the impression you were crossing the road at or near a junction and not on a crossing. I realise that may not be the case but why else would you have mentioned Holywood Road?
Why was the driver reversing? into a parking bay?
Reversing around the corner?

Not every incident is purely down to the driver and I'd suggest that if you were crossing the road at a junction or between parked cars then not only were you in the wrong but very lucky that's all that happened. You're also teaching your young son some exceptionally bad and dangerous ways of crossing the road.

If the above is not the case then I apologise. Reporting it to the police is a bit late since you were uninjured although shaken. The police will have nothing to go on since you don't have the car details.

Glad you and your family is ok.

ballyblack

Ok

What annoys me about the orginal thread was the title;

"should I report this to the police"

This title made me immediately think there was a finacial scam in operation and helpfully alerting us all on this 'money' site (problem is the orginal post had nothing to do with finance)

Anyhow in my experience the police are not interested in 'near misses' in traffic and so the matter should now be closed

THE END