Can I report this person for dangerous driving?

[RobM77]

Posted here because of the greater proportion of people that understand the rules of the road etc.

I've just followed a car back through the lanes. 30mph everywhere - down straights, round corners, - bit of wandering in the road etc, you know the story. What's really annoyed and upset me is that a large rabbit hopped out about 20-30 yards in front of this car - clearly visible on the road as it wasn't really dark, and this car just continues straight on over the top of it oblivious - no attempt to brake or change course at all. The car broke the rabbit's back and left it struggling in the road. I stopped to check the rabbit, but I think it was dying sadly. I caught them up again and still 30mph everywhere - through a built up area, round blind bends, down long open straights etc. Obviously if I was a policeman I could have stopped them for a chat, but is it worth a civi such as myself calling the police about someone like this?

[LordGrover]

I stand to be corrected, but I think he took the correct course of action. There's no need to stop for vermin and other animals and no requirement to report unless it's a dog. If he'd braked violently and you careered into his rear he'd be in trouble. I think. Probably.

[9000rpm]

but they can be safe in the knowledge that because they are sticking to 30, they must be safe as thats what all the adverts tell them to do! got to love our road safty policies

[Vaux]

RobM77 said:

I've just followed a car back through the lanes. .....
.....
no attempt to brake or change course at all.

How close to him were you? Could he have perceived the greater risk to him to be coming from you?

[Vaux]

LordGrover said:

I stand to be corrected, but I think he took the correct course of action. There's no need to stop for vermin and other animals and no requirement to report unless it's a dog. If he'd braked violently and you careered into his rear he'd be in trouble. I think. Probably.

I'd agree - I wouldn't be swerving for a small critter, although if he did get rear ended I'd still say it was Rob's fault.
Reporting wise there are eight beasts to consider:
Dog
Horse
Cattle
Pig
Goat
Mule
Ass
Sheep

[p1esk]

LordGrover said:

I stand to be corrected, but I think he took the correct course of action. There's no need to stop for vermin and other animals and no requirement to report unless it's a dog. If he'd braked violently and you careered into his rear he'd be in trouble. I think. Probably.

That doesn't sound right to me. If Rob was following at a respectable distance the guy in front could have taken some evasive action, especially at the lowish speed they were travelling. Very hard braking from a high speed might be unwise, and swerving would be even worse, but those concerns don't seem to apply here.

Of course you don't need to stop on hitting a rabbit, but I think I would have taken a less callous view of it.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[RobM77]

Thanks for the responses guys. I was following a safe distance behind, and the second I saw the rabbit I braked, anticipating this guy stopping for it. There was no-one behind me with clear visibility so it was an easy and safe thing for me to do.

The rabbit is a living thing and as such it saddened me to see it run over ("vermin" or not), but what annoyed me the most was that he didn't stop to finish it off (it was struggling a lot), or even seemingly react to the rabbit's presence in front of his car.

His speed of 30mph was too fast for some bends IMHO. If he felt that was safe I've no idea what he was doing on an uncambered smooth straight doing 30mph as well!

[Vaux]

RobM77 said:

The rabbit is a living thing and as such it saddened me to see it run over ("vermin" or not), but what annoyed me the most was that he didn't stop to finish it off (it was struggling a lot), or even seemingly react to the rabbit's presence in front of his car.

Possibly the driver didn't even see it then?

I recall an example from an Accident/Collision Investigator giving a talk where a car driver had swerved to avoid a cat and had crashed head on into another vehicle, killing the swerving driver. The A/C I's advice was to consider your own safety over the animal's.

[RobM77]

Vaux said:

RobM77 said:

The rabbit is a living thing and as such it saddened me to see it run over ("vermin" or not), but what annoyed me the most was that he didn't stop to finish it off (it was struggling a lot), or even seemingly react to the rabbit's presence in front of his car.

Possibly the driver didn't even see it then?

I recall an example from an Accident/Collision Investigator giving a talk where a car driver had swerved to avoid a cat and had crashed head on into another vehicle, killing the swerving driver. The A/C I's advice was to consider your own safety over the animal's.

To be honest my judgement from witnessing it was that the driver didn't see the animal at all. I live in the country amongst narrow lanes and I have often had the situation where an animal jumps out on a blind bend. Your initial reaction is to drive round it, but of course you can't in case someone comes round the corner. Based on that experience, unless Kimi Raikonnen was at the wheel, I'm almost certain that I'd have witnessed a momentary brake or change of direction at some point - I didn't. That rather scared me - what if it had been a child?

[7db]

I've seen what happens to cats when they are hit by cars -- not pretty.
I've tasted rabbits. Did you take it home for the pot?

You can report him if you like, but IMNSHO that's not even careless driving that you've described there, and the evidential test is hardly going to be passed either.

[RobM77]

7db said:

I've seen what happens to cats when they are hit by cars -- not pretty.
I've tasted rabbits. Did you take it home for the pot?

You can report him if you like, but IMNSHO that's not even careless driving that you've described there, and the evidential test is hardly going to be passed either.

As I guessed, thanks.

[Holst]

p1esk said:

LordGrover said:

I stand to be corrected, but I think he took the correct course of action. There's no need to stop for vermin and other animals and no requirement to report unless it's a dog. If he'd braked violently and you careered into his rear he'd be in trouble. I think. Probably.

That doesn't sound right to me. If Rob was following at a respectable distance the guy in front could have taken some evasive action, especially at the lowish speed they were travelling. Very hard braking from a high speed might be unwise, and swerving would be even worse, but those concerns don't seem to apply here.

Of course you don't need to stop on hitting a rabbit, but I think I would have taken a less callous view of it.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

On my way to work (A roads) I frequently come across rabbits and pheasants in the road.
You can never tell what they are going to do, sometimes they run out of the way, sometimes they dont move and quite often they go one way and then turn around and come back the other way.
I tend to slow down and beep the horn and hope they get out of the way.
I wont bother trying to swerve out of the way as the last time I did this the rabbit ran under my wheels anyway.
Pheasants are the worst, they must be the most stupid bird in the world. But they way I see it its no worse being squashed by my car than being shot and then mauled by a dog.

[brisel]

When I was driving across Australia a few years ago, there were constant reminders not to try & swerve around potential road kill. More people were killed by having accidents through losing control after swerving than by having cattle, sheep or kangaroos coming through the windscreen following a full on frontal impact.

Kangaroos are attracted to lights at night & I had many a slow drive home watching them hopping along in front of me! In the end it was better to stop and turn the lights off for a few seconds to let them get off the road. The truckers I spoke to just said that they hoped not to hit them "on the hop" but kept going. A 3 trailer 140 tonne road train doesn't swerve or stop too well...

Going back to the OP, I doubt that the driver was really aware of the bunny or how to avoid it.

My favourite slow mover was an old boy driving up the A429 Fosse Way a while ago. He drove along at 35ish straddling the centre line for 25 miles (and preventing any overtaking), only to get flashed by a Gatso camera going through roadworks! At least there was some justice in this world

[Colonial]

Sorry, but no sympathy. I shoot and actively swerve to hit rabits.

Can take the boy out of the farm, but can't take the farm out of the boy

I only stop for animals the can cause damage now. I caused an accident through swerving to avoid a dog and never again. If they are that stupid what can you do.

[GravelBen]

Colonial said:

Sorry, but no sympathy. I shoot and actively swerve to hit rabits.

Can take the boy out of the farm, but can't take the farm out of the boy

I only stop for animals the can cause damage now. I caused an accident through swerving to avoid a dog and never again. If they are that stupid what can you do.

Same story over here, rabbits are a pest and most people try to hit them. We aim for possums here too though they can be quite solid.

Incidentally the late great 'Possum' Bourne gained his nickname from rolling his mothers car when he swerved to avoid a possum as a young lad.

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 3rd December 04:08

[thetrash]

RobM77 said:

That rather scared me - what if it had been a child?

Think of the children!

[RobM77]

Colonial said:

Sorry, but no sympathy. I shoot and actively swerve to hit rabits.

Can take the boy out of the farm, but can't take the farm out of the boy

I only stop for animals the can cause damage now. I caused an accident through swerving to avoid a dog and never again. If they are that stupid what can you do.

Err - stop using your brakes?! That's the whole point of Advanced Driving isn't it? To know what your vehicle is capable of and act accordingly? Ah, hang on, that's another thread and everyone disagreed with me

[Don]

So here's a question.

What did you do with the rabbit, Rob? Did you kill it, quickly and humanely?

Would you know how?

Now me - I avoid roadkill of all kinds where possible because I don't want my car damaged...or the trouble of needing to get out of the car to pick the damn thing up and do it in.

Your old bloke in front of you might have absolutely no idea how to humanely kill something. What to do than? Make a right mess mashing it's head into enough of a bloody pulp to be sure? Most people don't have the stomach for that.

And then there's the people behind. You run over a bunny they get all annoyed and post unhappy comments on the internet. What are they going to do if they see you get out, pick the poor ickle wickle bunnikins up and crack it's neck against a fence post?

You might be lucky and it's a country lad behind you who'll offer you a knife so you can "oven-ready" it or you might have to suffer some hypocritical nonsense as they berate you for hitting it in the first place and accuse you of torturing it whilst you are actually trying to put it out if its misery.

Nope. With someone close behind (safe distance or not) I'd probably drive right by too just in case they're a nutter. If no-one was about it would be one swift crack and then into the boot. When I got home it would be supper.

[Colonial]

RobM77 said:

Colonial said:

Sorry, but no sympathy. I shoot and actively swerve to hit rabits.

Can take the boy out of the farm, but can't take the farm out of the boy

I only stop for animals the can cause damage now. I caused an accident through swerving to avoid a dog and never again. If they are that stupid what can you do.

Err - stop using your brakes?! That's the whole point of Advanced Driving isn't it? To know what your vehicle is capable of and act accordingly? Ah, hang on, that's another thread and everyone disagreed with me

In my circumstance that couldn't of happened

But in the one you are saying, I just don't see why you would even bother.

[Alex]

You should never take evasive action for a rabbit. If you try to avoid one, nine times out of ten it will jump under your wheels at the last moment anyway. One's duty is to the occupants of your car and to other road users. In my experience, a quick toot on the horn is the best thing to do.