Rubberneckers receive justice

[numtumfutunch]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjelj9zdvddo

As above police have taken an interest in folks taking pics of a motorway accident

My question is how did they catch them?

Did officers on scene randomly see motorists taking pics and write down their reg in a little black book, is there an automated robo-cam to record evidence in this circumstance or something in between?

Cheers

[paul_c123]

I imagine they had a police car on scene with a fairly decent resolution camera in it, so much so they've been able to identify the drivers are holding a phone. With the number plate, and a picture of them holding the phone, it shouldn't be too hard to get some convictions from it.

[MikeGTi]

I think, often, they just place their body-worn camera somewhere with a suitable vantage point and record with that

[Simpo Two]

Ah got it. Not that rubbernecking is illegal, or photographing accidents, whilst perhaps tasteless, is illegal, but it's a mobile phone while driving offence. Fair enough.

[The Gauge]

Rubber necking is irresponsible, obviously I have to slow down to take a look but everyone else should be looking ahead whilst driving as normal so as not to cause tailbacks

[Riley Blue]

Simpo Two said:

Ah got it. Not that rubbernecking is illegal, or photographing accidents, whilst perhaps tasteless, is illegal, but it's a mobile phone while driving offence. Fair enough.

The first sentence in the BBC report reads, "A police force has said it saw 144 drivers using their phones to take pictures and videos of a motorway crash."

[MontyPythonX]

Simpo Two said:

Ah got it. Not that rubbernecking is illegal, or photographing accidents, whilst perhaps tasteless, is illegal, but it's a mobile phone while driving offence. Fair enough.

Out of interest...could you be done for 'driving without due care and attention' if you are caught rubbernecking? Obviously not paying attention to the road ahead etc?

[paintman]

The Gauge said:

Rubber necking is irresponsible, obviously I have to slow down to take a look but everyone else should be looking ahead whilst driving as normal so as not to cause tailbacks

Not unusual for an RTC to occur on the opposite carriageway entirely due to people slowing down, having a look & not paying attention to their driving. Usually one up the arse of another & frequently more than one in the tailback.
Used to really really annoy those that worked the motorway.

ETA Same applies to those on the same carriageway filtering past & having a nose.

Edited by paintman on Friday 18th July 11:02

[Dixy]

Crap BBC reporting "It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving"
Wrong

[littleredrooster]

Dixy said:

Crap BBC reporting "It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving"
Wrong

It is simplistically correct, without detailing all the caveats and exceptions that go with it, I suppose.

[agtlaw]

Dixy said:

Crap BBC reporting "It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving"
Wrong

Agree that is poor reporting.

"It s illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet, or any device that can send or receive data, while driving or riding a motorcycle." Gov website.

Gov website is accurate!

The offence is proven if:

- the phone / device is held in your hand; AND

- you are "using" it; AND

- you are driving (driving in this context includes being stationary in traffic).

Several reported cases on this. Some of the "experts" on the foolish traffic legal advice forum need to do a bit of reading up on this subject as they consistently get it wrong.

Edited by agtlaw on Friday 18th July 12:25

[chewie2606]

This Police Officer has the right idea......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ffetIbzyK8

[dundarach]

chewie2606 said:

This Police Officer has the right idea......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ffetIbzyK8

Brilliant

[119]

chewie2606 said:

This Police Officer has the right idea......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ffetIbzyK8

fking superb.

[Simpo Two]

Riley Blue said:

Simpo Two said:

Ah got it. Not that rubbernecking is illegal, or photographing accidents, whilst perhaps tasteless, is illegal, but it's a mobile phone while driving offence. Fair enough.

The first sentence in the BBC report reads, "A police force has said it saw 144 drivers using their phones to take pictures and videos of a motorway crash."

Exactly. The thread title implied people had been prosecuted for slowing down to look at the accident.

And they always will, it's human nature.

[Muddle238]

Given how inattentive a lot of drivers are, if the emergency services switched off their forward facing blue lights when on scene, it wouldn't be so obviously to drivers approaching on the opposite carriageway that there was an incident, and I hypothesise that rubbernecking would reduce.

By leaving forward facing blues on, it simply grabs the attention of everyone approaching who then slow down for a good gawk. It actually winds me up, especially when I'm caught in the tailback from rubberneckers ahead.

By all means leave the rear blues or rear reds on to alert traffic approaching on the same carriageway, but nobody else really needs to know.

[TimmyMallett]

I always always always face front and pay attention when there's an accident as you can guarantee most people aren't paying any attention to their surroundings

As if the last 7 mile tailback hasn't added enough of a delay, you now want to drive past doing 10mph for a gawk.

[MadCaptainJack]

Simpo Two said:

The thread title implied people had been prosecuted for slowing down to look at the accident.

They should be. Driving without due credit care and attention. Six points.

Edited by MadCaptainJack on Friday 18th July 16:19

[BertBert]

Credit?

[Terminator X]

I get annoyed at people slowing for accidents on the opposite carriageway, toot of the horn and the coffee bean "shake" out the window normally wakes them up Taking pics though is a whole new level of stupid.

TX.