Safe Speed Forums

Last night (Monday 17th Jan) the BBC screened an episode of Traffic Cops in which a Lotus driver receives a rollocking from a trafpol after nearly losing control on a bend. The driver appeared suitably chastised.
However, through perusing another forum it transpires that the guy wasn't perhaps quite as chastised as he appeared. Far from it if the thread in question is to be believed.
So, I wish to ask this of our resident police oficers:

How often does a driver who's been previously given a 'lecture', re-appear commiting a similar act?

If they don't re-appear, do you believe its because they heeded your advice, or because by sheer weight of numbers, spotting the same guy twice is a long shot.

What happens to those who do re-appear? Are they automatically prosecuted a second time; i.e. do you check when you pull someone over whether they've been given a previous verbal, do you know?

Finally, supposing you discovered that someone you'd given a verbal to had later been bragging about it, declaring that they'd fooled you completely with their metaphorical crocodile tears, could you do anything about it?

Sobering questions indeed.

However, I rather think that it's a big mistake to become too concerned about occasional failures of a safety oriented process. No safety approach delivers on every occasion. If we concentrate on the failures we'll become discouraged and ineffective - we might even abandon a top strategy.

If instead we concentrate on the average outcome, we'll have a far better chance of evaluating success in realistic terms and especially of knowing what to do for the best next time.

My guess is that a scare and a Trafpol lecture is highly effective on at least 7 out of ten occasions. That's a great result and we shouldn't lose sight of it.

I also think that there's a very significant chance that this particular fellow has learned a good lesson, but chooses not to talk about that for reasons of bravado.

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

I think that guy in the lotus is local to me. I have definitely seen an S reg blue lotus been driven by a chap looking roughly like that. He also still drives like a plonker from what I have seen of his driving in the flesh too

Sorry Riggers - saw this last night - was about to reply and we had a power cut! So I went to bed instead!



It is a long shot - as we patrol different areas as well. Sometimes we will target same officers at the same area as this helps get a "feel" for the area and "nose" for criminal activities from gaining more localised knowledge.




Can usually tell from manner if they 've heard it all before somewhere.
Base decision on what is actually seen at the time as well - but if it's clear that the only way chap will learn is by fine and points ... then that's what we'll give.

We just hope they'll take notice. Depends on how the acid lecture is delivered as well. Too much "acid" or shades of arrogance - and they are inclined to drive away muttering that I (or colleague) is an arrogant twerp. Bit like we were at school with headteachers - especially after the visit to the study before afternoon classes.

So I'd say a lot depends on our manner as well. May not have helped by the guy chewing gum at the time. I would never do so if dealing with member of the public as repsect begets respect. The only time I (and colleagues) am likely to "show my muscle" is if they resist arrest, refuse samples and behave like complete tosser.



No - as we have already dealt with it. If they have not learned anything - then in area of fairly high police presence like ours - someone may possibly and eventually pick him up again over something - and deal accordingly.

In a scam infest area - likely he's one who looks for scams and thus never gets pinged - but evenutually turns up in the stats as he may have accident away from scam.


Of course - in an absolutely idea world- we'd have been able to order that driver to go take a couple of refresher lessons - and return to station with proof of completion within a certain period to avoid penalty points.

Just an idea which occurred just now.. Wonder if that could be workable?