I probably call 911 3-4 times a year while driving. Usually to report a drunk driver–like the guy is weaving all over the damn road kinda drunk driving. Sometimes, it’s for other reasons–a mattress (apparently blown off a truck or something) in one of the lanes–once, it actually was for cows running loose. I live in a rural area, and sometimes after a storm, a fence will be down, and there are cattle wandering the highway. That’s a really dangerous thing. Hitting a cow at highway speeds will total a car, and won’t do the cow any good, either. Also called in to report loose cargo on a passing train. Was stopped at the crossing, noticed on of the tie-down straps on a flatbed car had broken, and looked like the cargo was starting to shift a bit.
Sorry, missed the edit window. You have gone from a deranged man waiving a pistol to a 2000 lb bull to a rabid dog. When you finally drop to a stray kitten without a collar we’ll have an accurate comparison.
Sorry, that probably isn’t fair… a driver changing lanes has the potential to kill someone and a stray kitten probably doesn’t. How about if we change it to a “rapidly eaten ham sandwich?”
I just called 1-800-EAT-SHIT and it was a phone sex line.
In Florida its *FHP on your cell to report dangerous drivers. I think I’ve seen other states with similar programs *GSP for Georgia, #77 for NJ…
later, Tom.
As long as you’re not in the left (passing) lane, knock yourself out doing 60. In Illinois, it’s illegal (though I don’t know how well enforced) to use the left lane without passing.
I still cannot comprehend there are posters who feel that Tailgateing at high speed and talking on a cellular phone at high speeds is not a dangerous activeity, these are the things that caues accidents on the freeway, as is eratic driving and improper lane changes. There are numerous reports of chain reaction collisons caused by vehicles that follow too closely in low visibility conditions, and following too cloe even under good visibility conditions means the driver who is too close to the vehicle in front of them has a limited view of the road ahead.
Have you never been in line of traffic on the freeway when a driver in the parralel lanes makes an abrupt lane change and all the vehicles have to apply thei brakes , this is one cause of chain reaction collisions.As I have previously stated I was told that I should call 911 and tell the operator that “this is not an emergency,” at that point the operator asks 'what are you reporting." They then ask the usual questions and relay the info to the proper jurisdiction,wherther it be the local police or the state troopers in the area. On the freeways it is generally the troopers who respond to 911 calls, such as unsafe drivers or debis in the roads or pedestians on the freeway, " an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." I find it strange that so many posters find me at fault for trying to be a good citizen and doing the right thing.
Maybe we should all call 911 on our hands-free device whenever we start the car and hang up when we reach our destination, reporting all the various infractions we see along the way.
Reporting traffic infractions is dumb. It’s an isolated incident. Chances are a bull roaming the streets will still be roaming the streets when the cops show up.
You really think a loony with a gun, or a wild bull set loose pose as great of an immediate danger to people as an illegal lane change?
I guess wanting others’ thoughts and accepting them are two very different things.
The most distracted driving I ever did was when I had three preschool aged children. The screaming! The tantrums! The touching! I had to learn to tune them out for my own sanity.
Let’s see…
It seems to me that most, of not all, posters agree those are potentially dangerous activities. What people are saying is, that reporting every incident might not be the best practice.
Yes, and no. To nitpick somewhat; while following too close is the main reason for rear end collisions, it’s due to limited reaction time, not visibility of the road.
No, I have not. And yes, it might be the cause, but it wouldn’t be a chain collision if everyone else was driving properly.
The problem is; you give the impression you’re reporting minor infractions for no other reason than the potential danger they represent. It’s like calling the poison control center because there’s an open pill bottle in the same room as a small child. Nobody is in immediate danger, nobody is hurt… but yet you feel the need to report the incident… because *if *the situation was different, it *might *be dangerous. It just sounds stupid to people.
Furthermore, when you call 911, there’s only so much manpower available, and as long as the operator is talking to you, he’s not talking to someone else who might need actual help. Five minutes might cost someone their life. The same applies if they dispatch officers to respond, they could be doing something more worthwhile than chasing after some guy who might be a safe driver but just made one little mistake.
Also, any one person can make a mistake (and we all do, constantly, even you)… in order for that mistake to turn into an accident at least one other person has to make a mistake at the same time. Improper lane change is not a problem unless the guy behind happens to be driving too close. In fact by driving defensively, you can actually save lives of the people behind you. That’s what you should be focusing on, not wasting resources on might be accidents.
Now, if you see someone who’s obviously a danger to everyone around, by all means call 911. Do what…Oakminster does; if there’s a clear danger that needs to be taken care of, be a good citizen and report it. Someone forgets to signal… not an emergency. Someone driving too close… let them pass you, don’t call the cops. Someone driving erratically continuously, or is clearly under the influence, dial away… those are the dangerous ones.
I would call 911 and get put on hold, because you’re hogging the line.
nadahappycamper,
Who’s reporting you for being distracted while trying to get the license plate numbers and the make and model numbers of the cars you feel compelled to report?
If you’re going 60 you’re dangerous to the rest of us if you’re distracted.
Maybe some of those erratic drivers you see are busy reporting other cars who are driving unsafely because they’re reporting other cars and so on and so on.
How about driving defensively instead of hall monitoring?
*“911, what is the nature of your emergency?”
“Hello? I just called to report that… that… I’m psychic!”*
I used to be a 999 operator (British equivalent of 911) and also worked police dispatch, so I can answer some of the original post.
Generally there will almost never be a result from this. If I were taking the emergency call, I would be likely to advise the caller about the appropriate use of the emergency number. Yes tailgating can be dangerous, but it does not constitute an emergency. Now if you see a car being driven the wrong way up the freeway, that’s an emergency. Someone’s life is at risk. If you see someone doing 90 through a 30 zone, weaving in and out of traffic and zipping through red lights, that’s an emergency. Using a cellphone? No. It slightly increases the chance of an accident, and if a cop sees you they will pull you over, but it doesn’t warrant an emergency response.
When in doubt ask yourself this: does this justify one or more emergency vehicles putting on their lights and sirens and driving at high speeds down busy roads to get here? The high-speed driving involved in an emergency response is dangerous in itself - they go through red lights and they go at speed. Emergency drivers are highly trained, but other drives on the roads are not. Someone pulls out (or steps out) in front of a police car going at speed and you’ve got a serious accident on your hands. I would not risk one of my officers in that way for someone driving whilst using a cellphone - I would be creating more of a risk. Add to that the slim chances of the cop finding the offending driver (who presumably is moving the whole time) and them still being committing the offense at the time…
The most that is likely to happen is that observations would be given out over the radio - a brief description of the vehicle and the license number - in case anyone came across it later. If it appeared to be a bit more serious (such as the drunk driving example) we might get some traffic patrols to drive around the area, but again they are rarely found. We can check the license number on the computers to check it isn’t reported stolen and to get the owner’s details, but unless we see them committing the offense there’s nothing to be done.
I have never seen a person caught as a result of this type of call, and over here if you persisted in misusing the emergency number you could be fined and your cell phone could be blocked.
I’m with WhyBird on this.
You’re abusing what should be an ‘emergency’ number. Moving violations, like illegal lane changes, and distracted driving, while irritating, are not emergencies. Ever.
I’m glad you don’t live near me, I’d be pissed if I couldn’t get through, when my gran was having heart failure, because you saw an illegal lane change.
I am shocked you haven’t been scolded, by those answering your calls, for misuse of an emergency system. You would be, I’m pretty sure, hereabouts.
Do everyone a favour, look up the non emergency police number and use that in future, please.
Then you can play hall monitor all the live long day and none of us will give a care. Do not tie up needed emergency systems for such nonsense. It is far more reckless and life endangering, to tie up an emergency number, than an illegal lane change or some other moving violation could ever be.
NadaHappyCamper, you really need to use better common sense before placing these calls.
Think a few steps ahead and envision what the end result of your call will be. Someone makes a dangerous move in their car and you call in their vehicle and plates. Now a 911 operator is supposed to call and have a trooper immediately dispatched to the area in an attempt to 1) Find that same vehicle, 2) Pull them over and accuse them of doing something illegal that they didn’t even see?
Then the person says “No, I didn’t.” Then what? They get you, the cop, and the bad driver in front of some judge so you and the driver can go back and forth “Did not! Did too! Did not! Did too!” All over a $50 traffic violation?
Is this your idea of the ideal scenario?
Is that what you think cops should be spending their time doing? Being dispatched to 911 call-ins of bad drivers?
Pease re-read Swallowed My Cellphone’s proper use of 911.
I’d hate for a real emergency caller to get a busy signal because people like you are tying up the lines.
No, we find you at fault for needlessly tying up precious resources that may be more needed by other good citizens and for doing the wrong thing.
What everyone else said.
Have you forgotten the most dangerous thing you’re doing is getting into a car and driving in the first place? It’s dangerous to drive a car. Car accidents are common. Near-misses are so much more than common they are UNCOUNTABLE. You’re putting your life and the lives of others at risk every time you get behind the wheel.
I really hope you only drive twice a year. After all, you’re placing yourself inside a large metal object and hurtling yourself down the road at 60mph! How do you manage it? Maybe you should become a volunteer 911 operator, that way you can call yourself and stop tying up a line for a real emergency.
Oregon Sunshine I asked for the thoughts of other posters ,and have read the thoughts posted, I accept that most of the posters don’t agree with the way that I feel. A car is nothing more than a 2000 +/- guided missile, and when someone who is multi tasking and following so close behind me that I can see them talking on a cellular phone, at freeway speeds no less, than I feel that driver is putting my life at risk, When a driver makes an improper lane change again at freeway speeds, without proper signal or the proper amount of space again I feel that driver is putting my life in danger.
I have stated several times, that I have asked who to call in these situations and been told by the police dept. to call 911 and tell the operator “its not an emergency.”
I am supposeing that an ounce of prevention , is worth a pound of cure doesn’t mean a whole lot in these times, at least judging by the way so many people drive i.e. Damn the torpedoes full speed ahead; whoever gets there first gets all the cookies and milk. Doesn’t any of the posters who think I am a fuddy duddy, to be kind , think that if I prevent one serious accident by placing these calls that its a good thing? Its not like I am driving down the road looking for trouble, I didn’t mean to give the impression that I call 911 everytime someone curses at me or flips me the bird for not exceeding the speed limit so they inturn can go faster. I don’t do that, what I do is try to move right so that driver can be on their merry way, What I do is when the driver jacks thei vehicle in another lane and then cuts back in front of me in a dangerous fashion is try to get the lic. number, and discriptoin of the vehicle, and report it to the proper authorities, in the hopes that somewhere down the line that driver can be given a time out. Perhaps to cool down a litte or contemplate the ramifacations of what they have done. Maybe ,just maybe this will prevent a more serious incident or accident.