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Website names and shames bad drivers
10:22am Monday 16th June 2008
MORE than 100 drivers in Swindon have appeared in the Hall of Shame on a dangerous driving website.
The website Better Driving Please was set up in order to give power back to people who feel the police cannot deter motorists.
Site founder Andrew McGavin, of Burford, Oxfordshire, said: "It's about getting the public saying I'm not prepared to have a person following me with a mobile phone at five feet from my bumper.' "Our lives are being endangered by other people and it's time to strike back - we're not prepared to take it any more."
On the website 114 drivers have been pinpointed for dangerous driving around Swindon and another 49 for causing a nuisance on the roads in Wootton Bassett.
Drivers on the site face a public reprimand when their number plates are displayed on the web along with a description of their actions.
At present the police are not involved in the scheme, but Andrew is compiling a list of continual offenders and will soon be talking about the issue to the police.
So far the website has had more than 13,000 reports.
One driver, logging on to the site as Andynewell, reported: "BMW parked on pavement and double yellow lines in Rodbourne Road, he pulled out suddenly without indicating as I was about to pass.
"Braked to avoid and blew horn. He stopped in middle of road and showed V sign."
The reports are given traffic light ratings depending on how serious they are, with red for the most dangerous driving offences, amber for careless motoring and green for sensible drivers.
In Swindon there are 53 red and 61 amber reports, but no reports of good drivers.
The highest number of offenders highlighted on the website are mobile phone users.
Last November Advertiser photographers snapped drivers flouting the law and putting lives at risk by using their phones at the wheel.
Other offences reported to Better Driving Please included using illegal number plates, which Andrew said led people to believe they were above the law as speed cameras cannot catch them.
Andrew came up with the idea after realising how many people were affected by bad driving. "I don't like being bullied and I think that the more you drive around, the more people try to bully you," he said.
According to the DVLA there are two million cars on the road that are not taxed or insured.
Andrew said the scheme had already attracted support from the former Commissioner of Metropolitan Police, Lord Paul Condon.
He added: "There's a perception that you report to the police and nothing happens, and apathy has set in.
"We're simply saying that when you are involved in a near miss and you say how the hell did that person get away with it?' but you cannot face going to the police station, report it on the site."
Visiting the website is free, but to be a verified member will cost £1.
To check if your vehicle features on the website visit www.betterdrivingplease.com.
Is your number plate on this website? Let the advertiser know by calling the newsroom on 01793 501797.
Your Say YourSwindon
Grumpy old man, Swindon says...
10:39am Mon 16 Jun 08
John B, Swindon says...
10:42am Mon 16 Jun 08
go one mile down the road without seeing 2 or 3 people on their mobiles well driving.
Frontier(s), says...
11:04am Mon 16 Jun 08
This is so open to abuse that it's completely unworkable.
DarkAuror, Swindon says...
11:04am Mon 16 Jun 08
If this is a website about bad/inconsiderate driving then there would be no "Green" ratings would there?
LA, says...
11:13am Mon 16 Jun 08
Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon says...
11:26am Mon 16 Jun 08
docklander, swindon says...
11:31am Mon 16 Jun 08
me here, somewhere says...
11:38am Mon 16 Jun 08
ate drivers from time to time, but when driving my priority is to avoid making the situation any more dangerous - not mentally noting incidents and numberplates - he really is looking for problems.
eminencegris, swindon says...
11:51am Mon 16 Jun 08
But not quite.
***THESTIG***, Swindon says...
11:54am Mon 16 Jun 08
Grumpy, Swindon says...
11:57am Mon 16 Jun 08
I'm with Grumpy old man (no relation) on this one. It's all a bit of a joke.
Frontier(s), says...
12:04pm Mon 16 Jun 08
I'm bored and fancy opening an account at this supercilious little website.
Grumpy, Swindon says...
12:12pm Mon 16 Jun 08
Imagine being married to someone like that - think of the criticism you'd get ferrying her around the town!
I'll think I'll report her for writing whilst driving.
Ceejay85, Swindon says...
12:19pm Mon 16 Jun 08
mkeen61267, Swindon says...
12:20pm Mon 16 Jun 08
Claire, Swindon says...
12:28pm Mon 16 Jun 08
Gentle Ben, swindon says...
12:55pm Mon 16 Jun 08
John B, Swindon says...
12:57pm Mon 16 Jun 08
and video's everything hands free
TheBluesBrother, Swindon says...
1:11pm Mon 16 Jun 08
crosspatch, Swindon, Wilts UK says...
1:29pm Mon 16 Jun 08
Surely this site is illegal? Unverified, unproven accusations of wrongdoing/illegal activities, displayed for all to see! Whatever happened to 'innocent until proven guilty'? If the adver were to publish an accusation against an individual, with no verification and no proff, they would be liable to investigation by the PCC, if not the police. Why should this website not be subject to the same scutiny. I have witnessed plenty of incidents of poor, dangerous or illegal driving, but if I reported any of them to anybody it would be the police, not a website like this!!
Miond you on the one occasion I did phone the police about an incident where a driver was so busy chatting on his mobile that he drove over the centre of a raised roundabout, the police refused to take a report over the phone and insisted that of I wanted to report it I would have to go to Gablecross. sure I will cart the whole way across town on two buses to report something like that. So maybe I can understand the frustration behind the formation of the site .......
AEG, Swindon says...
1:33pm Mon 16 Jun 08
Maybe she should be asking why so many other drivers are out to get her?
Is this really a story adver???
MPS, Swindon says...
2:50pm Mon 16 Jun 08
Frontier(s), says...
3:01pm Mon 16 Jun 08
As I was a passenger I rang the police to report him. They dilligently took all of my details and asked about the other car/driver.
I was able to supply the car model, make, colour and registration.
We were then highly impressed to see a police traffic cop car enter at the next juntion and follow the driver - who continued to drive extremely dangerously and then, to top it all, pulled over onto the hard shoulder and too a leak in full view of everyone.
What did the cop do?
He drove straight past! We literally could not believe our eyes and so slowed down to follow the cop to see if he was going to stop and wait for the driver.
He didn't, he just carried on down the motorway.
We later saw the same driver speed past us onto his destination.
How the police didn't even speak to this guy I will never know. Utterly ridiculous.
BUT, none of that excuses this ludicrous snooper's website.
Harry Potter, Swindon says...
3:31pm Mon 16 Jun 08
Swindon Resident, Swindon, Wiltshire says...
3:37pm Mon 16 Jun 08
I don't profess to be a perfect driver (who is?!), but every in Swindon day I see countless drivers failing to use indicators (especially on roundabouts), using mobile phones when driving, not adhering to speed limits, fog lights in no fog, faulty headlights and/brake lights, aggressive driving - to name just a few!
Come on drivers of Swindon - at least try and make it a safer place for us all...
Ade, WB says...
3:37pm Mon 16 Jun 08
Ade, WB says...
3:38pm Mon 16 Jun 08
john c, swindon says...
3:39pm Mon 16 Jun 08
I doubt that the police bother to check it as they have better things to do but who is to say that the insurance companies do not check it before sending out your renewal quote.
How long until the first law suit for defamation of character, I wonder if you could do that on no win no fee.
Bobsyouruncle, Swindon says...
4:49pm Mon 16 Jun 08
Harry Potter, Swindon says...
5:46pm Mon 16 Jun 08
Bobsyouruncle wrote:Just get a BMW & you'll become an annoying tw@t overnight. No problem!
I'm gutted my reg isn't on here! I was really hoping I'd annoyed at least a few people.
Trausermusik, Covingham says...
6:32pm Mon 16 Jun 08
After sentencing they should be put in a cage on the back of a lorry with a sign round theyre neck stating the crime and then paraded round the town, then everyone can see what idiots the are
sj_86, Wootton Bassett says...
7:04pm Mon 16 Jun 08
Home Boy, Swindon says...
10:00pm Mon 16 Jun 08
Harry Potter wrote:95%? Amazing! What about the drivers of Mercs, Audis, Jags and all the other makes you're jealous of other people owning? My Rover was cut up by a Toyota Prius today, shock horror! Maybe I should make a sweeping unfounded statement about drivers of hybrid cars too!
If only this website could lead to some action being taken. There are some horribly ignorant drivers in Swindon (95% of them drive BMW's) that I would love to see punished for the way they drive and park.
Captain Sensible, Near Swindon says...
10:11pm Mon 16 Jun 08
Gargoyle, driving safely says...
12:16am Tue 17 Jun 08
Frontier(s), says...
8:36am Tue 17 Jun 08
I have no doubt it'd make for a hilarious read. I'd honestly love to see what such an inane busybody has to say for herself.
No doubt she operates under the massive delusion that she's actually doing something positive.
Ade, WB says...
11:16am Tue 17 Jun 08
Oldtown2007, Swindon says...
10:07pm Tue 17 Jun 08
Grumpy old man wrote:Your quite right Grumpy old man.
Frankly The second my number plate gets on there (not that it should) I'll be asking them to remove it and if they don't I'll be suing them for libel.
I'm not "expert" on law but understand that to successfully bring a case for libel to court you only need to show 3 things. 1. That the comments written about you defamatory 2. the comments are understood to be about the claimant by at least 1 other person and 3. that the comments have been published and available for any third party to view.
It would seem that they are on very thin ice and from their FAQ section it would seem that they believe that they are safe as long as names and addresses are not mentioned.
If you have a home insurance policy then depending on the policy it's legal expenses section may pick up the cost of bringing a case, especially if there was a good chance that you would win.
By the way, you do not have to prove that you have suffered a loss to bring about a libel case.
Thinking about it, if the Police were ever to follow any of these reports up then they would be the "other person" and could actually help you bring about a case!
Oldtown2007, Swindon says...
10:07pm Tue 17 Jun 08
Grumpy old man wrote:Your quite right Grumpy old man.
Frankly The second my number plate gets on there (not that it should) I'll be asking them to remove it and if they don't I'll be suing them for libel.
I'm not "expert" on law but understand that to successfully bring a case for libel to court you only need to show 3 things. 1. That the comments written about you defamatory 2. the comments are understood to be about the claimant by at least 1 other person and 3. that the comments have been published and available for any third party to view.
It would seem that they are on very thin ice and from their FAQ section it would seem that they believe that they are safe as long as names and addresses are not mentioned.
If you have a home insurance policy then depending on the policy it's legal expenses section may pick up the cost of bringing a case, especially if there was a good chance that you would win.
By the way, you do not have to prove that you have suffered a loss to bring about a libel case.
Thinking about it, if the Police were ever to follow any of these reports up then they would be the "other person" and could actually help you bring about a case!
Your sayYourSwindon
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Peeved, Swindon says...
10:35am Mon 16 Jun 08