Citizen Cops could cost you your job
Dangerous and careless drivers may now think twice about acts such as tail-gating and talking on a mobile phone when on the roads - as it could cost them their job.
When 36 year old cyclist Dave Sherry was approaching the Waterworks Roundabout in Woodford, London (A406) he noticed a flat-bed recovery truck swaying in the lane ahead. As he cycled up next to him, Mr. Sherry, from Harlow, Essex, saw that the driver was on the phone, which explained the unusual driving.
The video can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-NAqt7l4wg
Mr. Sherry is one of thousands of cyclists and motorists who now have a recording device in-car or on their helmet and are reporting incidents of careless and dangerous driving to PoliceWitness.com
On this occasion the police took no further action against the driver. In a shock turn of events, however, his employer did. Writing to Mr. Sherry, the manager of the recovery firm said “this behaviour is totally unacceptable and this driver has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect” .
Mr Sherry adds: “I decided to purchase a camera for my helmet as I have been involved in incidents ranging from the very minor such as cars passing too close, to a vicious attack where I was punched to the ground by a road rage fuelled motorist.” (The latter which can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3p08kixCUs)
This case of dismissal is by no means unique – last year Matt Stockdale (who is Chairman of PoliceWitness) videoed a bin lorry driver driving while on his mobile phone last year during the school run. His employer, Northampton Borough Council, dismissed the driver when shown the footage.
Matt Stockdale says: “It is not about PoliceWitness members becoming vigilantes or taking the law into their own hands, but simply about helping to keep our roads safer for all of us during these times of austerity. We all feel that dangerous drivers should be held accountable for their actions, and this is one way to ensure that these people think twice about breaking the law – when a professional driver gets behind the wheel of a liveried vehicle and subsequently breaks the law or is discourteous towards other motorists, their employers are the first to hear about it. The dismissal of this recovery truck driver sends a powerful message to those who choose to put other people’s lives at risk by using a mobile phone”.
For further information, log on to www.policewitness.com.
ENDS
Matt Stockdale, Chairman of PoliceWitness.com is available for comment / interview. Please call 01908 44 00 77 or email: stockdalem@policewitness.com
About PoliceWitness:
PoliceWitness.com provides “dash-cams” that enable motorists to record incidents on the road and involving their vehicle. Footage can be uploaded to the PoliceWitness website who will then forward it on to the relevant Police authority or your insurer, depending on the incident.
PoliceWitness.com has extensive knowledge of both frontline and strategic policing, and the operation of the Crown Prosecution Service. Through its contacts with the police, PoliceWitness.com facilitates the consideration of ‘prosecution quality’ video evidence supplied directly from the public, reporting road related incidents in a format the police and CPS recognise and can act upon. Reports are submitted directly to a specifically assigned officer, thus by-passing the control centre who are then free to process more urgent requests for assistance.
This proactive approach to true ‘public’ policing offers a standardised, commercial methodology across all forces, saving our police forces huge amounts of resource and planning. Whilst providing this service, PoliceWitness.com is able to identify countrywide public perceptions, and more importantly expectations, with regard to road related offences and the service provided by the authorities.
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