Yesterday evening I drove into Orlando. The first part of I-4 is under construction, so there are barriers on both sides of the highway. My hope is that everyone just trucks along in a safe, orderly manner.
A pickup truck started to pass me on the right. Then he almost ran over the car in front of him. No harm, no foul, but he definitely went out of bounds while saving it. I would have had front row seats for that one.
A minute or two later, all I could see in my rear-view mirror was his grille. I was in the 911, so that means little bumpers and tiny tail lights.
Then he passed and, again, nearly ran over the car in front of him--and, again, the save was rather cringe-worthy. It was a commercial vehicle, and the driver didn't appear to be on the phone or anything.
Finally I called highway patrol: Either this guy is really bad at driving or just suicidal, I told the operator. He'd drop back, run up on someone, and scare the hell out of us while saving it.
As I reached Orlando, I saw the truck on the side of the road--no police in sight, though. I'm wondering if the guy was just tweaking on something.
If I see the slightest sign of what I think is drunk driving, I get on the phone. I feel no remorse about doing it. On average, I call on someone a couple of times a year.
The idiots on the phone get a horn blow.
84FSP
HalfDork
10/6/15 7:27 p.m.
I've called before. I watched some Bob Costas pull into a truckstop, park next to me, drain his budlight, and then unlclick his infant pumpkin seat and go inside...
dj06482
SuperDork
10/6/15 7:30 p.m.
I've called on someone who was obviously drunk during the middle of the day. They spent more straddling the double yellow than in their lane, and I followed them for 10 miles 
In reply to Toyman01:
X2 -I do the same.
Once I was on a snowy Chicago tollway and a guy went flying by everyone and cutting around and fish tailing so I called in the car - our emergency is *999 and you get the closest police department after talking to an attendant.
As I was on the phone I told the attendant to cancel the request because he was spun out and smashed into the median and concrete barrier. So I gave them the mile marker and kept going.
Only time I can think of was a couple years back, when we happened upon this pickup truck outside of Richmond on 295. There were a couple of bozos in the back, drunk--that's a given-- indiscriminately lobbing beer bottles onto the road. I dropped back and gave them some room. My wife called 5-0 on her phone.
rusty
New Reader
10/6/15 7:35 p.m.
I have only ever done it once. There was a semi on the interstate who was driving very erratically. We called the number on the back of his rig. The way he was changing lanes was just terrifying.
patgizz
PowerDork
10/6/15 7:42 p.m.
we called on a pretty obviously drunk guy a couple years ago. i was behind him and he was weaving and his reaction time at lights was so bad he almost creamed the car in front of him. the cops caught up to him just as he was pulling into his development and plowed a car in the opposite lane, so my wife had to go in and give a statement on his driving leading up to that point. he ended up being drunk(duh).
I have done it three times.. once while I was being hounded by a guy road raging on me (no idea why, I had literally just merged onto the highway), once on a pickup going into philly where the driver was so drunk their gas and brake were either off or on.. and a last time when a driver on the highway took my mirror off of the door while passing me.. I let off at 95mph and let the police do the work of catching that one.
Funny, now that I think about it... all those incidents were in my old Hyundai Tiburon
As a DE instructor I completely condone the use of a cellphone in this situation. Get on, give the info, and get off. Good job, David.
DrBoost
UltimaDork
10/6/15 7:51 p.m.
I've done it. I figure the cops should get out from behind a bush and do some real work.
There was once a drunk guy on the highway. My roommate at the time was nervous about calling it in because he was worried he'd get tongue tied and say "erotic driver" instead of "erratic driver" At the next exit a state patrol car pulled onto the highway and pulled the guy over. Seems they work efficiently in IL when it comes to that sort of thing.
Coming back from Carlisle a few years ago I was following a semi that was weaving all over the freeway. This was early Sunday morning and there were two other truckers following him. Both were on the CB trying to get him to pull over. He had been driving all night and had to get the load someplace on time.My van has a CB so I heard all this. I just called 911 on my phone and reported the guy. Within 5 minutes a Penn State trooper pulled him over. I felt bad that the guy might get in trouble for a late load, but everybody lived to tell the tale.
I have actually forced a drunk off the road. Then I took his keys and drove him to a hotel. That was before the days of cel phones.
I've had no luck with the CHP. I've reported a few drunks and road ragers over the years, and I've never seen anyone stopped. The latest was the worst. I recently followed a drunk for over 10 miles while on the phone with the CHP in the middle of the day. The drunk had almost caused multiple accidents on a busy freeway, including almost running a double trailer tanker truck off the road (he was able to recover from a pair of badly wagging trailers.) I called out our location for 10 minutes. I even gave a play by play of our approach to a CHP staffed truck scale. There was a car there, but it just sat there.
I had a car in town hit the curb hard enough to damage both wheels and tires. I called the local PD, and followed a few miles, giving updates. The car bounced off the curb the whole time, narrowly missing other cars, sparks flying. It pulled into a residential area, making random turns and going in circles around blocks. I followed, warning other cars with my lights and horn while it ran stop signs. It was like a low speed chase on Cops. The car was driving in the gutter, headed towards a little girl and her dad on a bike. I passed the car and cut it off, figuring it would hit my truck. It didn't, it swung into a driveway instead. The garage door opened- the car pulled halfway inside- it was their house! A middle aged lady got out, and wandered around the driveway. I asked her if she needed help, I couldn't tell if she was drunk or had a medical condition. She said she was having trouble with her car! The police showed up, and that was the last I heard.
I probably call a car in every other month or so. One wasn't a drunk, but a senior citizen that should have the keys taken away years ago. Swerving, hard braking, etc. Sheriff said they couldn't do anything in that case. Wtf? This person almost caused a 20 car pile up from jamming the brakes on a highway ramp.
In reply to Grtechguy:
In this case someone should be required to take a driving test.
I have never called in, and now you guys make me think I should. I was once on some back roads (40 mph speed limits) and in less than 2 miles the lady in front of me drove off the road and corrected 3 times. Like a 2 wheels off the pavement DNF. One of the roads was 4 lane. I was unsure if she was a horrible driver or a drunk.
Sometimes it's hard to tell if drunk or texting.
RossD
UltimaDork
10/7/15 7:18 a.m.
My boss and I were on the interstate behind a box truck that was weaving enough that we were concerned about the people passing him in the fast lane. My boss called 911 and they said a state trooper was two exits down. Sure enough he ran up the on ramp and nabbed the guy/girl/but probably guy.
Duke
MegaDork
10/7/15 7:39 a.m.
Yeah, I've done it a couple times, on people who were obviously impaired, or being aggressive douchebags, or just plain horrifically bad drivers. There's no omerta here and it's not a matter of minding your own business.
Unfortunately our company forbids us to use a company phone while driving or using a personal phone while driving on company business. But we have big old stickers on the back of our vehicles to encourage people to call a number to report our bad driving... while they are driving.
I have called a few times--couple for obvious drunks, and the latest this past weekend for a guy who was standing in the median, raving to himself and lunging at the passing cars. Told the dispatcher he was either super-high or super-psychotic, but bad things were about to happen.
Did once force a car to pull over--a lady I had been following on a road here in town that runs down the river, and at whom I was marveling because her head swiveled side-to-side the whole time (but never ahead).
I saw the dog on the side of the road, but this sightseeing jackass saw nothing, and I watched her hit it in slow motion--couldn't beep, couldn't signal, although there was time, because that would've only distracted her further.
She ran over the dog and hit the brakes, then started to drive off. I went around her, forced her over, and walked over to the window and told her that she was staying right there to talk to the lady who was already running over from the side of the road. You killed her dog. Now you tell her you're sorry.
I felt sorry for the raving lunatic. People like that lady make me scared for the world.
Margie
