Reply to: 'Crash for cash' scam man jailed

[ASB]

Apparently the laws of road kill are:
1. If you hit it you can't claim it
2. If you are immediately behind the vehicle who hit, you can claim it.

I think that is only the case where it is an animal that would require a licence, mainly game. However there is also the question of ownership, thus wild pheasant ok for somebody other than who killed it to claim, but if it was "owned" and had simply strayed then even car 2 would be poaching should they claim it.

[Sysman]

One of my plan Bs does a roaring trade in constantly videoing cameras built into cars, so that people who like nice cars can protect their NCB.

These come with 6 video cameras recording a 360° view.

I once had a chap trying to cause a crash with me. He tried about 4 times, but that was in the days when I was regularly driving in Paris, so he stood no chance.

[SueEllen]

Curiously as I went past the estate shop on my way home that night they were advertising fresh venison (I'm sure it wasn't the same one but I did think it funny).

Apparently the laws of road kill are:
1. If you hit it you can't claim it
2. If you are immediately behind the vehicle who hit, you can claim it.

[ASB]

I can also recommend not hitting a deer. Dad smacked one and did the rad in. That was in a '79 pontiac - a large car. In our current smaller car I imagine it would take the front of the car off!

On the deer subject. I was driving to work one morning and came across a battered allegro in a ditch. I checked it out, got the people out and they mentioned they had just hit a deer (they stray from the local estate). Anyway said deer was decidedly dead but apart from a little blood on it's nose looked fine. I rang the estate office to tell them they might want to pick it up.

Curiously as I went past the estate shop on my way home that night they were advertising fresh venison (I'm sure it wasn't the same one but I did think it funny).

[centurian]

I can also recommend not hitting a deer. Dad smacked one and did the rad in. That was in a '79 pontiac - a large car. In our current smaller car I imagine it would take the front of the car off!

Presumably this BMW driver wouldn't recommend it either

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed...z4-convertible

Assuming it's not a fake...

[lilelvis2000]

Deer are not cattle. You are on the right track, but it's not as clear cut as you suggest. Where it is an animal as defined by the RTA just make the incident reportable. Equally the owner of the animal is responsible for it's conduct.

What action you choose - e.g. mowing it down be it squirrel or dog - should be dictated by overall road conditions and safety of others. Though I can thoroughly recommend not hitting a cow under any circumstances.

I can also recommend not hitting a deer. Dad smacked one and did the rad in. That was in a '79 pontiac - a large car. In our current smaller car I imagine it would take the front of the car off!

[centurian]

Road Traffic Act 1988: “animal” means horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat or dog.

Are deer cattle? I think they are.

Anyways, you don't stop for cats, or squirrels, or leaves blowing in the wind.

If you're referring to section 170 of the Act, this refers to a drivers duty to stop to report an accident, after you've already hit it - not whether you should stop to prevent yourself from hitting it in the first place.

So that doesn't really answer my question - is there a law that prevents a driver from bringing their car to a stop if there is an obstruction in the road?

[ASB]

Road Traffic Act 1988: “animal” means horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat or dog.

Are deer cattle? I think they are.

Anyways, you don't stop for cats, or squirrels, or leaves blowing in the wind.

HTH

Deer are not cattle. You are on the right track, but it's not as clear cut as you suggest. Where it is an animal as defined by the RTA just make the incident reportable. Equally the owner of the animal is responsible for it's conduct.

What action you choose - e.g. mowing it down be it squirrel or dog - should be dictated by overall road conditions and safety of others. Though I can thoroughly recommend not hitting a cow under any circumstances.

[threaded]

Where does it say that you are not allowed to brake suddenly for an obstruction in the road. What about a large deer - they're wild and not licensed.

Not saying you're wrong, just that there are a lot of myths and urban legends and trying to sort out the fact from fiction.

Road Traffic Act 1988: “animal” means horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat or dog.

Are deer cattle? I think they are.

Anyways, you don't stop for cats, or squirrels, or leaves blowing in the wind.

HTH

[centurian]

The story on the BBC made me LOL, chummy's MO was so streamlined he even wore the same clothes each time, eww.

Yes, which makes me wonder how many other scammers are out there - that actually have a few more brain cells and have gone undetected for years.

[centurian]

You are allowed to brake suddenly for a licensed animal, you're not for a cat, for example.

I don't make the rules, they are what they are.

Where does it say that you are not allowed to brake suddenly for an obstruction in the road. What about a large deer - they're wild and not licensed.

Not saying you're wrong, just that there are a lot of myths and urban legends and trying to sort out the fact from fiction.

[threaded]

Maybe it was ...

It is a very old scam. I've known about it since my first driving experiences in a nice car. I've developed a sixth sense for it now. But particularly English, not noticed it so much in other countries.

[dang65]

I thought that if you go into the back of someone, it is always your fault.

The argument being that either you were travelling too close, too fast, or not paying sufficient attention. The person in front has the right to brake suddenly and drivers should always allow for this.

I hate that rule from personal experience, and I do wonder how many of these scammers would be caught if it was just questioned from time to time. The only crash I've ever had involved the roundabout scenario, though I don't think the guy was a scammer, just a really dodgy driver. He pulled on to the roundabout and I followed him, checking traffic to my right as I did so ...and then he stopped, for no reason at all. A cop car happened to come along and I tried to flag them down as witnesses but they just gave me a filthy look and drove on.

The "you-drove-into-them-so-it's-your-fault" rule was completely incontestable. My own insurers had absolutely no interest in my point of view. They certainly never asked, "Do you think it might have been a scammer?" Coincidentally, my incident happened about 4 miles down the road from this guy in the news, but it was an old geezer driving the car I hit. Maybe it was his dad.

[threaded]

Why is it their fault depending on the type of animal. If you are paying attention and maintain a safe distance and speed, you'll never hit them, no matter where/when/how hard they brake.

Of couse, most people travel much closer than the recommended 2 second gap and spends most of their journey on virtual autopilot daydreaming, but that's still their fault.

You are allowed to brake suddenly for a licensed animal, you're not for a cat, for example.

I don't make the rules, they are what they are.

HTH

[centurian]

If they braked for a licensed animal, i.e. a dog, a cow, etc., then it is your fault if you rear end them. If they brake for a cat, or a squirrel, etc. then it is their fault.

Why is it their fault depending on the type of animal. They've seen an obstruction in the road ahead and execute an emergency stop - as they must surely be entitled to do. If you are paying attention and maintain a safe distance and speed, you'll never hit them, no matter where/when/how hard they brake.

Of couse, most people travel much closer than the recommended 2 second gap and spends most of their journey on virtual autopilot daydreaming, but that's still their fault.