Website targets bad driving (From Witney Gazette)

Website targets bad driving

9:00am Wednesday 4th October 2006 in Witney By Phil Vinter

MOTORISTS can name and shame bad drivers on a West Oxfordshire man's new website.

Drivers and pedestrians can strike back with reports to www.betterdrivingplease.com of any bad driving they spot - complete with the errant motorists' licence plate number, in the latest example of cyber-policing.

Andrew McGavin, who lives near Burford, hopes the new website will make Britain's roads safer for both drivers and pedestrians.

It is all rated on a traffic light system, with the worst type of offence getting a red light, and a more minor - but still serious - incident receiving an amber light.

Particularly good or courteous driving can also be reported on the site, and is given a green light rating.

The site's home page states: "It's a jungle out there, thousands of speed cameras, but hundreds of thousands of relatively un-policed road-miles.

"People decide they are not going to go to a police station to report an incident of bad driving, and that's a real shame."

Andrew McGavin

"Time for us road users, pedestrians, and drivers to report abuses we all see everyday but, few report."

Mr McGavin said he came up with the idea for the free site when he attended a local meeting about speeding and dangerous driving in villages.

He said: "In rural villages, there are 30mph speed limits, but people race through at 40mph or 50mph. If a kid steps out, they are dead.

"I came out of the meeting thinking there is a problem here, there is a need, and that's where the idea came from."

Although it only went live a month ago, the site has already built up a bank of 650 members, and contains 193 reports.

Mr McGavin added: "When we are out driving, we think how can they get away with that? But the problem is there are no police officers around.

"People decide they are not going to go to a police station to report an incident of bad driving, and that's a real shame."

People using the site can also either search through the database of reports or type in a specific number plate to see if anyone else has witnessed an incident of bad driving by that vehicle before.

The site does not identify drivers or give a description of vehicles reported.

Mr McGavin said: "What we are looking for here is to change the culture. We all drive around in our little bubbles, not realising we are in a killing machine.

"I am not saying it is a perfect system, but speed cameras are not perfect. The police have given us encouragement. They have said it may provide information, but it may also reduce physical rage as well, because it is an outlet."

Mr McGavin says he does not envisage the site being abused by people putting on false accusations, because members have to give their e-mail address when they join and their Internet Protocol details are logged.

Thames Valley Police refused to comment last week, but Paul Watters, the head of roads and transport police at the AA Motoring Trust, said: "We don't like things like this.

"We don't think they will be used legitimately. If it is not strictly controlled, it will just be a fun website, rather than a serious one.

"Let's leave bad driving to the police and the authorities. People's interpretations of things are very different.

"Someone may do something that seems wrong, but it has to be weighed up with all the evidence, and that is why the police are needed.

"With regard to it acting as an outlet for people to vent their anger, are drivers really going to rem ember a numberplate in a tense situation?"