I have what I think is a pretty good idea. But I bring it before this distinguished forum to have it shot full of holes and left for dead. This idea came to me today as I was driving on the highways of Israel. Perhaps it would not be applicable in countries like the U.S. where all drivers are safe and courteous.
The idea is to create a call registry where dangerous drivers can be quickly and easily reported by anyone. The problem is that reckless drivers seem to move with relative impunity until they see a squad car. Perhaps the random nature of the presence of police vehicles works out in the end to punish these offenders, but my idea would make it prudent to always be a safe driver.
A call line would be established (easily accessible by dialing *5555 or the like) where the offending driver’s license plate can then be entered. Perhaps a code could also be given to list the offense (1 – reckless driving; 2 – suspected drunk driving; etc.).
Now the trick to make this work is the use of computer technology to collate the calls to determine 1) if a driver is reported multiple times within a short time frame; 2) if a caller has a record of reliability. Thus if a driver gets 5 calls within 5 minutes reporting him of suspected drunk driving, then that report would be deemed more credible. (Multiple calls from the same phone number would be disregarded.) Each caller for that report would receive a higher credibility rating because their report was confirmed by others. This would help to discourage prank calls or dishonest reports. I think it would work best in catching those drivers who are speeding through traffic, cutting multiple people off, and just being a general hazard.
Offenders could be sent a warning the first time, alerting them to the fact that their driving habits are being observed by everybody. Future offenses could result in appropriate fines or worse. The goal of course is not increased revenue, but safer roads by reducing the most dangerous driving practices.
It could be argued that reporting an incident by phone could create an additional hazard, but many people have hands-free phones and there’s no reason that the call center couldn’t take voice input for the license number, just as banks do on calls today.
Do you think you’d actually be able to see his/her license plate, call the hotline, enter in the (now forgotten plate number) and drive safely through the dangerous traffic all at once?
I’ve thought of this problem many times driving through Jerusalem and doing all I could to keep my Christianity. I think a stricter system is what is needed: 2000 shekel fine the first time you speed/weave in and out of traffic, 4000 shekel fine and a one month suspension of your license for the second offense, and if you do it a third time, you lose your license for a year.
I know I’d drive slower and more cautiously if I knew that was awaiting me if I got caught. I’ll bet the guy that got caned in Syngapore a few years back would think twice about spray painting a car the next time he visits the country.
Benj
The worst drivers ever are on the streets of Little Rock, Arkansas. I kid you not. Since you are moving closer to that part of the world, I must warn you, they probably have many relatives in Texas.
We actually do have fines here for bad driving, but it doesn’t stop many people (unfortunately, neither do the authorities). The worst, though?–Christians who brag about how many times they have gotten off with a warning and didn’t get a ticket.
I concur with Aimee. We’re new to Little Rock but we quickly realized two things- they talk slow and they drive fast. The Arkansans probably do have many relatives in Texas, but they’re much more refined I think; always obeying the law, never weaving in and out of traffic, etc.
Todd,
Great idea, but it would be doomed to failure. Not because it’s a bad idea, but because it would be used by a bad system, that is the government. Here in Oregon, they can’t even (well wont) check to see if you are even in the country legally before they give you a driver’s licence. All you have to do is pass the test. The DOT even recieved federal money to impliment a background check computer system. We still don’t have it and the money dissapeared. I doubt the DOT could figure out a complicated system you have described. In fact, a city here in Oregon is the plantiff in a lawsuit over red-light cameras taking random pictures of perfectly law-abiding citizens. And yet the system is being put into use all over Oregon. Go figure.
Benj – I don’t think that stiffer fines are the solution. In fact, I think that all fines should be returned to the people, so that there is zero financial incentive for the government in this area.
Bob – I agree that government seems to ruin everything it touches, but I was thinking that this could be developed by an independent company and then contracted with the government. Certainly government involvement is necessary on the enforcement end, but they wouldn’t have to be involved in the software aspect of it, as long as there is other responsible oversight.
i like the idea…i often want to call them in but not at the expense of tying up 911…an independent contractor sounds great! and if you didn’t have to wait on hold i might even be able to remember the license plate no.
Hey, there’s only one way to see if it works. I say we should try it.