Tyre Slasher

[4getmenot]

A mystery vigilante is punishing drivers who talk on their mobile phones while driving � by slashing their tyres.

http://www.thenews.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?Sec tionID=455&ArticleID=1692370

What are people views on this?

[Oneeyedvic]

I listened to a victim of this yesterday on 5Live - she maintained that she did not own a mobile and although her husband did, he only drove his van.

The trouble is with vigilantes is that they don't really care - they act as judge, jury and executioner.

I have driven whilst talking on my mobile (and at speed) - but it was to my sister in law at the time as my brother had just died. Whilst i appreciate it was against the law, I spoke to the officers who attended and told them. They said that if I did get a ticket (which I didn't) to speak to them and they would see what they could do. If I found someone slashing my tyres, I wouldn't have been happy!

I'm not keen on vigilante action - it can have dire consequences - earlier this year an innocent Australian was killed as he looked like a paedophile.

[4getmenot]

Very true oneeyedvic. What is more scary is that these people must follow the offenders home and see where they live. I did smile when I saw it as I hate people using there mobiles whilst driving especially when I see mothers using there phones with children in the car. But then when I thought about it these vigilantes dont think they could be making a situation alot worse. What if these people need their car in an emergency or their child is sick. The law should never be taken into your own hands.

[whiffey]

I don't agree with the tyre-slashing, but as a cyclist who has been nearly killed by someone using a handheld mobile I have strong views on the subject.

I regularly count the offenders. Last night alone I saw 3 *consecutive* drivers using a handheld. It is just one of those things, like speeding motorcyclists, that we are probably powerless to prevent. I would make the penalties much more severe for those caught however.

[WaldoMcFroog]

The number of times I've nearly lost a wing because of some f***wit on a phone whilst driving is practically beyond counting. Whilst I don't condone the vigillante action, I entirely understand why someone would want to do it.

It's totally irresponsible and selfish and it should command an instant six months ban IMO.

[4getmenot]

But then on the other hand vigilantes are chopping down speed cameras as they say they are just a money making scheme. I�m sorry but in my eyes if people didn�t speed then they wouldn�t make any money.

[violetblue]

I also disagree with vigilante action, but would like to make the point that on the TV last week or so there was a news item which claimed that speaking on a mobile - whether hand-held or otherwise - was as dangerous as drinking and driving. Therefore, why aren't there the measures taken to combat it (campaigns etc), and how are people ever punished for it bearing in mind the police won't see them in action?

[violetblue]

Sorry, I meant hands-free!

[4getmenot]

Exactly violet blue that�s why I laughed when I saw they were slashing tyres because people on mobiles cause so much accidents but taking the law into your own hands ends up with even more trouble. But I hope if they are caught they don�t get that much of a hefty penalty and this just makes people aware that is dangerous to use a mobile while driving.

[jno]

don't like the idea of following people home... but could I just shoot them on the spot, please?

[4getmenot]

jno you get 2 stars coz I dont condone killing people but good idea :-)

[jno]

thank you. Would I get three stars if I promised just to wound them?

[noxlumos]

I wouldn't mind anyone being outraged at mobile phone users ( don't like em myself) but some of the people moaning about them are smokers who'll happily veer all over the road whilst trying to light their fag, or the very same people who suddenly disappear from sight as they retrieve the cd they dropped in the footwell. I think we all just have to think about whether it's JUT mobiles that are a menace or if we arent maybe equally dangerous every day doping stupid things like the above.
I can't help thinking as well that one day one of these vigilante tyre slashers might be discovered "in the act" and I now if some pondlife was doing that to my car I'd smack the c**p out of them, but then of course they have to have a knife with them to slash tyres so according to them are the only laws worth abiding by the laws that happen to tickle their fancy and would they stab someone who is effectively just defending their property. The whole thing is a nasty can of worms.

[LeMarchand]

I live in Fareham!

Luckily I have a hands-free, not that it sees much use. I can see why the bloke is annoyed - far too many people have their mobile in the crook of their shoulder whilst driving. I've seen people yapping away whilst negotiating busy roundabouts and trying to perform 3-point-turns (usually in a tight spot in their 4x4). I don't think tyre-slashing is the way to go (I would have thought that just the note would have been scary enough), but I suspect that the police would be reluctant to prosecute even with photographic evidence so he probably feels frustrated. Maybe if there were more prosecutions for phone use...

I find it hard to believe that the lady is the only person in Grotspot not to own a mobile, though.

[campbellking]

I'm a lady, and I don't own a mobile phone (can't stand them). Don't think slashing tyres is really an option, maybe just putting a nice big sticker on the windscreen when they're parked up would be more fun.
Person who most nearly had me off my bike when I was on riding along was not a mobile phone user, but a woman driving with a dog on her lap!

[LeMarchand]

campbellking but do you live in Gosport, though?

[lightoftruth]

from a technological viewpoint. If it were that people had to register on there driving licenses that there cars had a hand-free fitted and then we fitted sensors upon bridges etc in conjunction with speed cameras we would have a good system to catch the idiots out.

Its a idea worth considering if it stops vigilantism

[joko]

what is daft is that you can buy a hands free kit for a couple of quid so its ridiculous that people don't have them!

perhaps all new cars should have them fitted as standard - after all most people have mobiles these days.

don't know if garages still give away glasses etc but perhaps safety items would be a better choice.

[campbellking]

Lemarchand, I don't live in Gosport, nor have I ever knowingly visited there....

[violetblue]

But if, as the claim goes, hands-free are just as dangerous as hand-held mobiles (it's merely the distraction of having the conversation), why allow them anyway? Why do people have to use mobiles for other than breakdowns whilst driving? How could they have coped in the pre-moblie era? I think we just don't stop for breath, everything has to be immediate, and this is one of the causes of stress in society today. Sorry, it's one of my main gripes!