To report dangerous driving, the process generally involves the following steps:
- If the dangerous driving is happening right now and poses an immediate danger to others, call emergency services (999 in the UK, 911 in the US) immediately. Make sure you are parked safely if you call while driving.
- If the dangerous driving incident has already occurred, you can report it to the police on their non-emergency number (e.g., 101 in the UK) or submit an online report.
- Gather as much information as possible to support your report: vehicle registration number, make, model, color, the location and time of the incident, a description of the dangerous behavior, and witness details if any.
- If you have dashcam footage or video evidence of the incident, many police forces now accept this as part of the report through online portals.
- Reporting can be done anonymously if preferred, though sometimes authorities may require you to be a witness for prosecution.
- There are also smartphone apps (like Nexar, Waze, Citizen) that allow safe and sometimes anonymous reporting of reckless driving with video documentation.
Examples of dangerous driving include excessive speeding, aggressive driving, driving under the influence, ignoring road signs, or dangerous distractions such as using a phone while driving. For immediate threats, call emergency services. For after-the-fact reports, use the police non-emergency lines or online reporting tools, and provide evidence if available. Staying calm, not confronting the driver, and gathering details safely are important when witnessing dangerous driving.
