VIDEO: Negligent driver caught in the act
SANDTON - A negligent driver was caught in the act on a motorist’s dash cam.
The motorist, who does not wish to be named, said he was travelling on the M1 between Grayston Drive and Marlboro Drive and he cleared dirt off his windscreen. “Some of the dirt fell on the windscreen of the driver travelling next to me,” he explained.
“The negligent driver was on his cellphone while he was driving and he put down his phone and tried to run me off the road.”
In the video the negligent driver is seen trying to prevent the motorist from driving into the next lane and driving forward but eventually he gives way to the motorist.
“A majority of our car accidents are caused by stupidity,” said the motorist.
“I didn’t report it to the police because I know it is not going to go anywhere.”
Wayne Minnaar, spokesperson for the Metro police was asked whether the video footage from the dash cam could be submitted to the Metro police as evidence of the negligent driving incident and he said, “A traffic offence is not a criminal offence. It is a third schedule offence, which means that an officer in full uniform must see the offence in order to file a charge.”
However, Minnaar added that if the negligent driving is a regular occurrence at a regular spot, then Metro police can be notified so that officers can be deployed to monitor that specific area.
Ward 91 councillor, Andrew Stewart said he would expect that action would be taken against a traffic offender if there was full camera footage of the violation being committed. Yet, Minnaar maintained that only an officer in full uniform who has witnessed the violation is eligible to file any charge or if the violation has been caught on an official police camera. Minnaar added that video footage or photographic material taken by motorists themselves is usually not admissible.
Stewart said Metro police are said to be looking through the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences provisions to confirm Minnaar’s claims.
“But they think that you can fine or prosecute for road violations provided there is camera proof,” added Stewart.
Watch this video of a negligent driver caught in the act on a motorist’s dash cam on the M1 between Grayston Drive and Marlboro Drive in Sandton:
What do you think of the Metro police’s stance on negligent driving? Let the Sandton Chronicle know in the comments section below.
