‘Barbaric cowards’ must have the book thrown at them

THE Automobile Association has reacted strongly against the throwing of rocks from bridges onto vehicles, and has suggested tactics drivers can use to avoid vehicle damage, injury and even death.

‘The re-emergence of rock throwing is scary and despicable,’ said the AA in a statement released this week.

‘Everything must be done to track down the culprits and, once in custody, they must not be spared the full extent of the law.

‘There is a practice to change lanes immediately before entering a bridge to avoid becoming a victim.

‘This may work only if there is no other traffic around, and you are able to move freely between lanes.

‘However, this is problematic if there are other cars who have the same idea.

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‘Stick to the speed limits, always obey the rules of the road, and always be vigilant of what other drivers are doing.’

The AA said authorities in areas where rock throwing has occurred have a duty to deploy extra personnel on bridges, and to follow up on all complaints received.

Safety first

And while the AA says that there is no perfect solution to dealing with a rock being thrown onto your vehicle, the following tips could be useful:

• Wherever possible, avoid driving on roads known for rock throwing

• Be alert to movement on a bridge before you go under it

• As far as possible, drive during daylight hours to make seeing the environment around you easier

• If there are passengers in the vehicle with you, ask them to check for any movement on the bridge

• If you are the victim of a thrown rock, try to remain as calm as you possibly can while assessing the situation around you. Pull off to the side of the road, once it is safe to do so, to check on damage

• Contact police and emergency services immediately.

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