We've all watched social media channels and seen videos and other pictures of crazy and illegal driving and some of us have been victims of the mindless actions of others. Cyclists, pedestrians, horse riders, and learner drivers probably get the worst of it, but unpleasant encounters can come out of the blue to anybody on the road.
What can we do about it?
Affordable technology in the form of Dashboard Cameras for cars, Helmet Cameras for cyclists, motorbikes and horse riders and Handlebar Cameras for bikes and motorbikes are starting to make a difference, as evidence gathered on this equipment can be used to prosecute and deter offenders.
The problem is that there are 45 police forces across the UK and they do not accept and deal with the evidence in a consistent manner, which can make it difficult to get properly heard in some areas.
However, four police forces in Wales have got together and launched Operation Snap, and they are supported by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Members of the public can submit and upload video and other images of road traffic offences they have witnessed and recorded on their devices, directly online (see the Operation Snap link) and the police will take action where an offence has been committed.
To quote Inspector Steve Davies of South Wales Police:
"Police officers cannot be everywhere, as much as they try, but with Operation Snap the police could be anywhere."
He went on to say:
"We want drivers to ask themselves two questions: firstly, am I being recorded? Secondly, do I really want to take that chance?"
The creation of Operation Snap in Wales demonstrates that police forces can combine and work a system that meets all of their standards, so hopefully it will be rolled out across the UK in the near future.
It could lead to a dramatic improvement in road safety.
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Across England and Wales, road traffic policing has dropped by nearly 50% outside London, while overall officer numbers have only fallen by 12%. Cash-strapped forces need to be smarter with how they use their limited resources, so taking advantage of new technology and citizen reporting makes sense.
A single standard and portal would take the burden of finding the right force away from the witness, while also creating desperately-needed consistency for evidence submission. It would also be a step towards addressing apparent inconsistency in the interpretation of the law, not just by different police forces but also within the same force.
An example is the differing approaches taken by Essex Police in two recently reported cases.
