followed by belligerent drivers - post-event review

[AirForceShooter]

3 things.

1. 911
2. bright lights
3. lots of people.

Call 911, that's what it's for.

AFS

 

[spyder1911]

Best things to offer if you are going to call 911 are the location, the problem you're reporting, and a good, solid description. Always know where you are! If they ask for your name, and if you choose to give it, then fine. Otherwise, you're just the citizen reporting the incident and no contact is usually made.

Most new cell phones will send your location from an internal GPS receiver to the 911 dispatch. So as soon as you call they know where you are.

 

[riceboy72]

Most new cell phones will send your location from an internal GPS receiver to the 911 dispatch. So as soon as you call they know where you are.

No guarantee that your call will make it with your exact location if you dial 911. While it works a good amount of the time, do not ride on the falsehood that your emergency provider can find you just because you dialed 911 from your cel phone. This is especially true if you dial along a very busy street that has multiple businesses or a bumper to bumper freeway, or in a rural area where coverage is spotty. It's technology, and just like everything else, it's not perfect or foolproof yet.

If anyone cares to read up on Phase II wireless communications, here's the FCC link:

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/wireless911srvc.html​

Knowing where you are is one of the most important things when calling 911, regardless if your cel phone is new.

 

[elsullo]

Gah!

I am so sick of morons with road rage that I hardly drive anymore! Teenagers are the worst---they are so inattentive that they are suddenly shocked to find you in their way and become outraged, (YOU cut THEM off!!!) especially in a group fueled by alcohol, and they get a "mob mentality".

I was a professional bus driver for seventeen years, both city and country, and "nobody knows da trouble I seen!" Included in this career was regular doses of good classroom education about driving and people. It is estimated by social scientists that at least ten percent of drivers have "serious" mental illness. About five percent of drivers are on major medication. And about thirty percent of drivers have guns in the car, legal or illegal. Oh, yes, about five percent of semi-truck drivers are on drugs, mostly meth. Yes, I finally quit that career!

So, it behooves us to react calmly to provocations on the road, and to be able to call 911 quickly.

For those who may not know, ANY old cellphone with a good battery will call 911 whether you have a service provider or not. The phone is independent for 911 calls and it does not need a cellphone service contract carrier, only a good battery. So, you can leave an old "junk" phone in the vehicle and not worry about theft, but only about rotating good batteries.........................elsullo

 

[Regen]

I would think it would be more important to give them the other vehicle's license plate number than your NY Pistol Permit number.

 

[Autolycus]

I would also add a +1 to the whole forget the permit number. It can give the impression that you feel you are a type of LEO. Next time you should just stick a pistol in the glove box and forget about it.

If your employer does not allow it, then don't park on their property.

 

[opd743]

First off, I am a cop. That being said, if my dispacther sends me to look for a 10-95(reckless driver) and tells me someone is armed, whether it be the caller or the other car, I tend to try and get to the area a little faster. This does not mean that I will snatch you out of your car and body slam you because you MIGHT have a gun in the car. So if you want the cops there as soon as possible, you could tell the 911 operator that you have a permit and are armed. I, however, would not. Just like in everything else, there are uninformed cops, they automatically think that someone with a gun is someone that is a threat. I am not one of these cops(I carried long before I put on the badge), I just get in more of a hurry when I know a gun could be used.

If I needed assistance when not on duty, I would not call 911. I think it is much more usefull to know the number of the local police department or sheriffs department wherever you are. I even look these up and keep a list with me when I am on vacation. Around here the 911 call gets received at a 911 station then gets sent to the department that covers the area the call was made from. This can take a few minutes from call to response. How far can you drive in a few minutes? Just a thought. Not saying 911 should never be used, just saying a direct call is a whole lot faster.

 

[rrruuunnn]

i just took defensive driving, so i know now to call 911 to report aggressive driving. i would have taken the license plate for myself and 911.

 

[Markbo]

Oh, yes, about five percent of semi-truck drivers are on drugs, mostly meth.

I would venture that figure is waaay low.

FWIW if you call 911 where I am, they ask where are you, what is the emergency and then immdiately transfer you to the covering local office whether PD, Constable or Sheriff. I have done this more than once reporting a drunk driver... I have zero tolerance for someone weaving all over the road - and of course it is usually at night when I am on the way home from working late.