General Chat

Useful court time?

Driver fined over puddle splash A motorist was fined £150 and given three penalty points - for driving through a puddle and soaking a workman. Jason Evans, 34, from Yeovil, splashed the man's jeans as he drove through 2ins-deep flood water near Charlton Mackrell in Somerset. A policeman driving behind Mr Evans snapped a photo of the incident before pulling him over. Mr Evans pleaded guilty to driving without due consideration for road users at Yeovil Magistrates' Court. He told The Sun: 'I wanted to apologise, but I did not want to stop the traffic.' In this case he had slowed down and was only doing 15mph... it was unintentional Edmund King, RAC Mr Evans was offered the chance to go on a two-day drivers' course, but declined. He said it was an accident and he had not intentionally splashed the workman. Workers were clearing drainage ditches after the road had partly flooded. A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Police said the force was looking into the case, but that the offence was considered serious enough by the court and the Crown Prosecution Service to impose a fine. 'This was clearly an act which was inconsiderate to other road users and if the driver had shown a little more care or a little less speed he would not have found himself in court,' she added. Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, said: 'I think we've all seen and we all know motorists who do this kind of thing on purpose and I think if someone does do it on purpose they should be prosecuted. 'But in this case he had slowed down and was only doing 15mph. He hadn't realised how deep the puddle was. It was unintentional.'

shall refrain from here on in then, love to do it when there are no pedestrians near, its a public service isn't it, clearing the road of puddles. Jess x

Have to raise a hand here, i have been guilty of doing it on purpose once or twice... now i know i can be taken to court i will take more care and check no-one is looking.. (just kidding!) xx

Sounds like a case of making up the numbers to me.If they really wanted to use that piece of legislation,they,d be busy all day long.Perhaps the driver concerned should send the bill to the Council responsible for maintaining the road surface,i/e no holes no puddles. Hal. :o))>.

Hate to rain on anyone parade but it has always been an offence to splash someone with water if driving thorugh puddles. Splashing in wellies is fine though lol xxhugxx

Sorry Guys, I do't mean to do it. I just can't resist the temptation. Lol

Harold, Have to agree with you on that, we pay enough road tax for the roads to be maintained, but no, they would prefer to make bombs. The motorist suffers again. Micheal.

Well that was a bit harsh you only get £100 and 3 points for putting you reading specs on and knocking someone of their bike. Well that is all the guy got when my lad got knocked off his bike. Germaine x

Michael.I made my self a notice for the rear screen of my car.It was ' No I don,t own the Road,But Ive Bloody pai for most of it' got a few laughs. Hal. :o))>.

I e-mailed Transport for London about this the week before last. In Ferry Lane, Tottenham there are three or four enormous puddles which form every time it rains. One of opposite a bus shelter. A bus went past, not stopping, and an absolute wall of water went up and into the bus shelter. Fortunately there was nobody in it, otherwise they'd have been drenched from head to toe!

If the guy had been doing the normal driving speed I could understand the fine, but 15 mph is very slow. Mmm yes, making up the statistics - smacks of it, doesn't it.

I did this to a cow looking over a hedge once!! Have you ever seen an astonished cow? I have! Anna (Ducking under the table from the Animal Rights Bridgade!!)

the police will soon be fining young children who splash in the puddles, soaking those on the path. must admitt i love to splash!!!!!!!! lynnxx

Methinks someone needs a sense of proportion here! This is Britain, it rains, drains get blocked, drivers can't always avoid puddles, pedestrians get wet! So what, it's only water? Doing it deliberately though is pretty mean! Daisy

I have been tempted to do it and I have also done it on purpose! But really I think if it looks like it is intentional then Im afraid in my mind you are Bang out of order! It is abuse really but only my opinion for what it matters. Davexx

The official line is,if a motorist does all he or she can to avoid a puddle ,other than causing a road accident he should not have been culpable,the gent should have pleaded not guilty he would likely been found innocent..As someone has said ,this smells of a stitch up.Fred.PtfA&G&G&S.

What is even more criminal is that this case has cost us, the taxpayer, several thousands of pounds. Superintendent Lawrie Lewis, head of Avon and Somerset Police's road police unit should be reprimanded for wasting public funds.

Personally I could cheerfully have killed the ignorant 'motorist' who went through the most enormous puddle just as I was passing it on the path.... with nowhere to go I ran in hopes of missing the splash!! I was on my way to an interview for a job I really wanted to get... soaked to the skin and covered in mud!!! Really good impression that gave!! Jacquie xxxxx

Please correct me if I am wrong. It is illegal to use a mobile phone whilst driving.? how then can a copper use a camera to take pictures, presumably while he is driving? or should we all disable the phone bit, and use the camera in our phones.......... or is it once again............the copper is always right? ? Bob