[CallMeProtart]

On our way home at 2am last night, we passed a clearly drunk driver. He wasn't weaving madly, but it was a 3 lane road and he was fast and slow and drifting around a little. He was obviously well past the limit.

I thought "I should call someone - he shouldn't be on the road!" but was not quite sure who to call. Does one call the police about this? And how does that work - he's driving so what are the chances of them finding him, he'd be well past wherever I reported him by then. And then who do you call? If I call 000 am I wasting their lines so that real emergencies can't get through? But I don't know any other number offhand... And are you supposed to get their numberplate or something? I didn't really want DH to get close enough to see it - we had kids in the car - I just wanted to get as far from him as possible.

In the end I wished I had called, as there was actually a police car we passed on the other side of the road, so they WOULD have been able to get there in time. I just hate the thought that someone that drunk was out on the street able to possibly injure someone. But I was just frozen by the fact that I didn't actually know what I was supposed to do in this situation!

Educate me, EB!

[papilio]

In that situation, I would have called the police on 000.

[Old Grey Mare]

Erratic driving could also be a result of just not concentrating (usually too busy looking at their phone). If in doubt I would suggest ringing the Police Assistance Line in you state or just the local station.

[marnie27]

We were in a similar situation and called the police general number - they took details and then called us back later to let us know they'd acted on it. I didn't think the driver was drunk but they were driving very carelessly - almost sideswiped us twice.

[galba]

I think I would've called 13 14 44. I've done this in the past when a massive branch was in the road after a storm and cars were swerving to avoid it in the dark.

[FrogIsAFrogIsAFr...]

You call the cops - tell them rego, car details, erratic driving and which direction they're headed.

If there's a patrol nearby, they'll dispatch them.

We've done this several times over the years. We did it a few years back, when a lady leaving Clipsal (presumably), nearly ran us over at a pedestrian crossing. We called the cops straight away and they called back about 20 minutes later - she had continued on her p*ssed way and mounted a curb in the city, flipping her car entirely and narrowly missing more pedestrians. If she had struck and killed someone, I never would have forgiven my complacency if we hadn't called.

[SplashingRainbow...]

I would have called 000. If rather call 000 to prevent a tragedy than call one to report a tragedy.

The operator should be able to prioritise the call according to current need.

[JRA]

I hate the fact that Vic no longer has a number like 13 14 44. You are meant to call the local station now - great if you know the number. It is bloody stupid. We now have two local police station numbers in our phones, but that doesn't help when travelling.

[Jekaho]

Call 000.

The advice given, regarding our mutual friend CallMeAliG, was that if they are ever in the car and drunk that you call the police straight away. Even if you don't know exactly where they are.

[Dadda64]

It's been shown that mobile phone use is as dangerous as drink driving. If you reported all the mobile users driving, you'd never get to go anywhere !