DELIBERATE COLLISIONS IN MOVING TRAFFIC - AWARENESS ADVICE 2010

This criminal method was part of special investigations
carried out by MET and M25 police during Q1 2010
Advice reproduced here, for Truck, Car and Van drivers

What are the features of these induced collisions?

The criminals may use 2 cars to target their victim. These cars will get ahead of the victim's vehicle in steady moving traffic, the first will then brake hard or make an unexpected manoeuvre, this will cause the second car to brake hard (often using the handbrake to avoid alerting the intended victim) and result in a collision between the targetted victim and the rear of criminal car 2.

The first car will make off while the second (now damaged) car will stop and converse with their victim. The occupants of this second car will make a point of blaming the car that has made off...and appear to sympathize with their victim - YOU ! !
However, all sympathies are part of the distraction - the aim is to now force their advantage - by deceiving you into instigating an insurance settlement...or even asking for cash


Who are they?

There can often be at least three occupants in the car.
They may have their driver details neatly pre-prepared, and are often already written out. Insurance and registration documents may be carried in their car. This is to help the deception be made swiftly
The driver will speak English while other occupants in the offender's car may not.

It should be noted that these features are a guide only and all elements may not be present at every induced collision.

What action should the driver take if they genuinely believe they have been the victim of an induced collision?

(1) Your first action is to immediately call the Police on the non-emergency number 0300 123 1212 and say that you believe you have been involved a deliberately induced collision - give the index number of the other vehicle.
(2) The sooner you call the more time Police have to make a response. Try NOT to inform the other vehicle you have called the police as they will probably leave the scene.
(3) Make a mental note of who was driving; it is very important you can identify this person to the police.
(4) Exchange details as you would normally do but take your time; this will give the police time to get to you. Take details of ALL occupants - you can say that this is company policy because of recent experience of personal injury claims.
(5) Make a note of the car that drove off and make a note of where you first saw it - this will help the police trace it later.

We will do our best but can’t guarantee to get to every call before the exchange of details is complete. In these circumstances it would be helpful if drivers could:
(a) Photograph damage to other vehicle and photograph driver.
(b) Retain any papers supplied by the other driver in a plastic bag and avoid any unnecessary direct handling (This can be taken by police later and forensically examined). A self seal food bag would be ideal.
(c) As above - Make a note of the car that drove off and make a note of where you first saw it - this will help the police trace it later.
(d) Call the police back and tell us that the other vehicle has left the scene and the direction it went.