Cash for Crash

[davedixon]

Been on about it on the radio today. Says they target the elderly and young mothers (b******s). Does it involve finding a suitable victim, overtaking then slamming on their brakes? This is where the 'two second rule' will be most helpful. I notice that not many people know about this rule or are just plain ignorant. Prepare for an insurance price rise hike.

[gpzDave]

Yeah, they get in front of a likely looking victim and then as they approach a roundabout etc. they try to lower the gap. Then when they think its right they slam the brakes on pull pelt and the other car smashes into the back of them.
This was on Watchdog (or similar program) a few months ago. There was a guy who did it as a 'hired crasher' if you like, he always did it at the same spot. Eventually workers in an office block nearby got suspicious after seeing the same guy envoled in a crash at the same spot about 10+ times.

[StumpyFingers]

We have a warning posted in our garage about this as it seems the insurance claims are getting out of hand.

[Traveller]

They should publish a profile of the people running these scams so any suspicions about the drivers actions can be further confirmed if they fit the profile.

[Farky]

Wasn't there some guy in Birmingham done for this last year and it turned out to be an organised gang thing or is this the same incident?


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[AckAckFlack]

I seem to remember from an earlier report about an elderly chap who had been in one of these incidents and used to be a police class 1 driver in the past. He fitted a camera to the front of the car which started when it felt the vibration of the engine.
He did this so if if ever happened again he could prove he was in the right.

Big big shame he didn't have it before and WTF when we have to go to this length for the small percentage of scum out there!

[gpzDave]

I think that might be the one I was talking about, I do remember it was an organised thing, I think they made a fair bit of money.

Their excuse for slamming the brakes on must be terrible, because they don't have any good reason to do so. If logic played more of a part in this more of these scammers would be caught.
Now it's getting some publicity, people may be more likely to suspect this though .

[paulc]

They tried this scam on me about 4 months ago,lucky I ride a bike as well as drive ,as I was driving home from work one day a black hatch back looked to be starting to overtake another car ,got lined up nealy level with it as I was coming up from behind and just braked in front of me (no brake lights),if it wass'nt for me biker road sense I would of smashed into the back end of it (lost alot of rubber with tire smoke billowing out all four wheels).
I dont know what the heck is going on in this country with all these immigrants ripping law abiding people off.

[gpzDave]

No brake lights!!! Thats how they do it, the scum!

[davedixon]

Thanks for that. It reinforces the 'only a fool breaks the two second rule'. Another thing you mention is the lack of rear break lights. If this is the case then the vehicle is not complying with the law. Might be something to point out to the Police at the time.