A 4x4 is not a battering ram!

[xmob]

I need to rant.

I'm sorry that my first post for a LOONNGG time is a rant, but things need to be said.

I was in two minds about posting a long blow by blow account, or a short one.  I'm going for the short one.

If anybody who reads this was involved in the incidents I'm going to describe, then shame on you.  I will make no apologies, you are a disgrace to the off roading community.

As many of you know, I work at Langdale Quest part time as a patrol driver/instructor.  I do this for fun.  I don't do it because I need the money.  I don't do it because I am obliged to.  I certainly don't do it because I have a deathwish.  I do it because I enjoy it.  I was working yesterday, another fun day until later events occured.

Langdale Quest is an off road driving centre in Langdale forrest.  A Forrestry Commission owned forrest in which LQ has a license to operate.  There are pre-defined routes in the forrest that visitors must stick to.  Like all forrests they attract a certain element of people that believe they have a God given right to drive where they like, how they like.  These are the same people that give the off roading community (be it 4x4s, quads, bikes, whatever) a bad name.  When these people are encountered in the forrest they are approached and politely told that what they are doing is wrong.  There are two reasons for this.  Number one, it's wrong and not helping the off roading fight.  Number two, there is a business interest to protect.  Any wrong doings that happen in Langdale Forrest are immediately associated with the Langdale Quest and it goes against all the hard work put in getting planning consent etc.

A group of such vehicles were encountered yesterday.  They were told, politely, that they had no right to be where they were.  They listened to what was said, uttered a few grumblings then were allowed to leave.  They were subsequently spotted several more times in the forrest, and it was obvious that they had no intention of speaking to any LQ staff due to the way they decided to disappear at a high rate of knots.  Eventually one vehicle was spotted and it was put to them that they either leave the forrest, visit LQ HQ where they (upon suitable payment) would be given a map detailing where they could go, or the Police would be called.  They're not the first, they won't be the last.  Previous offenders have been issued with Section 59 warnings.

Cut some more sightings/discussions and move to the main incidient.  The group of vehicles were again spotted and the police were called.  In the meantime, LQ staff (myself included) were depatched to get vehicle details (number plates etc).  One of the staff arrived face to face with the group on a single track road with no place to pass.  He proceeded to take vehicle details while receiving a whole barrage of abuse and threats.  In the meantime myself and other intructors arrived.

The lead vehicle of the group decided that he wanted to be past, and no vehicle in front of him was going to stop him.  The LQ vehicle was pushed backwards, using vehicle to vehicle contact, and rotated sideways into the grass verge on the side of the road.  There still wasn't sufficient room to pass.  It was now obvious that this vehicle/driver should not be allowed to depart until the Police arrived.  I was stood in the road at this time, and the driver continued to try and force his way past.  Contact was made with me and there was no attempt to slow down.  My life is too valuable to let this kind of idiot waste it, so I took the obvious decision to move out of the way.  It should also be noted that there was a kid in a child seat in the offending vehicle.

Conclusion, 4 Police vehicles in attendance (including armed MoD Police) and hopefully several Section 59 warnings issued.  It is hoped that these people now have the message and it will be passed on to others.

Sorry for that, and here's to happy, safe and legal off roading in 2007!   :D

[xmob]

There, I feel better for that.  

[smo]

Sounds like a complete bunch of idiots, the kind who give us all a bad name.

[sleeplessparadise]

Was going to come up to langdale yesterday Pete, am glad I didnt now :shock: Being a novice driver I certainly wouldnt have wanted to meet these idiots on my way round...... hope you werent injured and you did the right thing moving, no point getting hurt by some moron :x

[jimny33]

sounds like a bunch of nutters!  

I hope they all get what they desirve!  

[Nick666]

Hope assault charges were filed against the idiot who tried to run you over.

[Bulli]

you really should do a name and shame. I would love to see vehicle descriptions as these people should be removed from any club. Sound like a proper bunch of chancers to me.
Hope they get what they deserve.

[xmob]

I think naming and shaming will come at a later date.  I've yet to make a statement to the Police.

While most of the vehicles were generic modded green oval types, there was one with a very distinctive sticker on the side.  I'll be keeping my eye out for photos on club web sites etc.

[Budgie]

Sometimes it's handy to have a cheap video camera in the vehicle so that you can film situations like the above. Even if it's attached to the inside of the vehicle so as not to increase tentions.  

I assume you'll be keeping a list of the vehicle details at the HQ so they don't get on the site again?

LQ is a good site and I've enjoyed a couple of good days playing on the site. It would be a shame if it were to be forced to close because of the action of people like this. I know they had enough problems trying to keep it open so this type of thing doesn't help in any way.

Inconsiderate louts with no regard for others.  

[discograham]

Pictures would be most welcome you know... as soon as possible please...lets see who the offenders are.....

And what the "distinctive" sticker says...

[paul_humphreys]

The same "type" of persons as I reported to the police last week for driving on a SSSI and off of the ROW. Its about time the police started crushing the cars/bikes.

Glad your ok.

Paul

[strapping young lad]

distinctive sticker usually means one thing.. its MC

[xmob]

distinctive sticker usually means one thing.. its MC

I didn't see a MC sticker at all.  If I had, trust me, I would be naming and shaming.

I did see paw prints, but they were about 3 times the size of the MC ones.

[andyhubbard]

As much as i agree that naming and shaming is the way forward but to be fare to xmob he's doing the right thing at the moment and waiting until he's given a statement and spoken to the police. This way it does not jepordise any punishment that may be issued.

[V8MoneyPit]

Glad to see this thread is staying 'in control'. Well done xmob, you are showing great restraint considering what happened. And I'm glad nobody was hurt in the incident. That's the most important thing. Beyond that, the people involved need dealing with in an appropriate (and legal!) manner.

[mmgemini]

Well done xmob.
I think at this time you need to keep things to yourselves and the police.
To do otherwise could cause problems with any pending prosecution.

You have a PM

[Team Landzuki]

Would it be a good idea to pass details to other off road sites to alert them to possible trouble?

[chris.hunt22]

I think you have done the right thing, when it is all sorted with the police though I think naming and shaming is the way to go, at our GLASS meeting last Tuesday we were confronted by a identity parade of 4x4s who had been bragging on a website (not on here) about there illegal green laning activities, if in times to come we are still going to be allowed to persue a passtime we enjoy then we need to stop idiots like this now before we all get stopped!!

[Sider]

Glad to see this thread is staying 'in control'. Well done xmob, you are showing great restraint considering what happened. And I'm glad nobody was hurt in the incident. That's the most important thing. Beyond that, the people involved need dealing with in an appropriate (and legal!) manner.

Would you be happy with a "moral" manner??? :D:D:D

Xmob, you did the right thing, specially by not disclosing details just yet. Hopefully, the powers that be would see that they get their well deserved "reward", and then you can get on with naming and shaming, we'll do the spotting :D

[Skywalker]

Pete,

Glad your OK mate, hope the rest of the gang are as well.

Well done, I've got to agree, imho you've gone the right way about this and I hope the "distinctive" sticker leads the police somewhere, can't blame you at all for having a rant mind.

By the way, it's good to hear from you, shame about the circumstances.

Dave

[Richie_EB4]

I have copyied this info and your rant xmob onto our forum www.4x4uk.org as we are regular visiters to langdale and this sort of behavour is something we dont need..........if we can help please ask.

[Tailendcharley]

:)  :) Well done Pete,glad you are ok along with the other fellas...I agree that you did the right thing...as soon as possible please name and shame these idiots...best regards to you all up at Langdale,you do a great job...



 :)  :) Terry Smith

[Skibum346]

Xmob...well done mate for "keeping the heid"... at least until they can't use naming and shaming as a reason for getting off any punishment.

Incidently... I take it the offending driver will be sued for damages to the vehicle he presumably damaged? Typically he won't have off road insurance so it'll be a presonal cost to him... perhaps another reminder to behave!

Skibum

[auto]

That sounds like a right bunch of muppets.....and the sort that will get all our rights of way shut down, and the fact that they were abusing a well respected site is beyond me!!

Hopefully they will be traced and found! Its a pity that it wasnt a byway, as then all road laws apply and it would be failing to stop and hit and run of a pedestrian!

Mind you if you find him you can always sue with a no win no fee job!! lol! Just to annoy him if nothing else!

[xmob]

Just to clarify 2 things:

1) All vehicles involved are known to the Police, they were present when the Police arrived.

2) It was on a public highway, a tarmac one at that.

This is why there is no naming and shaming at this stage.  Things are firmly in the hands of the Police.

Thanks for all the supportive messages, both here and other forums.

[simdeb]

you really should do a name and shame. I would love to see vehicle descriptions as these people should be removed from any club. Sound like a proper bunch of chancers to me.
Hope they get what they deserve.

 i totaly agree

these people should be ashamed of themselves

Debbie

[skip]

This really makes me sad, it's these people who will get our freedoms taken away from us, even those who don't exercise them but one day might.

At least no one got hurt.