POLICE yesterday launched Scotland's first road-rage hotline to crack down on road bullies and help scientists find out what makes drivers aggressive.
From today, drivers in Tayside will be able to telephone their complaints about road rage incidents to police on 08000 922911.
Police are confident that they will be able to secure prosecutions, even where there is only one witness, by relying on the Moorov doctrine which allows for prosecutions where a pattern of previous behaviour is identified. Drivers will be asked to fill in a questionnaire to help psychologists build a better picture of road rage.
Launching the scheme in Dundee, Chief Constable William Spence warned that bullies would no longer be able to rely on their ''apparent anonymity'' to get away with aggressive and dangerous behaviour. He stressed that the hotline is intended to get the message across that ''aggression or any other unacceptable behaviour will be addressed''.
Information gleaned by the scheme will go to Dr Nicholas Ward, director of the human factors laboratory at Leeds University school of psychology, for processing and analysis. Professor Kevin Power, a consultant with Tayside health board, is also taking part in analysing the information.
Dumfries and Galloway police are to run a free course for would-be drivers, aged 16 and 17, to teach them proper attitudes to driving.
It will be launched in Dumfries on June 2, with two groups of 12, who will learn about all aspects of driving at two evening classes and a further two on mechanical theory at the engineering department at Dumfries and Galloway College. The course will also include practical lessons at the former Heathhall airfield nearby.
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