Overtaking slow moving police cars on country roads...?
Discussion
Acheron said:
One of the annoying things, is the people who see the police behind them, and feel the need to drop to 25mph in a 30. Whilst i appreciate this is safe and legal, and in certain environments, required, this sometimes creates problems for everyone else stacking up behind, and sometimes forces the impatient one to pull out, realise there's a cop car in the mix and slow down again. Even a speedo reading 30mph isnt actually doing 30mph, so if im behind you, feel free to do 32 or 33. I wont put you before the court for it... 
You won't but I wouldn't like to risk it with every cop on every day of the week as there's a minority who would take this as a threat to their precious authority. When they're in that mood arguing is very counter productive.CDP said:
You won't but I wouldn't like to risk it with every cop on every day of the week as there's a minority who would take this as a threat to their precious authority. When they're in that mood arguing is very counter productive.
Yup, having had two bad experiences I certainly wouldnt take the risk either despite having two perfectly sensible and likeable relatives who are in the force, so certainly no axe to grind there. Travelling down the A3 just above Petersfield there's a sliproad onto the southbound carriageway thats basically a 180 degree corner going into a short sliproad so cars coming down it appear late at relatively slow speed and then dont have much time to merge. A few years back I was on the main carriageway in the inside lane doing about 65 looking for a gap to overtake a car in front of me when a dog van appeared on the sliproad needing to merge just in front of where I'd be in a few seconds time. Obviously by rights I didnt need to do anything as it was my right or way but as I couldnt get out into the outside lane to give him room and I had a car in front of me preventing me from accelerating even if Id wanted to, the easiest thing for all concerned was for me to ease off the gas, give a quick flash, generate a gap and allow him to merge in front of me. However due to his lack of observation he didn't register what I was doing and started slowing back down again so we were still on "collision" course where he needed to merge. By that time it was one of those after you after me type scenarios where you're trying to second guess what he's going to do, I was perhaps down to about 50mph at this point and as there was a gap in the outside lane I took the opportunity to accelerate into the gap which took me past the dog van as he merged plus the car that was inititally in front of me then back into the inside lane, all at at no more than 70-75. 10 seconds later, out pulls the dog van into the outside lane with his lights going. I honestly thought he was responding to an incident and expected him to go flying past, but he slots in behind gesticulating me to pull over where Im greeted by the most arrogant a***hole of a wannabe traffic copper you could ever wish not to meet. Again I got a right dressing down, apparently I was "obviously speeding" in excess of 80mph, I was unobservant(!), driving irratically, and had it not been for (and I quote) his "professional driver training I could have caused an accident"! Im really not sure how I bit my lip and listened to it all and in hindsight I really wish I'd taken his details and put in a complaint as it really was utterly unbelievable what he came out with, seemingly all because he was annoyed that he had to slow down to join the carriageway (even though he didn't) and I happened to be on the bit of tarmac he wanted.
The second one a year or so back I gradually caught up with and crawled past a plod Focus who was doing just over 50 in a 60 zone behind another car along some dual carriageway at about 1am in the morning with hardly any traffic. At the time I had my wife and 2 week old daughter in the back so was hardly likely to be driving dangerously, but regardless I kept it at an indicated 60-65 and gradually pulled away from them both as you naturally do when travelling a bit faster than the car you've overtaken. I then noticed in my rear view mirror the headlights of said plod car pull out from behind the car it was following and accelerate to close the roughly quarter mile gap now between us where he proceeded to sit on my rear bumper. As we went into the 70 zone I accelerated gently up to an indicated 70-75 and then observed all the 40mph limits along the (Farnham) bypass but I could tell I was going to get pulled and hey presto as I turned off a couple of miles later on came the blues and twos. What followed was a load of complete lies about how I was doing 80 in the 60 zone and if their car had proper equipment they'd be prosecuting me, my only saving grace was they didnt actually notice wifey and little one in the back due to the (standard) privacy glass otherwise Im sure I'd have got an additional guilt trip on how my driving was endangering my family etc.
Its worth saying that despite my ghastly driving on both occasions, neither resulted in so much as a producer which perhaps suggests they know they're on a sticky wicket factually but just felt the need to flex their powers for whatever reason.
In summary, no not worth it.
Edited by LocoBlade on Saturday 1st January 01:27
LocoBlade said:
CDP said:
You won't but I wouldn't like to risk it with every cop on every day of the week as there's a minority who would take this as a threat to their precious authority. When they're in that mood arguing is very counter productive.
Yup, having had two bad experiences I certainly wouldnt take the risk either despite having two perfectly sensible and likeable relatives who are in the force, so certainly no axe to grind there. A year or so back I gradually caught up with and crawled past a plod Focus who was doing just over 50 in a 60 zone behind another car along some dual carriageway at about 1am in the morning with hardly any traffic. At the time I had my wife and 2 week old daughter in the back so was hardly likely to be driving dangerously, but anyway I kept it at an indicated 60-65 and gradually pulled away from them both as you naturally do when travelling a bit faster than the car you've overtaken. I then noticed in my rear view mirror the headlights of said plod car pull out from behind the car it was following and accelerate to close the roughly quarter mile gap now between us where he proceeded to sit on my rear bumper. As we went into the 70 zone I accelerated gently up to an indicated 70-75 and then observed all the 40mph limits along the (Farnham) bypass but I could tell I was going to get pulled and hey presto as I turned off a couple of miles later on came the blues and twos. What followed was a load of complete lies about how I was doing 80 in the 60 zone and if their car had proper equipment they'd be prosecuting me, my only saving grace was they didnt actually notice wifey and little one in the back due to the (standard) privacy glass otherwise Im sure I'd have got an additional guilt trip on how my driving was endangering my family etc.
My other experience a few years ago was even more blood boiling. Travelling down the A3 just above Petersfield there's a sliproad onto the southbound carriageway thats basically a 180 degree corner going into a short sliproad so cars coming down it appear late at relatively slow speed and then dont have much time to merge. I was on the main carriageway in the inside lane doing about 65 looking for a gap to overtake a car in front of me when a dog van appeared on the sliproad needing to merge just in front of where I'd be in a few seconds time. Obviously by rights I didnt need to do anything as it was my right or way but as I couldnt get out into the outside lane to give him room and I had a car in front of me preventing me from accelerating even if Id wanted to, the easiest thing for all concerned was for me to ease off the gas, give a quick flash, generate a gap and allow him to merge in front of me. However due to his lack of observation he didn't register what I was doing and started slowing back down again so we were still on "collision" course where he needed to merge. By that time it was one of those after you after me type scenarios where you're not quite sure whether to slow down more or speed up, I was perhaps down to about 50mph at this point and as there was a gap in the outside lane I took the opportunity to accelerate into the gap which took me past the dog van as he merged plus the car that was inititally in front of me then back into the inside lane, all at at no more than 70-75. 10 seconds later, out pulls the dog van into the outside lane with his lights going. I honestly thought he was responding to an incident and expected him to go flying past, but he slots in behind me gesticulating me to pull over where I get to meet the most arrogant a***hole of a wannabe traffic copper you could ever wish not to meet. Again I got a similar dribble of a dressing down, apparently I was "obviously speeding" in excess of 80mph, I was unobservant(!), driving irratically, and had it not been for his professional driver training I could have caused an accident! Im really not sure how I bit my lip and listened to it all and in hindsight I really wish I'd taken his details and put in a complaint as it really was utterly unbelievable what he came out with, seemingly all because he was annoyed that he had to slow down to join the carriageway (even though he didn't) and I happened to be on the bit of tarmac he wanted.
Its worth saying that despite my ghastly driving on both occasions, neither resulted in so much as a producer which perhaps suggests they know they're on a sticky wicket factually but just felt the need to flex their powers for whatever reason.
In summary, no not worth it.
HTH
As it stands, I wouldn't. Whilst both my cars ARE perfectly roadworthy/legal, the outwards appearance of them does lend them to a bit of cop attention (old tatty car + young driver with long hair = junkie, obviously 
). To overtake would just draw attention to what is in their eyes a reasonable chance of a pull. At the end of the day, most stereotypes are based upon a true fact so I'm not bothered by it, but if I can avoid it I will.
). To overtake would just draw attention to what is in their eyes a reasonable chance of a pull. At the end of the day, most stereotypes are based upon a true fact so I'm not bothered by it, but if I can avoid it I will.CDP said:
Acheron said:
One of the annoying things, is the people who see the police behind them, and feel the need to drop to 25mph in a 30. Whilst i appreciate this is safe and legal, and in certain environments, required, this sometimes creates problems for everyone else stacking up behind, and sometimes forces the impatient one to pull out, realise there's a cop car in the mix and slow down again. Even a speedo reading 30mph isnt actually doing 30mph, so if im behind you, feel free to do 32 or 33. I wont put you before the court for it...
You won't but I wouldn't like to risk it with every cop on every day of the week as there's a minority who would take this as a threat to their precious authority. When they're in that mood arguing is very counter productive.Not long after i pased my test, i was going along a back road at a steady pace, night time as well, slowed down for the blind corner knowing there's a junction on it as well, and there was a copper sat in the junction who then followed me for the next 3 miles, then pulls me. Breathalised, but she was thick as s
t. Because i'd just passed, all my documents where either down in swansea (DVLA) or in the post. So when she asked me did i have my licence or anything on me I said no, it was wherever due to not long having passed my test. Ok, wanders back off to car to fetch breathaliser machine, comes back, have you got any documents on you. No I havent just told you. breathalises me, goes back to car again. Comes back any documents? No! Goes back to car again whilst on phone/radio, comes back to car ok you can go now. I was half expecting a producer. Which would have fked me up big time because I had nothing to produce.whoami said:
LocoBlade said:
whoami said:
NO SANE PERSON WILL READ THIS.
HTH
A contender for pointless post of the year and we're only 90 minutes into 2011. Congratulations.HTH
Good luck.
HTH
Oh, Happy New Year
Acheron said:
As a member of plod, i feel the need to put up a bit of a defense here...
Firstly, im not trafpol so cant comment fully on how one of them would deal with it, however, i appreciate the astra isnt fast, but it doesnt need to be. We're all human too, and sometimes i want to drive a bit slower, i might have a bit of time to spare, or whatever reason anyone else might drive a little slower than the speed limit.
If someone overtook me, as long as i was happy it was safe and concise, not reckless and done with some thought, thats good enough for me, i wouldnt even entertain pulling them over. If i see a biker behind me, and there's room to do it, i'll even creep over to the left a little bit to give him a better view of the road and make overtaking easier. He's a biker, he wants to get past, why dont i make it easier for him rather than him getting pissed off and going headfirst into a wagon. By doing this, when they do overtake, i often get a little wave of the hand to say thanks for showing the biker some consideration and being aware of them and their requirements.
If its rushed, dangerous, reckless etc, expect to see some blues. It annoys me when some bobbies make cocks of themselves for stopping people just to prove a point. When i stop someone, if its safety releated, i always give the same spiel about road safety, and i'll quote some figures and cases i know of, to try and prove to the driver the reason i stopped them (i do a cracking talk on mobile phone usage) and not just to shout at them, tell them they are crap and to bugger off. If i get a handshake after writing a ticket, i consider that a mild success, as i've done my job, provided some education to a driver, and hopefully left them with a (reasonable at least) impression of the fuzz.
One of the annoying things, is the people who see the police behind them, and feel the need to drop to 25mph in a 30. Whilst i appreciate this is safe and legal, and in certain environments, required, this sometimes creates problems for everyone else stacking up behind, and sometimes forces the impatient one to pull out, realise there's a cop car in the mix and slow down again. Even a speedo reading 30mph isnt actually doing 30mph, so if im behind you, feel free to do 32 or 33. I wont put you before the court for it...
A logical & sensible approach, perhaps the solution is for all police cars driven by similarly inclined should display a PH logo on the back of the patrol car!Firstly, im not trafpol so cant comment fully on how one of them would deal with it, however, i appreciate the astra isnt fast, but it doesnt need to be. We're all human too, and sometimes i want to drive a bit slower, i might have a bit of time to spare, or whatever reason anyone else might drive a little slower than the speed limit.
If someone overtook me, as long as i was happy it was safe and concise, not reckless and done with some thought, thats good enough for me, i wouldnt even entertain pulling them over. If i see a biker behind me, and there's room to do it, i'll even creep over to the left a little bit to give him a better view of the road and make overtaking easier. He's a biker, he wants to get past, why dont i make it easier for him rather than him getting pissed off and going headfirst into a wagon. By doing this, when they do overtake, i often get a little wave of the hand to say thanks for showing the biker some consideration and being aware of them and their requirements.
If its rushed, dangerous, reckless etc, expect to see some blues. It annoys me when some bobbies make cocks of themselves for stopping people just to prove a point. When i stop someone, if its safety releated, i always give the same spiel about road safety, and i'll quote some figures and cases i know of, to try and prove to the driver the reason i stopped them (i do a cracking talk on mobile phone usage) and not just to shout at them, tell them they are crap and to bugger off. If i get a handshake after writing a ticket, i consider that a mild success, as i've done my job, provided some education to a driver, and hopefully left them with a (reasonable at least) impression of the fuzz.
One of the annoying things, is the people who see the police behind them, and feel the need to drop to 25mph in a 30. Whilst i appreciate this is safe and legal, and in certain environments, required, this sometimes creates problems for everyone else stacking up behind, and sometimes forces the impatient one to pull out, realise there's a cop car in the mix and slow down again. Even a speedo reading 30mph isnt actually doing 30mph, so if im behind you, feel free to do 32 or 33. I wont put you before the court for it...
I once got stopped as I had crossed a broken white line to overtake, well within the speed limit although I did accelerate "briskly", I explained that although my car was capable of accelerating to 60 in under 5 seconds it still couldn't fly, therefore changing lanes was a neccesary evil. That got me breathalysed! I don't drink, I think it was just a "I'll make you late for your cheek" thing.
LeeThr said:
CDP said:
Acheron said:
One of the annoying things, is the people who see the police behind them, and feel the need to drop to 25mph in a 30. Whilst i appreciate this is safe and legal, and in certain environments, required, this sometimes creates problems for everyone else stacking up behind, and sometimes forces the impatient one to pull out, realise there's a cop car in the mix and slow down again. Even a speedo reading 30mph isnt actually doing 30mph, so if im behind you, feel free to do 32 or 33. I wont put you before the court for it...
You won't but I wouldn't like to risk it with every cop on every day of the week as there's a minority who would take this as a threat to their precious authority. When they're in that mood arguing is very counter productive.Not long after i pased my test, i was going along a back road at a steady pace, night time as well, slowed down for the blind corner knowing there's a junction on it as well, and there was a copper sat in the junction who then followed me for the next 3 miles, then pulls me. Breathalised, but she was thick as s
t. Because i'd just passed, all my documents where either down in swansea (DVLA) or in the post. So when she asked me did i have my licence or anything on me I said no, it was wherever due to not long having passed my test. Ok, wanders back off to car to fetch breathaliser machine, comes back, have you got any documents on you. No I havent just told you. breathalises me, goes back to car again. Comes back any documents? No! Goes back to car again whilst on phone/radio, comes back to car ok you can go now. I was half expecting a producer. Which would have fked me up big time because I had nothing to produce.
*Al* said:
RemaL said:
y2blade said:
yep
just don't wheelie past them, they don't like it up'em
was my thought also. I have over taken police cars while on the bike. never had a issue, but I won't take the piss either. just don't wheelie past them, they don't like it up'em
GSXR1000. Interesting examples above.
I once wanted to join a motorway but a police car refused to move over and sat on the inside lane at around 50mph! I couldn't merge behind him as there was a lorry about six foot behind him, being held up. So I had two choices:
1. Come to a standstill at the end of the slip road.
2. Accelerate to 70mph and join in front of the Police car.
I went for option number two. Low and behold I was pulled over for dangerous driving! Since then I have zero respect for traffic cops. The lowest of the low.
I once wanted to join a motorway but a police car refused to move over and sat on the inside lane at around 50mph! I couldn't merge behind him as there was a lorry about six foot behind him, being held up. So I had two choices:
1. Come to a standstill at the end of the slip road.
2. Accelerate to 70mph and join in front of the Police car.
I went for option number two. Low and behold I was pulled over for dangerous driving! Since then I have zero respect for traffic cops. The lowest of the low.
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