Overtaking slow moving police cars on country roads...?

Overtaking slow moving police cars on country roads...?

Author
Discussion

Cost Captain

3,917 posts

182 months

Saturday 1st January 2011
quotequote all
So general consensus is that you should be able to if it's legal and safe, but the police, ironically, don't always work by the law but their opinion instead.

Never over taken a police car, have over taken an ambulance with blues and twos safely and legally, and if it were a police car I wouldnt, as I wouldn't want the inconvinience of explaining why I was right.


Wills2

23,235 posts

177 months

Saturday 1st January 2011
quotequote all
Cost Captain said:
Never over taken a police car, have over taken an ambulance with blues and twos safely and legally,
Now I wouldn't do that just in case I got in its way later on at a roundabout or traffic lights etc....

Autogasm

146 posts

201 months

Saturday 1st January 2011
quotequote all
One thing I've done in the past is follow a police car on the motorway ay 85! I figured if they're doing it they couldn't have a go at me for it? This was until I saw one of these cop shows on tv where the police increased their speed with a car following close behind until they got over the speed limit where they pulled it over. The driver started with the same excuse that I would have used until the copper said, 'Where does it say I have to be behind you to pull you over!'

Never thought of it like that, and I won't do it again!!

Acheron

643 posts

166 months

Saturday 1st January 2011
quotequote all
Wills2 said:
Cost Captain said:
Never over taken a police car, have over taken an ambulance with blues and twos safely and legally,
Now I wouldn't do that just in case I got in its way later on at a roundabout or traffic lights etc....
Totally this. You dont know exaclty what the vehicle is doing, or what it might do. Ive been behind them before going slowly, obviously looking for an address. I hung back and it was a good job as they shot off at speed shortly after when they saw a house number.

But then, the OP wouldnt want to inconvienance the paramedic telling him why he was right.

LeeThr

3,122 posts

173 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
Wills2 said:
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... smile
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.
Yes, you sound a fair cop, but I know for a fact that certain arsewhole coppers around here who if there bored and low on that months numbers will put me in court for it just because im another 17 year old "boi racer".

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 st. 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.
I got stopped loads when I was 17-19 years old, it's part of your on going driver training all that advice you get at the side of the road. wink
Would you care to explain how loosing time to be told I am under the limit for drink/being told I/my car is legal on the road helps me out?

Wills2

23,235 posts

177 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
LeeThr said:
Wills2 said:
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... smile
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.
Yes, you sound a fair cop, but I know for a fact that certain arsewhole coppers around here who if there bored and low on that months numbers will put me in court for it just because im another 17 year old "boi racer".

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 st. 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.
I got stopped loads when I was 17-19 years old, it's part of your on going driver training all that advice you get at the side of the road. wink
Would you care to explain how loosing time to be told I am under the limit for drink/being told I/my car is legal on the road helps me out?
wink That symbol indicates I'm being sarcastic ref the "advice"

But it's true I got stopped loads when I was a young lad, bombing around back roads late at night is always going to bring you to the attention of plod.

groucho

12,134 posts

248 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
I've always wanted to overtake a police car that's on a emergency call. hehe

tbdgriff500

1,647 posts

205 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
i got pulled a lot as a young driver,found the police to be condesending/rude everytime.
got pulled on the way to work once,dual carrigeway 50mph saw headlights in the distance racing up to me, cop pulls me over, says we had to do 100mph to catch you (what!!) i was doing 50. started bashing on about a load of st, luckily my uncle was in the car, he got out and pointed out that they were taking the piss, said nick him or ps off, the two young coppers apologised to him and left!, same thing in islington showing my dad my new car(2.8i capri) 19 years old quite chuffed with it. still in first gear when a copper jumps of the pavement in front of me, screached to a halt luckily for him, tore me a new asshole saying i must have been doing at least seventy, i explained i was still in 1st gear and he says these cars can do seventy in first (what a tt), anyway my dad gets out and says your talking twaddle so nick him or sod off, guess what, another apology and of he went.never met a reasonable copper on the road yet.i have known a few and the stories they tell about how they play snooker and other games while out on patrol, i learnt early on how to get away without a nick.
one rule i stand by is if you ever get pulled for anything, bow your head and apologies blowing sunshine up the coppers arse,they seem to like that!
i have no sympathy with the police for the lack of respect they get from the driving public, i have witnessed to many times the hiding behind a bush or wall with their speed gun pointing up a clear wide safe road an nicking people for doing 33 in a 30. what a complete money making load of bollucks, road safety my arse!!

where are they while your house is being burgled, i tell you where, 20 strong at the bottom of a hill near me where you could roll down faster than 30, nicking everyone who came over the hill, bloody disgraceful!
rant over.
but i would still overtake a police car if it was legal and safe to do so.

vonhosen

40,300 posts

219 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
confused

vonhosen

40,300 posts

219 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]

Acheron

643 posts

166 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
tbdgriff500 said:
i got pulled a lot as a young driver,found the police to be condesending/rude everytime.
got pulled on the way to work once,dual carrigeway 50mph saw headlights in the distance racing up to me, cop pulls me over, says we had to do 100mph to catch you (what!!) i was doing 50. started bashing on about a load of st, luckily my uncle was in the car, he got out and pointed out that they were taking the piss, said nick him or ps off, the two young coppers apologised to him and left!, same thing in islington showing my dad my new car(2.8i capri) 19 years old quite chuffed with it. still in first gear when a copper jumps of the pavement in front of me, screached to a halt luckily for him, tore me a new asshole saying i must have been doing at least seventy, i explained i was still in 1st gear and he says these cars can do seventy in first (what a tt), anyway my dad gets out and says your talking twaddle so nick him or sod off, guess what, another apology and of he went.never met a reasonable copper on the road yet.i have known a few and the stories they tell about how they play snooker and other games while out on patrol, i learnt early on how to get away without a nick.
one rule i stand by is if you ever get pulled for anything, bow your head and apologies blowing sunshine up the coppers arse,they seem to like that!
i have no sympathy with the police for the lack of respect they get from the driving public, i have witnessed to many times the hiding behind a bush or wall with their speed gun pointing up a clear wide safe road an nicking people for doing 33 in a 30. what a complete money making load of bollucks, road safety my arse!!

where are they while your house is being burgled, i tell you where, 20 strong at the bottom of a hill near me where you could roll down faster than 30, nicking everyone who came over the hill, bloody disgraceful!
rant over.
but i would still overtake a police car if it was legal and safe to do so.
Hmmmm.... headache

Edited by Acheron on Sunday 2nd January 14:00

Lordglenmorangie

3,057 posts

207 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
Would not overtake a Police car on a single carriageway road, as they are an unpredictable lot and hold all the Aces should they decide to play silly bug*ers.

tbdgriff500

1,647 posts

205 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
Acheron said:
tbdgriff500 said:
i got pulled a lot as a young driver,found the police to be condesending/rude everytime.
got pulled on the way to work once,dual carrigeway 50mph saw headlights in the distance racing up to me, cop pulls me over, says we had to do 100mph to catch you (what!!) i was doing 50. started bashing on about a load of st, luckily my uncle was in the car, he got out and pointed out that they were taking the piss, said nick him or ps off, the two young coppers apologised to him and left!, same thing in islington showing my dad my new car(2.8i capri) 19 years old quite chuffed with it. still in first gear when a copper jumps of the pavement in front of me, screached to a halt luckily for him, tore me a new asshole saying i must have been doing at least seventy, i explained i was still in 1st gear and he says these cars can do seventy in first (what a tt), anyway my dad gets out and says your talking twaddle so nick him or sod off, guess what, another apology and of he went.never met a reasonable copper on the road yet.i have known a few and the stories they tell about how they play snooker and other games while out on patrol, i learnt early on how to get away without a nick.
one rule i stand by is if you ever get pulled for anything, bow your head and apologies blowing sunshine up the coppers arse,they seem to like that!
i have no sympathy with the police for the lack of respect they get from the driving public, i have witnessed to many times the hiding behind a bush or wall with their speed gun pointing up a clear wide safe road an nicking people for doing 33 in a 30. what a complete money making load of bollucks, road safety my arse!!

where are they while your house is being burgled, i tell you where, 20 strong at the bottom of a hill near me where you could roll down faster than 30, nicking everyone who came over the hill, bloody disgraceful!
rant over.
but i would still overtake a police car if it was legal and safe to do so.
Hmmmm.... headache

Edited by Acheron on Sunday 2nd January 14:00
sorry to have offended, just my experience first hand and my opinion on speed traps. i could go on with a lot more bad experiences but i fear my fingers would be a little shorter by the time i was finished, just not been very lucky thats all.

carmadgaz

3,201 posts

185 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
Overtaken a cop car before now on a NSL section of road, then went past the two cars in front of him at the next oppertunity. Was all safe and never got pulled.

All my meetings with the police have been short and polite but I'm guessing there are dicks out there like there are in any line of work.

Acheron

643 posts

166 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
tbdgriff500 said:
Acheron said:
tbdgriff500 said:
i got pulled a lot as a young driver,found the police to be condesending/rude everytime.
got pulled on the way to work once,dual carrigeway 50mph saw headlights in the distance racing up to me, cop pulls me over, says we had to do 100mph to catch you (what!!) i was doing 50. started bashing on about a load of st, luckily my uncle was in the car, he got out and pointed out that they were taking the piss, said nick him or ps off, the two young coppers apologised to him and left!, same thing in islington showing my dad my new car(2.8i capri) 19 years old quite chuffed with it. still in first gear when a copper jumps of the pavement in front of me, screached to a halt luckily for him, tore me a new asshole saying i must have been doing at least seventy, i explained i was still in 1st gear and he says these cars can do seventy in first (what a tt), anyway my dad gets out and says your talking twaddle so nick him or sod off, guess what, another apology and of he went.never met a reasonable copper on the road yet.i have known a few and the stories they tell about how they play snooker and other games while out on patrol, i learnt early on how to get away without a nick.
one rule i stand by is if you ever get pulled for anything, bow your head and apologies blowing sunshine up the coppers arse,they seem to like that!
i have no sympathy with the police for the lack of respect they get from the driving public, i have witnessed to many times the hiding behind a bush or wall with their speed gun pointing up a clear wide safe road an nicking people for doing 33 in a 30. what a complete money making load of bollucks, road safety my arse!!

where are they while your house is being burgled, i tell you where, 20 strong at the bottom of a hill near me where you could roll down faster than 30, nicking everyone who came over the hill, bloody disgraceful!
rant over.
but i would still overtake a police car if it was legal and safe to do so.
Hmmmm.... headache

Edited by Acheron on Sunday 2nd January 14:00
sorry to have offended, just my experience first hand and my opinion on speed traps. i could go on with a lot more bad experiences but i fear my fingers would be a little shorter by the time i was finished, just not been very lucky thats all.
Heh, dont be daft, i wasnt offended :P

Im Laser trained myself and the protocol is that we are only allowed to use speed guns in designated areas, there's only a handfull, we must be dressed in full high-vis and be clearly visible from the road at distance.

Maybe other forces advocate hiding boxedin behind trees but not mine angel

Bricol

140 posts

169 months

Sunday 2nd January 2011
quotequote all
Caught Panda cars down the back road before now - pass most of them on the straight bits, and then bug ger off. Caught one on the slightly too narrow to overtake unless he wants you to bit, and he speeded up . . so I maintained safe distance . . . so he speeded up . . . so I maintained a safe distance . . . so he speeded up and had several moments in the subsquent corners . . . I maintained a safe distance and didn't . . ;-)

Passing 'em in the snow in a LHD integrale is fun - when they illuminate you with a torch and there's a little old lady in the "drivers" seat . . .

Not quite a country road, but passed one who was waiting to pull onto a roundabout onto a dual-carriageway I was already on . . pulled me in the next town . . . "I had to do 90 to catch you . . ." say he. For an easy life, I didn't point out that if I was doing 60 past him, and then 70 on the rest of the dual-carriageway for the next three miles, from a standing start, he probably would have to go faster than me to catch me . . . However, another one who pulled me in a 30 for doing . . . 30 . . in his one headlight Astra at night, after I simple didn't slow down for the corners down into Denholme past the salt-pile (for those that know it) and he had to . . .He gave up the conversation about big wheels (standard), extended arches (standard), twin tailpipes (standard) when we got to 2 ltr and 4WD . . ;-).

Similar with one who followed me for 5 miles or more, through several 30-60-30-60 speed limits (left him at each change to 60) and finally pulled me as I turned off for home - I stopped and got out . . . "oh, I didn't realise it was LHD . " I was the only one in it . . . observation?

Got pulled in town on the way home from work . . . thought I was a boy racer . . . pleasant and nice enough - then told me off for the dust on the dash! He reckoned an integrale should be kept polished and clean. He'd be pretty upset with it now!

Most fun though, alhough again not on a country road, was taking the Caterham for it's SVA in 2001 along the M62 in morning traffic . . . no plates . . . brand spanking new, insured under chassis number and perfectly legal to drive to and from the test (unless it failed bad) and passing all the motorway patrols on the way ;-)

Bri


LeeThr

3,122 posts

173 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
Wills2 said:
LeeThr said:
Wills2 said:
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... smile
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.
Yes, you sound a fair cop, but I know for a fact that certain arsewhole coppers around here who if there bored and low on that months numbers will put me in court for it just because im another 17 year old "boi racer".

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 st. 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.
I got stopped loads when I was 17-19 years old, it's part of your on going driver training all that advice you get at the side of the road. wink
Would you care to explain how loosing time to be told I am under the limit for drink/being told I/my car is legal on the road helps me out?
wink That symbol indicates I'm being sarcastic ref the "advice"

But it's true I got stopped loads when I was a young lad, bombing around back roads late at night is always going to bring you to the attention of plod.
Haha wink
Yer, but I wasnt bombing it thought, having only just passed my test still didnt quite have the confidence on my own to push the loud pedal. I didnt mind being pulled too much I wasnt in a rush to get anywhere. I knew it was going to happen at some point. What botherd me was that this thick woman couldnt get it into her little head that I had no documents on me because I had only just passed. I thought the whole point of this ANPR crap was so they could check it without having to ask for documents?

H_Kan

4,942 posts

201 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
Unless on a motorway where they are doing 60mph, I simply wouldn't unless they were doing a stupidly low speed for the simple reason that they hold all the cards. They could be real tts about it and as a result cause me financial pain and hassle if I get points etc.

I've been pulled twice and both times been let on my way with a talking to. The first time, was a fair pull and I have taken on board what he said, so it's done its job.

The 2nd time however, he was cutting across the direction of travel and therefore I had right of way. It is up to him to ensure the lane is clear prior to trying to cut over it. He was pretty condescending and on some points either fanciful or just exaggerating. It took a lot of tongue biting to not rise to it.

In any case, an experience like that has cemented my opinion that some will be a pain for one reason or another and giving them ammo to do so isn't worth the saving of a couple of minutes.

Edited by H_Kan on Monday 3rd January 05:33

Cooky

4,955 posts

239 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
As a Publican living in a very small town out in rural Exmoor I get to meet most of our local dibble and some of the imports from the surrounding area. Most of our roads are NSL with scattered areas of 30 or 40. Quite often i take release in hooning around our wonderous countryside in the Cerbera and providing that the road conditions, and a safe opportunity are choice I will not hesitate to overtake. However to be fair they do tend to speed up a bit when they see/hear the arrival of the TVR.

Now under no circumstances am I stating we enjoy any kind of 'race' but a diluted form of spirited driving may occur...FFS, this may be hard to belive but some plod are infact quite human...yes, granted some trafpol may spend the majority of their 'offtime' on ancestery.com or some other realted dna data base looking for whom to send a father's day card to but why do motorists 'panic' at the very sight of plod on his rounds?

And most important of all is, if pulled... tell them the truth...'I'm out on a hoon, doing what I enjoy in a car that I respect. enjoy and understand'

ShiggyBiggs

713 posts

176 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
I overtook a police car on my way home in a 40 earlier as they were doing 30ish. They didnt seem too bothered at all.