We had "polite" horse riders..... now "polite" Vans ?
Discussion
Gavin0478 said:
I wonder if it is still registered, insured and taxed as a diesel lgv?
None of the engine conversions they do are declared. They've converted a few early shape connect vans with both zetec turbo / Mk1 Focus RS & Cosworth engines in. At least one of them is now owned by the friend of a lad on the RS Owners Club and it's still registered as a Diesel with the dvla even though it now has a tuned 330bhp decatted Mk1 Focus RS engine fitted to it. If they updated the V5 with the correct details they'd be paying over £280 based on the FRS engine emissions. Leaving it as a diesel means they pay about £100 less than that
Adz The Rat said:
It's obviously been done as an advertising tool for his RS vans and also as a bit if fun (he has a Royal Mail style van too), and most people would realise it's not a police van pretty instantly as it doesn't say police on it.
So where do you draw the line? Is it the reflective yellow and white squares or the word that looks a bit like police?
He isn't trying to be a police officer so is it actually impersonating a police officer?
On the reflective squares - only reflective amber (probably yellow too) is legal on the sides of a vehicle. Blue/red/green is only legal on emergency vehicles because it is covered by a DfT special order.So where do you draw the line? Is it the reflective yellow and white squares or the word that looks a bit like police?
He isn't trying to be a police officer so is it actually impersonating a police officer?
LoonR1 said:
Devil2575 said:
I Think emergency vehicles should be painted differently. No problem there.
I'm not saying that people should be allowed to paint their cars to look like emergency vehicles, i'm simply saying that if it causes you a problem that a vehicle or a horse/bike rider at first glance superficially resembles one then that indicates a problem with your driving.
If the actions these people have taken actually made them look like the Police then I agree it needs to be sorted but I suspect the majority of those who have such an issue with this are motorists who drive in a way that would not be acceptable to the Police and so tend to modify their driving style when they see such a person.
I don't have a problem with my driving. I know I break the speed limit the majority of the time that I'm driving. What I do have a problem with is self appointed pricks who have altered their vehicles appearance to pretend to be plod. I'm not saying that people should be allowed to paint their cars to look like emergency vehicles, i'm simply saying that if it causes you a problem that a vehicle or a horse/bike rider at first glance superficially resembles one then that indicates a problem with your driving.
If the actions these people have taken actually made them look like the Police then I agree it needs to be sorted but I suspect the majority of those who have such an issue with this are motorists who drive in a way that would not be acceptable to the Police and so tend to modify their driving style when they see such a person.
I'm unlikely to fall for it but others do. So I get held up unnecessarily. Secondly the pricks will try to act as a unsanctioned plod themselves. That pisses me off.
Edited by LoonR1 on Tuesday 16th September 16:23
Big cluster of cars acting as a rolling roadblock this morning on the M6. The reason? A camera van driving along in lane 1. Victor Medrew-type character in the van probably revelling at his power to slow cars down even whilst on the move.
Repeat with HATO cars, and Vosa people carriers. And Transits with police-style markings
Repeat with HATO cars, and Vosa people carriers. And Transits with police-style markings
V8Ford said:
Big cluster of cars acting as a rolling roadblock this morning on the M6. The reason? A camera van driving along in lane 1. Victor Medrew-type character in the van probably revelling at his power to slow cars down even whilst on the move.
Repeat with HATO cars, and Vosa people carriers. And Transits with police-style markings
Absolutely nothing to do with vehicles with chapter 8 markings, and everything to do with unobservant steering wheel operative tossers who cannot read . Repeat with HATO cars, and Vosa people carriers. And Transits with police-style markings
it;s certain other vehicles i'm more likely to be careful passing than anything with chapter 8 markings ....
mph1977 said:
V8Ford said:
Big cluster of cars acting as a rolling roadblock this morning on the M6. The reason? A camera van driving along in lane 1. Victor Medrew-type character in the van probably revelling at his power to slow cars down even whilst on the move.
Repeat with HATO cars, and Vosa people carriers. And Transits with police-style markings
Absolutely nothing to do with vehicles with chapter 8 markings, and everything to do with unobservant steering wheel operative tossers who cannot read . Repeat with HATO cars, and Vosa people carriers. And Transits with police-style markings
it;s certain other vehicles i'm more likely to be careful passing than anything with chapter 8 markings ....
Devil2575 said:
Indeed. This has feck all to do with the Camera van and everything to do with the idiots drivers who are scared to pass it.
I came up on a marked up police car (actual police, not VOSA/HA etc) last week doing a bit under the speed limit in the nationals. Single carriageway. I still overtook it
Adz The Rat said:
Slobberchops said:
Chorley Street Motors?
Yes its one of Geoff's work vans, Focus RS powered. I doubt the police would be interested, its clearly not trying to be a police van, its just an advertisement.
The OP was more concerned about the manner it was being driven than its appearance.
If this is true and the van in question were to be involved in a fatal then the garage owner could find himself in the same position as Anne Bissmire. Could he really be that stupid?
AlexRS2782 said:
Gavin0478 said:
I wonder if it is still registered, insured and taxed as a diesel lgv?
None of the engine conversions they do are declared. They've converted a few early shape connect vans with both zetec turbo / Mk1 Focus RS & Cosworth engines in.Devil2575 said:
mph1977 said:
V8Ford said:
Big cluster of cars acting as a rolling roadblock this morning on the M6. The reason? A camera van driving along in lane 1. Victor Medrew-type character in the van probably revelling at his power to slow cars down even whilst on the move.
Repeat with HATO cars, and Vosa people carriers. And Transits with police-style markings
Absolutely nothing to do with vehicles with chapter 8 markings, and everything to do with unobservant steering wheel operative tossers who cannot read . Repeat with HATO cars, and Vosa people carriers. And Transits with police-style markings
it;s certain other vehicles i'm more likely to be careful passing than anything with chapter 8 markings ....
a) Not adding to the problem?
b) Making the problem worse?
Devil2575 said:
Indeed. This has feck all to do with the Camera van and everything to do with the idiots drivers who are scared to pass it.
That's kind of the point I was trying to make 
People SHOULDN'T react in that manner to vehicles with official-looking livery (chapter 8 or whatever).
But unfortunately they do.
Edited by V8Ford on Wednesday 17th September 15:36
AlexRS2782 said:
None of the engine conversions they do are declared. They've converted a few early shape connect vans with both zetec turbo / Mk1 Focus RS & Cosworth engines in.
At least one of them is now owned by the friend of a lad on the RS Owners Club and it's still registered as a Diesel with the dvla even though it now has a tuned 330bhp decatted Mk1 Focus RS engine fitted to it. If they updated the V5 with the correct details they'd be paying over £280 based on the FRS engine emissions. Leaving it as a diesel means they pay about £100 less than that
That's just stupid and asking for a whole heap of problems. Not least because I know exactly where this place is. In fact my first ever car was repaired there when it was owned by a different person. I also hate uninsured drivers. I may decide to have a nosy around. At least one of them is now owned by the friend of a lad on the RS Owners Club and it's still registered as a Diesel with the dvla even though it now has a tuned 330bhp decatted Mk1 Focus RS engine fitted to it. If they updated the V5 with the correct details they'd be paying over £280 based on the FRS engine emissions. Leaving it as a diesel means they pay about £100 less than that
Adz The Rat said:
Yes its one of Geoff's work vans, Focus RS powered. I doubt the police would be interested, its clearly not trying to be a police van, its just an advertisement.
Not only are those vans just awful, but the wannabe police one is like an anti-advert. I really can't see how anyone but a very niche group would notice it in a positive light?Purity14 said:
Both were panda cars, id be scared of overtaking a traffic police car though.
Why?? Why would you be scared about overtaking any police car assuming you're not breaking the limit.It boggles my mind when I'm pootling down a DC in a panda doing 55/60, looking for whatever or simply driving slower for whatever reason.
I see people coming up nicely in the outside lane, see me and crap themselves before pulling in behind me and refusing to go past despite the fact they'd be completely entitled to!
Seeing as the majority of road users on motorways react to any cars with flashing amber lights (Highways Agency) or the HATO cars by braking at the last minute (Lets not discuss their observation skills now) shows you that these same people will react similary when they see this van, and any other type of vehicle liveried up to look like a plod car.
I had a blow out on my old Merc car years ago. Totally shredded the front tyre and I had to stop asap. I had an LED amber light fitted to the rear screen (for a related job, private hire) and put that on to warn drivers behind me. I just managed to pull into the next layby whilst creeping along and a 4x4 pulled in behind me.
I jumped out and the 4x4 driver came towards me and cheapishly asked what was wrong. I pointed to the tyre and he looked rather confused. He said "Oh. I thought you pulled me over! Are you police?"
Seriously! It's an AMBER light you bellend!
I had a blow out on my old Merc car years ago. Totally shredded the front tyre and I had to stop asap. I had an LED amber light fitted to the rear screen (for a related job, private hire) and put that on to warn drivers behind me. I just managed to pull into the next layby whilst creeping along and a 4x4 pulled in behind me.
I jumped out and the 4x4 driver came towards me and cheapishly asked what was wrong. I pointed to the tyre and he looked rather confused. He said "Oh. I thought you pulled me over! Are you police?"
Seriously! It's an AMBER light you bellend!
Edited by GTIR on Wednesday 17th September 19:48
Purity14 said:
On a dual carriageway ill overtake police cars all day long.
Im talking about rural country roads, where you have to chose a point to overtake.
I suppose if I wasn't in the job I'd be the same. But logically, if you think about it, there's no issue with overtaking traffic car if it doesn't mean you speeding or making a dangerous overtake. Im talking about rural country roads, where you have to chose a point to overtake.
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