Passing Police convoy
Discussion
Came across a situation today and left me questioning whether what I did was right and how I could improve.
Travelling on fairly clear motorway, I could see emergency lights in the far distance. They seemed to be moving so not indicative of a stationary incident. These lights were well ahead and though I initially thought an advance part of the convoy, it may have been completely unrelated.
Passing a junction I then saw police vehicles joining and and seemingly escorting a two special loads (windmill blades). Bit surprised they had police as I thought these things just had to have a escort vehicle to accompany them.
Anyway, I moved out to lane two but seemed to get caught up in the convoy. I'm not sure the Police driver actually realised I was there at first, either that or I was wrong and should not have been in that position. I was a bit unclear whether following traffic would have been held behind a rolling roadblock or allowed to pass in lane.
Watching it back, I think at the point of joining it was a two lane section of road so seeing the keep right on the Police vehicle was a little confusing, once they had progressed onto the three lane section, it would have been obvious they were wanting you to pass in lane three.
Picture paints a thousand words, so here's the footage.
https://youtu.be/eG6CUe4nnVw
https://youtu.be/3Dw_SI2Biqs
Any advice welcome.
Travelling on fairly clear motorway, I could see emergency lights in the far distance. They seemed to be moving so not indicative of a stationary incident. These lights were well ahead and though I initially thought an advance part of the convoy, it may have been completely unrelated.
Passing a junction I then saw police vehicles joining and and seemingly escorting a two special loads (windmill blades). Bit surprised they had police as I thought these things just had to have a escort vehicle to accompany them.
Anyway, I moved out to lane two but seemed to get caught up in the convoy. I'm not sure the Police driver actually realised I was there at first, either that or I was wrong and should not have been in that position. I was a bit unclear whether following traffic would have been held behind a rolling roadblock or allowed to pass in lane.
Watching it back, I think at the point of joining it was a two lane section of road so seeing the keep right on the Police vehicle was a little confusing, once they had progressed onto the three lane section, it would have been obvious they were wanting you to pass in lane three.
Picture paints a thousand words, so here's the footage.
https://youtu.be/eG6CUe4nnVw
https://youtu.be/3Dw_SI2Biqs
Any advice welcome.
I think you did the right thing and the police car was in the wrong to almost pull out in front of you, he had no need to at all.
He has the arrows going in the back of his car too, indicating you should pass on the right.
Can't see you did anything wrong at all really.
There's a junction like that on the M18 where the slip road becomes the new lane 1 as it goes to 3 lanes and you always get people pulling right across when joining before realising it's gone to 3 lanes and pulling back again. Maybe that's what confused the Police driver?
Edit - that is the exact section of road I've seen it happen, a few miles before the M62 and Goole turning!
He has the arrows going in the back of his car too, indicating you should pass on the right.
Can't see you did anything wrong at all really.
There's a junction like that on the M18 where the slip road becomes the new lane 1 as it goes to 3 lanes and you always get people pulling right across when joining before realising it's gone to 3 lanes and pulling back again. Maybe that's what confused the Police driver?
Edit - that is the exact section of road I've seen it happen, a few miles before the M62 and Goole turning!
I reckon the PC ought to have a good talking to from a Garage Sergeant 
Firstly, not properly checking his blind spot before doing a lane three sweep and secondly for crossing the solid line ghost island when it was not necessary to do so. WDC for the former and 3 pts for the latter.
All this is wholly tongue in cheek. Were it me and with the benefit of perfect hindsight, I'd have eased it back the minute I saw them. But then I spent ten years working with Traffic and know how they can be when the magical blue force field is in operation. Great to the front but a bit dodgy to the sides and rear.
Firstly, not properly checking his blind spot before doing a lane three sweep and secondly for crossing the solid line ghost island when it was not necessary to do so. WDC for the former and 3 pts for the latter.All this is wholly tongue in cheek. Were it me and with the benefit of perfect hindsight, I'd have eased it back the minute I saw them. But then I spent ten years working with Traffic and know how they can be when the magical blue force field is in operation. Great to the front but a bit dodgy to the sides and rear.
Hi Dave,
Was going to post on 'tother forum but wasn't sure I'd get much of a response these days.
Good to have the input. Haven't done much, or thought about much AD this last few months so was interesting to be 'surprised' by something and actually have to think about what I was doing.
Cheers
Was going to post on 'tother forum but wasn't sure I'd get much of a response these days.
Good to have the input. Haven't done much, or thought about much AD this last few months so was interesting to be 'surprised' by something and actually have to think about what I was doing.
Cheers
Other than you were looking like you didn't slow up much approaching the flashing lights and obviously an "abnormal load convoy" it wasn't the end of the world......
The Traffic car might have crossed the hatchings to try and "block" you from moving over into lane 2 so that the lorry could join the motorway, and he could keep you away from lane 2. i agree he might have stayed out of lane 3....
He did wave you past. Wanting you to continue listening to a decent sound track along a motorway that looked to be bliss
For me you were lucky catching the convoy then, as a couple of minutes later there would be a tail back with rubber neckers admiring the load, slowing you right down
The Traffic car might have crossed the hatchings to try and "block" you from moving over into lane 2 so that the lorry could join the motorway, and he could keep you away from lane 2. i agree he might have stayed out of lane 3....
He did wave you past. Wanting you to continue listening to a decent sound track along a motorway that looked to be bliss
For me you were lucky catching the convoy then, as a couple of minutes later there would be a tail back with rubber neckers admiring the load, slowing you right down
I think you did fine.
The only thing I'd note is always be cautious going 3 a breast along side an on slip. (I know you'd just cleared it) Same applies when coming past parking area's on dual tracks if there are stopped vehicles likely to re-join lane 1 forcing that vehicle into lane 2 where you might be.
Best
The only thing I'd note is always be cautious going 3 a breast along side an on slip. (I know you'd just cleared it) Same applies when coming past parking area's on dual tracks if there are stopped vehicles likely to re-join lane 1 forcing that vehicle into lane 2 where you might be.
Best
Rick101 said:
Came across a situation today and left me questioning whether what I did was right and how I could improve.
Travelling on fairly clear motorway, I could see emergency lights in the far distance. They seemed to be moving so not indicative of a stationary incident. These lights were well ahead and though I initially thought an advance part of the convoy, it may have been completely unrelated.
Passing a junction I then saw police vehicles joining and and seemingly escorting a two special loads (windmill blades). Bit surprised they had police as I thought these things just had to have a escort vehicle to accompany them.
Anyway, I moved out to lane two but seemed to get caught up in the convoy. I'm not sure the Police driver actually realised I was there at first, either that or I was wrong and should not have been in that position. I was a bit unclear whether following traffic would have been held behind a rolling roadblock or allowed to pass in lane.
Watching it back, I think at the point of joining it was a two lane section of road so seeing the keep right on the Police vehicle was a little confusing, once they had progressed onto the three lane section, it would have been obvious they were wanting you to pass in lane three.
Picture paints a thousand words, so here's the footage.
https://youtu.be/eG6CUe4nnVw
https://youtu.be/3Dw_SI2Biqs
Any advice welcome.
I would be cross at the waste of tax payers money...Travelling on fairly clear motorway, I could see emergency lights in the far distance. They seemed to be moving so not indicative of a stationary incident. These lights were well ahead and though I initially thought an advance part of the convoy, it may have been completely unrelated.
Passing a junction I then saw police vehicles joining and and seemingly escorting a two special loads (windmill blades). Bit surprised they had police as I thought these things just had to have a escort vehicle to accompany them.
Anyway, I moved out to lane two but seemed to get caught up in the convoy. I'm not sure the Police driver actually realised I was there at first, either that or I was wrong and should not have been in that position. I was a bit unclear whether following traffic would have been held behind a rolling roadblock or allowed to pass in lane.
Watching it back, I think at the point of joining it was a two lane section of road so seeing the keep right on the Police vehicle was a little confusing, once they had progressed onto the three lane section, it would have been obvious they were wanting you to pass in lane three.
Picture paints a thousand words, so here's the footage.
https://youtu.be/eG6CUe4nnVw
https://youtu.be/3Dw_SI2Biqs
Any advice welcome.
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