Overtaking - In path of police vehicle
Discussion
One morning on a two lane section of motorway approaching a joining slip road I moved out in good time to overtake a vehicle in front.
Checking mirrors first nothing was on approach and the lane was clear, I proceed to switch lane.
During my manoeuvre I spotted a speeding motorcycle (later identified as a police motorcycle) emerging from behind a black saloon and approaching at speed (no blue lights). He proceeded to flash his headlights on his approach. He quickly caught up with me and "shaking his head" for a brief period after his final flash.
At this point I realised it was a police vehicle and not a speeding motorcyclist.
I felt to move back over would place me too close to the rear of the vehicle being overtaken.
After this point and for the duration of my overtake manoeuvre he made no further gestures or any attempt to pull me over.
Should I have moved back over to give priority to the police vehicle or as no blue lights were apparent his flashing was just a signal for me to notice him and that he felt I had obstructed his path?
Checking mirrors first nothing was on approach and the lane was clear, I proceed to switch lane.
During my manoeuvre I spotted a speeding motorcycle (later identified as a police motorcycle) emerging from behind a black saloon and approaching at speed (no blue lights). He proceeded to flash his headlights on his approach. He quickly caught up with me and "shaking his head" for a brief period after his final flash.
At this point I realised it was a police vehicle and not a speeding motorcyclist.
I felt to move back over would place me too close to the rear of the vehicle being overtaken.
After this point and for the duration of my overtake manoeuvre he made no further gestures or any attempt to pull me over.
Should I have moved back over to give priority to the police vehicle or as no blue lights were apparent his flashing was just a signal for me to notice him and that he felt I had obstructed his path?
Cornelious said:
Checking mirrors first nothing was on approach and the lane was clear
During my manoeuvre I spotted a speeding motorcycle (later identified as a police motorcycle) emerging from behind a black saloon and approaching at speed
Guess you didn't observe that well, then, did you?During my manoeuvre I spotted a speeding motorcycle (later identified as a police motorcycle) emerging from behind a black saloon and approaching at speed
From your explanation I would say its a 50 / 50.
Maybe you did not allow enough time to complete your manoeuvre, possibly not enough observation but the biker certainly should have been aware of the power and speed differential of a bike v car. I'n guessing more that the biker caught themselves out a bit with road position (tucked up too long behind the car) and not enough observation.
I would
Maybe you did not allow enough time to complete your manoeuvre, possibly not enough observation but the biker certainly should have been aware of the power and speed differential of a bike v car. I'n guessing more that the biker caught themselves out a bit with road position (tucked up too long behind the car) and not enough observation.
I would
k out of the way of the faster vehicle, have a proper look next time. 
Maybe you should have been more aware if a faster vehicle was making it's way through traffic behind you, even if it wasn't approaching in the outside lane when you moved out. However, take a look at the dashcam video thread and you'll see a lot of self righteous people accelerating to create conflict and getting angry at people for not using telepathy or x-ray vision to see them coming. The police aren't immune from having those types in their ranks.
Cornelious said:
One morning on a two lane section of motorway approaching a joining slip road I moved out in good time to overtake a vehicle in front.
Checking mirrors first nothing was on approach and the lane was clear, I proceed to switch lane.
During my manoeuvre I spotted a speeding motorcycle (later identified as a police motorcycle) emerging from behind a black saloon and approaching at speed (no blue lights). He proceeded to flash his headlights on his approach. He quickly caught up with me and "shaking his head" for a brief period after his final flash.
At this point I realised it was a police vehicle and not a speeding motorcyclist.
I felt to move back over would place me too close to the rear of the vehicle being overtaken.
After this point and for the duration of my overtake manoeuvre he made no further gestures or any attempt to pull me over.
Should I have moved back over to give priority to the police vehicle or as no blue lights were apparent his flashing was just a signal for me to notice him and that he felt I had obstructed his path?
You did nothing wrong. My recent experience of a police motorcyclist, some are knobsChecking mirrors first nothing was on approach and the lane was clear, I proceed to switch lane.
During my manoeuvre I spotted a speeding motorcycle (later identified as a police motorcycle) emerging from behind a black saloon and approaching at speed (no blue lights). He proceeded to flash his headlights on his approach. He quickly caught up with me and "shaking his head" for a brief period after his final flash.
At this point I realised it was a police vehicle and not a speeding motorcyclist.
I felt to move back over would place me too close to the rear of the vehicle being overtaken.
After this point and for the duration of my overtake manoeuvre he made no further gestures or any attempt to pull me over.
Should I have moved back over to give priority to the police vehicle or as no blue lights were apparent his flashing was just a signal for me to notice him and that he felt I had obstructed his path?
From what you have said if you did good mirror and blindspot checks and I assume you gave the necessary signal (3/4 seconds before changing direction and or speed) before moving over then the onus is on the police motorcyclist as it not clear you pulled into his path. As your comments suggest the bike was not in the frame when you checked in your mirror the 'Information Phase' it didn't factor in your decision to 'Position Phase' your self in the next lane and overtake which you are entitled to do.
The police motorcyclist I assume was choosing to use their excemption to speed but not activate his/her warning light or siren. Again they are trained to use this features in circumstances that require it but sometimes for operational reasons they will speed but not activate these functions for certain reasons. Not sure why they he shook his head but as you said they did not have their blues on and you must make a safe transition back to left lane. I have had police cars tailgating me unnecessarily, they are human after all and make mistakes. Either they were upset you held them up or they think you should of seen them coming prior to moving out.
Its good that you have taken the time to reflect on your driving and see what you could of done better or improve. Thats certainly in the spirit of good advanced driving.
The police motorcyclist I assume was choosing to use their excemption to speed but not activate his/her warning light or siren. Again they are trained to use this features in circumstances that require it but sometimes for operational reasons they will speed but not activate these functions for certain reasons. Not sure why they he shook his head but as you said they did not have their blues on and you must make a safe transition back to left lane. I have had police cars tailgating me unnecessarily, they are human after all and make mistakes. Either they were upset you held them up or they think you should of seen them coming prior to moving out.
Its good that you have taken the time to reflect on your driving and see what you could of done better or improve. Thats certainly in the spirit of good advanced driving.
Edited by surveyor_101 on Tuesday 21st June 13:26
Gary C said:
You did nothing wrong. My recent experience of a police motorcyclist, some are knobs
like most groups of people in life then? I spent a day with a group of 20 of them and hold them in some esteem. I'd certainly rather be stopped by a 2 wheeled plod than a 4.regardless - (s)he has high stress job, so maybe chastised the OP without good cause because they slowed him down on what we have to assume was an urgent journey.
OverSteery said:
Gary C said:
You did nothing wrong. My recent experience of a police motorcyclist, some are knobs
like most groups of people in life then? I spent a day with a group of 20 of them and hold them in some esteem. I'd certainly rather be stopped by a 2 wheeled plod than a 4.regardless - (s)he has high stress job, so maybe chastised the OP without good cause because they slowed him down on what we have to assume was an urgent journey.
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