If I beep a Police Volvo ...
Discussion
What will the consequences be?
I was, as some might term, cut-up by such a car today. It was a case of in the wrong lane to beat the queue of traffic then chop in to the left lane, although the indicator was used but more in a move and flash once manoeuvre, meaning I had to brake.
Normally, I would beep my horn, not out of anger per se, but to show driver in front of my immediate presence (as per Highway Code) and that they made me brake etc.
What possible 'offence' could be pinned on me? Inappropriate use of horn?
I was, as some might term, cut-up by such a car today. It was a case of in the wrong lane to beat the queue of traffic then chop in to the left lane, although the indicator was used but more in a move and flash once manoeuvre, meaning I had to brake.
Normally, I would beep my horn, not out of anger per se, but to show driver in front of my immediate presence (as per Highway Code) and that they made me brake etc.
What possible 'offence' could be pinned on me? Inappropriate use of horn?
edc said:
What will the consequences be?
I was, as some might term, cut-up by such a car today. It was a case of in the wrong lane to beat the queue of traffic then chop in to the left lane, although the indicator was used but more in a move and flash once manoeuvre, meaning I had to brake.
Normally, I would beep my horn, not out of anger per se, but to show driver in front of my immediate presence (as per Highway Code) and that they made me brake etc.
What possible 'offence' could be pinned on me? Inappropriate use of horn?
I'd use the horn if I suspected that the other car wasn't fully aware of my presence. I wouldn't use it as a rebuke.
Funny you should say that. I'll tell a story.
My wife was in the correct lane, on a bit of a difficult junction exiting the motorway. It is a bit odd in that a dedicated lane (left) effectively exits to the 3rd exit, ie right. It is a bit odd, but that is the way the road is marked as there are lots of exits, strange, but marked as so.
Anyway, wifey is in the car, with mum in law and baby in the back, as she set off she was aware of an ARv screeching to a halt on her right quarter, and a sunglass donned policeman shouting at her. The arv missed her by inches.
They carried on, whereby my wife is now in the left lane to exit, a car in the middle lane, and said ARV in the next one.
Policeofficer then shouts at my wife across the other car.
My wife asks if he would like her to pull over, no he replied, still spitting feathers.
My wife tells me this, so in turn I turn into a raging 17 stone loony, as I know she is right, and get right on the blower to control room to speak to the pc.
PC was traced, I left instructions for him to phone me, which in fairness he did.
I vented my spleen in a spectacular way and invited him for a chat. He went to check the road markings, and 10 minutes later I was faced with a very apologetic pc, who admitted he should never have done what he did.
I bet he had a surprise when I called, and very succinctly stated my intentions.
At least he had the bottle to recall me, but it shows that sometimes even the 'best'drive like nuggets.
However, if I had been a member of public, with no access to the internal control room lines it would have been left as it was, which clearly isn't good.
ca is correct in saying the horn is to make other road users aware of your presence.
Maybe a quick coffee beans out of sight would have been better....
He/she probably knew they drove like a bit of a nugget, so beeping may not have helped...Also, if they received an emergency shout they may have to have made a rapid decision and change direction.......saying that, we have blue lights for that...ah well, no excuses.
Just my mini vent, sorry
My wife was in the correct lane, on a bit of a difficult junction exiting the motorway. It is a bit odd in that a dedicated lane (left) effectively exits to the 3rd exit, ie right. It is a bit odd, but that is the way the road is marked as there are lots of exits, strange, but marked as so.
Anyway, wifey is in the car, with mum in law and baby in the back, as she set off she was aware of an ARv screeching to a halt on her right quarter, and a sunglass donned policeman shouting at her. The arv missed her by inches.
They carried on, whereby my wife is now in the left lane to exit, a car in the middle lane, and said ARV in the next one.
Policeofficer then shouts at my wife across the other car.
My wife asks if he would like her to pull over, no he replied, still spitting feathers.
My wife tells me this, so in turn I turn into a raging 17 stone loony, as I know she is right, and get right on the blower to control room to speak to the pc.
PC was traced, I left instructions for him to phone me, which in fairness he did.
I vented my spleen in a spectacular way and invited him for a chat. He went to check the road markings, and 10 minutes later I was faced with a very apologetic pc, who admitted he should never have done what he did.
I bet he had a surprise when I called, and very succinctly stated my intentions.
At least he had the bottle to recall me, but it shows that sometimes even the 'best'drive like nuggets.
However, if I had been a member of public, with no access to the internal control room lines it would have been left as it was, which clearly isn't good.
ca is correct in saying the horn is to make other road users aware of your presence.
Maybe a quick coffee beans out of sight would have been better....
He/she probably knew they drove like a bit of a nugget, so beeping may not have helped...Also, if they received an emergency shout they may have to have made a rapid decision and change direction.......saying that, we have blue lights for that...ah well, no excuses.
Just my mini vent, sorry
silverback mike said:
Funny you should say that. I'll tell a story.
My wife was in the correct lane, on a bit of a difficult junction exiting the motorway. It is a bit odd in that a dedicated lane (left) effectively exits to the 3rd exit, ie right. It is a bit odd, but that is the way the road is marked as there are lots of exits, strange, but marked as so.
Anyway, wifey is in the car, with mum in law and baby in the back, as she set off she was aware of an ARv screeching to a halt on her right quarter, and a sunglass donned policeman shouting at her. The arv missed her by inches.
They carried on, whereby my wife is now in the left lane to exit, a car in the middle lane, and said ARV in the next one.
Policeofficer then shouts at my wife across the other car.
My wife asks if he would like her to pull over, no he replied, still spitting feathers.
My wife tells me this, so in turn I turn into a raging 17 stone loony, as I know she is right, and get right on the blower to control room to speak to the pc.
PC was traced, I left instructions for him to phone me, which in fairness he did.
I vented my spleen in a spectacular way and invited him for a chat. He went to check the road markings, and 10 minutes later I was faced with a very apologetic pc, who admitted he should never have done what he did.
I bet he had a surprise when I called, and very succinctly stated my intentions.
At least he had the bottle to recall me, but it shows that sometimes even the 'best'drive like nuggets.
However, if I had been a member of public, with no access to the internal control room lines it would have been left as it was, which clearly isn't good.
ca is correct in saying the horn is to make other road users aware of your presence.
Maybe a quick coffee beans out of sight would have been better....
He/she probably knew they drove like a bit of a nugget, so beeping may not have helped...Also, if they received an emergency shout they may have to have made a rapid decision and change direction.......saying that, we have blue lights for that...ah well, no excuses.
Just my mini vent, sorry
Good show! In fairness, at least he accepted he was in the wrong...and nothing to do with the fact that he couldn't use his,'I'm a policeman, so I'm always right' card then?
If you had spoken to him as the normal irate husband of a member of the public, do you think he would have got his spoon out and eaten humble pie?
I don't think so, and from your post, I am sure you appreciate that too Mike.
Anyway, good on you for making your point to him, whatever your personal circs. and know how.
If you had spoken to him as the normal irate husband of a member of the public, do you think he would have got his spoon out and eaten humble pie?
I don't think so, and from your post, I am sure you appreciate that too Mike.
Anyway, good on you for making your point to him, whatever your personal circs. and know how.
edc said:
What will the consequences be?
What possible 'offence' could be pinned on me? Inappropriate use of horn?
Probably nothing, but from personal experience many years ago you'd probably get a producer and they'd have a good look all over the car for anything wrong. Not saying all are the same but it does happen.
However I guess the fact that you even started this post proves the general feeling we have of how the police react to criticism.
edc - make a formal complaint about the driving style explaining exactly what happened. Even if nothing comes of it, if this officer makes it a habit to abuse other drivers and we all stopped confirming their attitude that they are superior and must be correct, and enough people complained there might be enough evidence that someone senior might have a quiet word.
I was thinking of this just this morning - the number of people who drive like complete tossers in company vehicles with phone numbers down the side is incredible - I was cut up this morning by a Glasgow City Council van and an Audi "Customer Support Vehicle" - both very dangerous manoeuvres and both with phone numbers on the back of the vehicle. Unfortunately we all just think that phoning and compaining would be a waste of effort, but if enough of us do it then eventually someone might take notice. This could obviously apply to plod also.
I was thinking of this just this morning - the number of people who drive like complete tossers in company vehicles with phone numbers down the side is incredible - I was cut up this morning by a Glasgow City Council van and an Audi "Customer Support Vehicle" - both very dangerous manoeuvres and both with phone numbers on the back of the vehicle. Unfortunately we all just think that phoning and compaining would be a waste of effort, but if enough of us do it then eventually someone might take notice. This could obviously apply to plod also.
bluementhol said:
Nice motto, doesn't mean there is always enough room to brake to avoid a collison.
I didn't say there was. In my experience the horn always seems to come on after the braking has stopped.
If you don't beep to warn of your close presence then the assumption is that the manouvre was perfectly safe and acceptable and that the driver will continue driving exactly the same way. Relatedly, ppl always complain about driving standards and what can be done to improve them but all the methods suggested are always rather passive or have some element of retribution (fines, bans etc) and are some time after the event. That's not to say everybody is now a traffic cop.
Incidentally, I tend to beep and brake pretty much simultaneously.
@ Blacknblue - no problem with my car, just the time wasted of any possible producer and re criticism - absolutely. But similarly, a highly visible and marked car driving like many other cars on the road might give rise to ppl thinking things like well if they can do it so can I, or the belief that Police driving standards are no better than any other which conflicts with the expectation that Police driving is better.
@ GreigM Agree with your last para.
Personally, with 'normal' drivers you nearly always expect ppl to cut you up like this so in most cases you are prepared for it. However, my perception, rightly or wrongly, correctly or incorrectly, is that marked cars will not drive like this, so in this case I wasn't prepared for it.
silverback mike said:Very good, but would he have called back if you hadn't been a policeman?
My wife tells me this, so in turn I turn into a raging 17 stone loony, as I know she is right, and get right on the blower to control room to speak to the pc.
PC was traced, I left instructions for him to phone me, which in fairness he did.
I've beeped a marked police car before now.
I was behind it in a left turn filter lane that had a separate traffic light signal for the right hand lane (which was straight ahead only). Bib obviously didn't see the light turn green so I waited for a respectable time and beeped gently. Bib moved off at knots..
I was behind it in a left turn filter lane that had a separate traffic light signal for the right hand lane (which was straight ahead only). Bib obviously didn't see the light turn green so I waited for a respectable time and beeped gently. Bib moved off at knots..
Since when has it been an offence to Beep at another car? (serious question)
Next time lean on the horn give him the spanking the monkey hand sign and go on your merry way feeling happy to have brightened plods day. You might even offer a round of fisticuffs to teach the driver the error of his ways.
Of course if you're going in the same direction or own a very easy to spot car you may think twice about this course of action.
Next time lean on the horn give him the spanking the monkey hand sign and go on your merry way feeling happy to have brightened plods day. You might even offer a round of fisticuffs to teach the driver the error of his ways.
Of course if you're going in the same direction or own a very easy to spot car you may think twice about this course of action.
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