Guess what I saw!!
Discussion
Sorry for the caps! :boxedin:
Further to a recent thread here about speeding to clear the way for emergency vehicles in speed camera zones.
On the M5 near Bristol there is a contraflow with 40mph limit and speed cameras. Last week whilst travelling through it, heading in the opposite direction to me in the single contraflow lane on my side of the carriageway, was a Police Land Rover Discovery driven by a young woman. The flashing lights and siren were on and she was clearly in a hurry.
However, incredibly the cars in front of the police car (not just one but three of them) were trying to let it past BY STOPPING! - in the single lane of a contraflow I remind you - and had pulled to the inside by the concrete roadworks barriers, even though there was really no room for the police driver to pass. The police car was stationary, driver waving extraordinarily frustratedly, the most excited I've ever seen a police officer, and then tried to squeeze very slowly round the side of the stopped cars.
Obviously it doesn't take a genius to realise that pretty normal people are being scared into not exceeding the speed limit - no matter what the circumstance.
And, most worryingly, do you know what I think I would have done? I would have done exactly the same thing.
sigh
Russ
Further to a recent thread here about speeding to clear the way for emergency vehicles in speed camera zones.
On the M5 near Bristol there is a contraflow with 40mph limit and speed cameras. Last week whilst travelling through it, heading in the opposite direction to me in the single contraflow lane on my side of the carriageway, was a Police Land Rover Discovery driven by a young woman. The flashing lights and siren were on and she was clearly in a hurry.
However, incredibly the cars in front of the police car (not just one but three of them) were trying to let it past BY STOPPING! - in the single lane of a contraflow I remind you - and had pulled to the inside by the concrete roadworks barriers, even though there was really no room for the police driver to pass. The police car was stationary, driver waving extraordinarily frustratedly, the most excited I've ever seen a police officer, and then tried to squeeze very slowly round the side of the stopped cars.
Obviously it doesn't take a genius to realise that pretty normal people are being scared into not exceeding the speed limit - no matter what the circumstance.
And, most worryingly, do you know what I think I would have done? I would have done exactly the same thing.
sigh
Russ
Personally, if i knew there were cameras around i'd proceed at the appropriate speed limit. Sorry but i'm not willing to go through the nightmare of persuading a "Partnership" that i was assisting an officer in the course of his / her duty.
If there were no cameras, the Police vehicle would suddenly find a clear road ahead of it
If there were no cameras, the Police vehicle would suddenly find a clear road ahead of it
If you speed to get out of the way of a police car, you'd probably be given a speeding ticket.
Did it once, got a ticket - never again.
Any emergency vehicle of any kind wants to get past me, then I won't break any speed limits for any reason, simple as that. If I end up blocking them and they can't get to an emergency, then so be it.
Did it once, got a ticket - never again.
Any emergency vehicle of any kind wants to get past me, then I won't break any speed limits for any reason, simple as that. If I end up blocking them and they can't get to an emergency, then so be it.
I think the problem here is not of speeding but to keep moving, the number of times i have seen people suddenly brake to let an emergency vehicle pass not realising they are then causing an obstruction themselves by not doing it in an appropriate way.
Even if they are traveling at the speed limit they are doing them more of a favour than they would be if they stopped with very little space to pass..
>> Edited by Mikey G on Wednesday 1st June 00:38
Even if they are traveling at the speed limit they are doing them more of a favour than they would be if they stopped with very little space to pass..
>> Edited by Mikey G on Wednesday 1st June 00:38
I find it easier, less confusing for the MoP and less frustrating for me, to switch off the B&2's before a contraflow. Less hassle than trying to wave people on or remove the car of a confused/disorientated driver from the concrete safety barrier which is now blocking everyone's progress......
Think the point here is that your 'average' motorist is brain washed into thinking B+2 = pull over to get out of the way.
Sometimes keep going works better. I agree though, speed cameras and you get a steady speed limit and a frustrated plod. No cameras and I'm gone out of their way.
Sometimes keep going works better. I agree though, speed cameras and you get a steady speed limit and a frustrated plod. No cameras and I'm gone out of their way.
Darth Viper said:
If you speed to get out of the way of a police car, you'd probably be given a speeding ticket.
Did it once, got a ticket - never again.
Any emergency vehicle of any kind wants to get past me, then I won't break any speed limits for any reason, simple as that. If I end up blocking them and they can't get to an emergency, then so be it.
Lets just hope it is not your house fire, your burglary that you do not know about or your parent/child/sibling/mate/partner with the life threatening condition
guizer said:
I find it easier, less confusing for the MoP and less frustrating for me, to switch off the B&2's before a contraflow. Less hassle than trying to wave people on or remove the car of a confused/disorientated driver from the concrete safety barrier which is now blocking everyone's progress......
And more efficient in terms of progress as everyone keeps going rather than causing bedlam!gone said:
If you speed to get out of the way of a police car, you'd probably be given a speeding ticket.
Did it once, got a ticket - never again.
Any emergency vehicle of any kind wants to get past me, then I won't break any speed limits for any reason, simple as that. If I end up blocking them and they can't get to an emergency, then so be it.
Lets just hope it is not your house fire, your burglary that you do not know about or your parent/child/sibling/mate/partner with the life threatening condition
You reap what you sow, gone. Not you personally but you "Police Service".
autismuk said:
Darth Viper said:
If you speed to get out of the way of a police car, you'd probably be given a speeding ticket.
Did it once, got a ticket - never again.
Any emergency vehicle of any kind wants to get past me, then I won't break any speed limits for any reason, simple as that. If I end up blocking them and they can't get to an emergency, then so be it.
Lets just hope it is not your house fire, your burglary that you do not know about or your parent/child/sibling/mate/partner with the life threatening condition
You reap what you sow, gone. Not you personally but you "Police Service".
I think "you reap what you sow" was exactly the point Gone was making.
autismuk said:
You reap what you sow, gone. Not you personally but you "Police Service".
Touche Autismuk
If the public wants us to bimble around as they obviously do, then so be it. Thats fine by me
! I am happy to attend whenever the traffic around will allow me so I am in no danger from allegations of law breaking or policy breach etc
. The trouble is they don't!
They want a rapid response when it is a call for personal help but they do not want police cars zipping about for any other purpose
The public want to have their cake and to eat it
gone said:
You reap what you sow, gone. Not you personally but you "Police Service".
Touche Autismuk
If the public wants us to bimble around as they obviously do, then so be it. Thats fine by me
I am happy to attend whenever the traffic around will allow me so I am in no danger from allegations of law breaking or policy breach etc
The trouble is they don't!
They want a rapid response when it is a call for personal help but they do not want police cars zipping about for any other purpose
The public want to have their cake and to eat it
I think the underlying issue was that by someone speeding to get out of the way of a blue lighted vehicle they got a 60 credit fine. Therefore will not use discretion in the future, but stick to the letter of the law.
gone said:
You reap what you sow, gone. Not you personally but you "Police Service".
Touche Autismuk
If the public wants us to bimble around as they obviously do, then so be it. Thats fine by me
I am happy to attend whenever the traffic around will allow me so I am in no danger from allegations of law breaking or policy breach etc
The trouble is they don't!
They want a rapid response when it is a call for personal help but they do not want police cars zipping about for any other purpose
The public want to have their cake and to eat it
"Be Gone" Gone, and eat thy donuts
I once did well over 3 figures in front of a traffic car that was obviously in a hurry. Outside lane, nowhere to go, saw a gap in the middle up the road so dropped a cog and nailed it past.
Got a thumbs up from the passanger as they screamed past to whatever emergancy they were attending.
Got a thumbs up from the passanger as they screamed past to whatever emergancy they were attending.
gone said:It's "Eat your cake and have it too" ... but most other people get it wrong, so you're no different.
The public want to have their cake and to eat it
But what we want is fair and just treatment, not "one law for them and one for the rest of us". As at least one poster here (and more than one previously, IIRC) has said, trying to convince a Scammer Pratnership that you were "assisting an emergency vehicle in making progress" is likely to be too much hassle. After all, Joe Public can't just call the control room to explain he's just set off a scamera (like wot the cops can
). I will do whatever I can not to incommode an emergency vehicle (order of priority usually being ambulances/fire appliances (equal), then police cars (B&2), and finally SPG-type vehicles ... but if I was in an area where scameras abound and there were no escape places, then, I'm sorry, but I'd drive at the limit (B2 indicated) and no faster. I'd also endeavour to note the VRN and any other identity on the vehicle, especially of a police vehicle in case I am later unjustly accused of committing an offence, or the 'shout' is called off and the occupants of the said vehicle decide to 'pull' me and deliver an earful.
Streaky
Mr E said:
I once did well over 3 figures in front of a traffic car that was obviously in a hurry. Outside lane, nowhere to go, saw a gap in the middle up the road so dropped a cog and nailed it past.
Got a thumbs up from the passanger as they screamed past to whatever emergancy they were attending.
I would like to think that this would be the case most of the time. Unfortunately I have not had the chance to "show off" my driving skills to the Bib recently!
Fat Audi 80 said:
I once did well over 3 figures in front of a traffic car that was obviously in a hurry. Outside lane, nowhere to go, saw a gap in the middle up the road so dropped a cog and nailed it past.
Got a thumbs up from the passanger as they screamed past to whatever emergancy they were attending.
I would like to think that this would be the case most of the time. Unfortunately I have not had the chance to "show off" my driving skills to the Bib recently!
Nor me. Generally speaking I'm quite happy for our BiB to be elsewhere, nicking the blighters that deserve to be nicked, which does not include taking time off to discuss speed limits with me.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
streaky said:
It's "Eat your cake and have it too" ... but most other people get it wrong, so you're no different.
From "Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" by Gregory Y. Titelman:
"You can't have your cake and eat it too -- One can't use something up and still have it to enjoy. This proverb was recorded in the book of proverbs by John Heywood in 1546, and is first attested in the United States in the 1742 'Colonial Records of Georgia' in 'Original Papers, 1735-1752.' The adage is found in varying forms: You can't eat your cake and have it too. You can't have everything and eat it too; Eat your cake and have the crumbs in bed with you, etc. ..."
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