Why do we get hassled for overtaking Police cars?
Discussion
When a police car is travelling at 60mph on the inside lane of a motorway and someone goes to overtake them, why would the police car speed up? I see this happen quite often. Are they really trying to teach the overtaker a lesson like "how dare you try and overtake us, we're police don't you know"? Status anxiety? It just seems to be another way to lose the public's trust and respect to me.
I saw it happen to a woman in a black BMW 645.
She passed the Police car on the A77 at pretty much bang on 70mph and pulled into the inside lane again only for the Police car driver (non trafpol) to accelerate and sit about 2ft of her bumper. This is on the A77 which we have been told for so many years is a 'dangerous road'.
She passed the Police car on the A77 at pretty much bang on 70mph and pulled into the inside lane again only for the Police car driver (non trafpol) to accelerate and sit about 2ft of her bumper. This is on the A77 which we have been told for so many years is a 'dangerous road'.
I had this situation some years ago, on a near empty M1, Yorkshire, Police Range Rover on the inside lane at about 65mph, I gradually gained on it and pulled out to overtake as I did he very gradually sped up so that it took me a long time to get fully alongside by that time he was doing just about 70 so I had to chose between staying in lane 2 at 69mph (with Plod glaring at me), slowing down and dropping in behind or speeding up to overtake - I slowly overtook him, at no time did my speedo show much more than 70 (maybe 72), as soon as I was in front he put his blue lights on and pulled me over - gave me a lecture about not sitting in lane 2 for long periods of time and 'how dare' I overtake a Police car that was doing the speed limit 
at least he didn't give me a ticket.
I honestly think whatever I'd done he'd have pulled me over, maybe he was bored, not really sure what he was trying to achieve.....
>> Edited by catso on Tuesday 7th February 19:57
at least he didn't give me a ticket. I honestly think whatever I'd done he'd have pulled me over, maybe he was bored, not really sure what he was trying to achieve.....
>> Edited by catso on Tuesday 7th February 19:57
Whenever I've seen a traffic car tootling along at 60-65 mph in lane 1, I've usually gone past without hesitation at anything up to an indicated 80 mph or so (having slowed down a bit!) and they haven't shown the slightest interest.
Maybe if you seem to be behaving fairly decently they just settle for a quiet life. After all, I'm sure they can soon find plenty of better customers if they really want to involve themselves.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Maybe if you seem to be behaving fairly decently they just settle for a quiet life. After all, I'm sure they can soon find plenty of better customers if they really want to involve themselves.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Just like posters above have said, everyone seems to slow down to 65 and bunch up, which surely must be more dangerous than doing 80 and keeping a bigger distance between each other.
I don't wish to bash the police but it would be nice if they perhaps pulled over on or two of the cars which tailgate others as they pass police cars, and had a word with them or something like that.
I don't wish to bash the police but it would be nice if they perhaps pulled over on or two of the cars which tailgate others as they pass police cars, and had a word with them or something like that.
I don't want to tempt fate, but I've not had a problem with this really. Most of them I've found have been doing about 65 and I've passed them at an indicated 72-75 without issues...
Don't know what I'd do if one sped up. Probably engine brake to 65 and pull back in behind? Not good I know but at least then I couldn't be labelled an evil child murdering bastard
Don't know what I'd do if one sped up. Probably engine brake to 65 and pull back in behind? Not good I know but at least then I couldn't be labelled an evil child murdering bastard
KB_S1 said:
I saw it happen to a woman in a black BMW 645.
She passed the Police car on the A77 at pretty much bang on 70mph and pulled into the inside lane again only for the Police car driver (non trafpol) to accelerate and sit about 2ft of her bumper. This is on the A77 which we have been told for so many years is a 'dangerous road'.
Jealousy, I reckon.
In this day and age of camera phones we should really be taking pics of bad police driving and sending the pics to their Chief Constable!
>> Edited by texasjohn on Tuesday 7th February 22:29
i dont understand why people would let an officer get away with pullig you for something as stpid as increasing your speed slightly to increase the gap between an officer in his 5 thousand tonne range rover in the inside lane at 65mph and when you go to pass him he increases his speed to 69mph just for a laugh,
i wouldnt stand for it and report the plonker!
he can try and tell me of but i'll fight him to the death!
i wouldnt stand for it and report the plonker!
he can try and tell me of but i'll fight him to the death!
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