Did I do the wrong thing?
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justlivyalife

Original Poster:

4,609 posts

238 months

Wednesday 27th February 2008
quotequote all
Following on from the "am I a muppet" thread.

I was on the M5 last Thursday, southbound, cruising at 75mph. Had just moved into Outside lane to overtake a car that had slowed because a Traffic liveried Volvo had joined at the junction we were passing.

The Volvo then proceeded to the outside lane behind me (no lights on or anything). The car I was overtaking then accelerated back up to 75 (and matched my speed).

After a few moments I realised that I was going no-where so accelerated to 80 to get out of the outside lane, and when I pulled in the Volvo (who had a very agressive stance behind me at all times) flashed his headlights at me, before accelerating off into the distance - he pulled a car over about 1/2 a mile ahead.

Not sure what the headlight flash was meant to be - but did I do the right/wrong thing? Just wondering if I should have dropped back and pulled in behind the fool that couldn't see what was going on?

Ordinary Bloke

4,559 posts

229 months

Wednesday 27th February 2008
quotequote all
justlivyalife said:
Following on from the "am I a muppet" thread.

I was on the M5 last Thursday, southbound, cruising at 75mph. Had just moved into Outside lane to overtake a car that had slowed because a Traffic liveried Volvo had joined at the junction we were passing.

The Volvo then proceeded to the outside lane behind me (no lights on or anything). The car I was overtaking then accelerated back up to 75 (and matched my speed).

After a few moments I realised that I was going no-where so accelerated to 80 to get out of the outside lane, and when I pulled in the Volvo (who had a very agressive stance behind me at all times) flashed his headlights at me, before accelerating off into the distance - he pulled a car over about 1/2 a mile ahead.

Not sure what the headlight flash was meant to be - but did I do the right/wrong thing? Just wondering if I should have dropped back and pulled in behind the fool that couldn't see what was going on?
Wow, I think I beat VanHosen to answer biggrin

Yes, you drove at 75 in a 70 zone. 3 points. Sorted rofl

eldar

25,350 posts

227 months

Wednesday 27th February 2008
quotequote all
I'd say the right thing - you were dealing with a person, who could see what was going on, not an automaton.

justlivyalife

Original Poster:

4,609 posts

238 months

Wednesday 27th February 2008
quotequote all
Sorry I should have stipulated, an indicated 75, which is more like 70 according to TomTom wink

Edited by justlivyalife on Wednesday 27th February 23:13

mark69sheer

3,906 posts

233 months

Wednesday 27th February 2008
quotequote all
I know in the days of police paranoia its difficult to judge..

but to be honest it looks as though he was flashing you to thank you for moving out of his way...

courteous and understanding...


jimmyb

12,254 posts

247 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
Hmmm odds are the flash was probably a warning about your speed (to let you know he was there as it were)but he didnt feel it necessary to pull you for it. Thankfully there are plod out there who use common sense.

10 Pence Short

32,880 posts

248 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
Maybe the traffic car had identified his target before joining the motorway? He joined the motorway to catch the target and pull them over. He then got stuck behind you while the target was moving away, so he flashes his lights briefly to say "please shift" without using the full blues and twos to alert the car he's trying to pull over further down the road?

Jasandjules

72,684 posts

260 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
I'd have thought the flash was more of a ta for getting out of my way as I'm in a hurry type of thing? Did he zoom off up the road at full chat?!?!

I suspect that a Volvo driver (by that I assume he'll be a pursuit officer) will have noticed that the fellow in the inside lane has sped up to force you into speeding and getting nicked, and so was grateful that you didn't hold him up for too long...

Edited by Jasandjules on Thursday 28th February 10:32

tigger1

8,483 posts

252 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
Two choices:
a) speed up, pull over safely (after all, we shouldn't delay an emergency vehicle - and him having no lights on does not mean he is not going somewhere in a hurry)

b) slow down and pull in behind the car.


In the case of a - you'd be breaking the law, you have no exemption to speed

In the case of b - you'd be braking upsetting the copper by slowing him down.

Heads you lose, tails you don't win.


JM-S2K

64 posts

237 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
Simple thank you, that's all it was. You did the best thing, shows that you had a good understanding of the situation and vision. You dont see it often where I work!

LeoSayer

7,860 posts

275 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
tigger1 said:
In the case of a - you'd be breaking the law, you have no exemption to speed

In the case of b - you'd be braking upsetting the copper by slowing him down.

Heads you lose, tails you don't win.
I'd go for b every time. How can anyone jutify helping the police by breaking the law?

Six Fiend

6,067 posts

246 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
By making suitable progress to get out of a situation and into a safety zone.

Would slowing and moving in have caused more problems with other traffic than a brief squirt to pass the hazard?

No copper is going to give you grief for getting out of their way in a safe manner.

Edited by Six Fiend on Thursday 28th February 13:32

Jasandjules

72,684 posts

260 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
LeoSayer said:
How can anyone jutify helping the police by breaking the law?
Lesser of two evils?
Speeding isn't one of those laws I'd be really too concerned about braking in that situation.

A mate of mine, rather large, strong, black belt type of chap once saw a fairly hefty chap having a fair old go at a diminutive WPC, so he went over to see if he could help, got there just in time as the WPC was grappling a little too much and losing, so said friend took some fairly, shall we say forceful action, and said fellow hit the floor with a fair old crunch, and stayed down. WPC said thanks mate, and he walked away. Now, he used a fair bit more force than was necessary, but the WPC didn't for one second appear to cross her mind that he did so and that she ought to arrest my friend, she was fecking grateful she wasn't a new police statistic. I've also seen at a Railway station two plod try and grapple a lunatic who was shouting and screaming to the ground, a commuter who clearly could handle himself stepped in, and lunatic was suddenly on the floor with one plod basically sat on the fellows head.. Again, Police officers said cheers mate....

If you can help the police, why wouldn't you?

justlivyalife

Original Poster:

4,609 posts

238 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies smile

Glad most people agree with me! I thought about slowing down but that would have peed him off (more) probably!


LeoSayer

7,860 posts

275 months

Friday 29th February 2008
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
LeoSayer said:
How can anyone jutify helping the police by breaking the law?
Lesser of two evils?
Speeding isn't one of those laws I'd be really too concerned about braking in that situation.

A mate of mine, rather large, strong, black belt type of chap once saw a fairly hefty chap having a fair old go at a diminutive WPC, so he went over to see if he could help, got there just in time as the WPC was grappling a little too much and losing, so said friend took some fairly, shall we say forceful action, and said fellow hit the floor with a fair old crunch, and stayed down. WPC said thanks mate, and he walked away. Now, he used a fair bit more force than was necessary, but the WPC didn't for one second appear to cross her mind that he did so and that she ought to arrest my friend, she was fecking grateful she wasn't a new police statistic. I've also seen at a Railway station two plod try and grapple a lunatic who was shouting and screaming to the ground, a commuter who clearly could handle himself stepped in, and lunatic was suddenly on the floor with one plod basically sat on the fellows head.. Again, Police officers said cheers mate....

If you can help the police, why wouldn't you?
Neither of those actions sounded unreasonable, or against the law IMHO.