Blue light question
Discussion
I was driving home tonight, heading east along an NSL B Road. Specifically the B556 between London Colney and South Mimms, alongside the M25 and past the Mosquito museum.
Just as I approached the left hand bend under the motorway a police car appeared behind me with blue lights and headlights flashing. He wasn't catching up very quickly, and it seemed an awkward place to pass so I pressed on looking for somewhere to stop. I don't think this road is wide enough to pass a parked car without going onto the wrong side of the road.
As I went under the motorway he came up right behind me, but there was a sharp right hander in front of me so I carried on until reaching an entrance to a track before stopping for him to pass. Even though this was still on a bend.
I know they don't like drivers to simply stop as soon as blue lights appear in the mirror because this can end up blocking the road, but I suspect this copper was getting a bit impatient.
Should I have simply stopped by the kerb and let him worry about getting past me? Though this might have slowed him down more. Or should I have carried on driving normally until reaching a good overtaking opportunity, then slowed to let him past?
I have a feeling he was either cursing me for not stopping earlier, or for stopping in an awkward position. But I don't know which!
Advice from emergency drivers would be appreciated!
Just as I approached the left hand bend under the motorway a police car appeared behind me with blue lights and headlights flashing. He wasn't catching up very quickly, and it seemed an awkward place to pass so I pressed on looking for somewhere to stop. I don't think this road is wide enough to pass a parked car without going onto the wrong side of the road.
As I went under the motorway he came up right behind me, but there was a sharp right hander in front of me so I carried on until reaching an entrance to a track before stopping for him to pass. Even though this was still on a bend.
I know they don't like drivers to simply stop as soon as blue lights appear in the mirror because this can end up blocking the road, but I suspect this copper was getting a bit impatient.
Should I have simply stopped by the kerb and let him worry about getting past me? Though this might have slowed him down more. Or should I have carried on driving normally until reaching a good overtaking opportunity, then slowed to let him past?
I have a feeling he was either cursing me for not stopping earlier, or for stopping in an awkward position. But I don't know which!
Advice from emergency drivers would be appreciated!
I was traveling down a 2 way country lane and had an ambulance catch me up. I watched in my mirrors as the prat behind me just stopped forcing the ambulance to go into oncoming traffic. I couldnt really pull over due to there being no pavement etc and only hedges. I knew the road in question and knew it opened up further up.
I had the choice of stopping and forcing him to make a risky manouvre, or clogging it and pulling over when possible. I chose to flash my left then right then left indicator to let them know I had seen them, put my foot down and pull over asap. when I eventually did pull over I got a few pips and thanks off both the crew.
I think its down to you to make an informed decision on the situation at the time.
I had the choice of stopping and forcing him to make a risky manouvre, or clogging it and pulling over when possible. I chose to flash my left then right then left indicator to let them know I had seen them, put my foot down and pull over asap. when I eventually did pull over I got a few pips and thanks off both the crew.
I think its down to you to make an informed decision on the situation at the time.
not an emergancy driver but i always stop in the first safe place to do so...
i was going through kempston once following a Clio and a copper came up behind us, all blues and two's... so the Clio just stamps on the brakes and stops kinda half in a bus stop...
nice one Clio driver, 'cos where am i gonna go??? well i could stop behind you but that would block the road and the copper can't get past...
so i pass the Clio and move into a safe parking space about 15m further than the bus stop, which was long enough for me, the Clio, the copper, a bus and probably Grandpa and Grandma Schumacher in their huge German-motorised home... the copper nips past and on his way, while i leave idiot-Clio man to his own devices and carry on my journey too!
i was going through kempston once following a Clio and a copper came up behind us, all blues and two's... so the Clio just stamps on the brakes and stops kinda half in a bus stop...
nice one Clio driver, 'cos where am i gonna go??? well i could stop behind you but that would block the road and the copper can't get past...
so i pass the Clio and move into a safe parking space about 15m further than the bus stop, which was long enough for me, the Clio, the copper, a bus and probably Grandpa and Grandma Schumacher in their huge German-motorised home... the copper nips past and on his way, while i leave idiot-Clio man to his own devices and carry on my journey too!
When I worked for GEC and lived in Plymouth, I was driving along and came almost head-to-head with a traffic car escorting an ambulance along the wrong side of the road past a stationary queue. Given the choice of reversing back along the road and out of their way or over the kerb and onto a grassy bank, I took a nano-second to go 
it's a pool car so what do I care? Over the kerb and off-road we go. Got a big wave from both drivers, and the car made a funny clonking noise there after. Said nothing on return, but the next person complained 
wasn't me guv!!
it's a pool car so what do I care? Over the kerb and off-road we go. Got a big wave from both drivers, and the car made a funny clonking noise there after. Said nothing on return, but the next person complained wasn't me guv!!Blue lights on a police car are not an indication to stop.
If you fail to move over and allow the car quick passage you could commit the offence of 'unnecessary obstruction' or 'without consideration', if you intentionally block the car's passage you might be guilty of obstructing the police in the execution of their duty, a more serious offence.
The simple question is; Can you justify your actions, given the circumstances? If the answer is yes, then you are in the clear.
I've seen drivers go through red lights to allow me passage when on blues but I don't advise that.
I like it when drivers indicate and make a move that is clearly allowing me precedence. It can be an entertaining exercise for all concerned.
Just do your best. That's all anyone can ask.
If you fail to move over and allow the car quick passage you could commit the offence of 'unnecessary obstruction' or 'without consideration', if you intentionally block the car's passage you might be guilty of obstructing the police in the execution of their duty, a more serious offence.
The simple question is; Can you justify your actions, given the circumstances? If the answer is yes, then you are in the clear.
I've seen drivers go through red lights to allow me passage when on blues but I don't advise that.
I like it when drivers indicate and make a move that is clearly allowing me precedence. It can be an entertaining exercise for all concerned.
Just do your best. That's all anyone can ask.
Common sense should prevail here.
The best thing to do is indicate your intentions to let the Emer Driver know what might happen.
Only do what you are comfortable with but most of all, dont slam on the brakes or stop adjacent to a centre island. They are the 2 things that always seem to happen.
We all drive cars and we have all been in a position im sure where an Emergency vehicle has come up behind us...its not nice because all you want to do is get out of the way and for those few seconds you try your damdest not to make the wrong decision.
We are all human and it effects us in different ways......just use common sense and everyone around will appreciate it.
The best thing to do is indicate your intentions to let the Emer Driver know what might happen.
Only do what you are comfortable with but most of all, dont slam on the brakes or stop adjacent to a centre island. They are the 2 things that always seem to happen.
We all drive cars and we have all been in a position im sure where an Emergency vehicle has come up behind us...its not nice because all you want to do is get out of the way and for those few seconds you try your damdest not to make the wrong decision.
We are all human and it effects us in different ways......just use common sense and everyone around will appreciate it.
As many have already said (and this is a 'me too' reply), firstly acknowledge the EVs presence (alternating indicators is one unique way, in the Tiv - top down - I would wave my hand), then try not to impede their progress and give an early indication of your intentions to let them past.
Again, as others have said ('me too' part two), the problem is then the numpties that don't think they just react. This can put you in an invidious position and one which can present you with arguably more danger than it presents the EV with its more noticable presence.
If traffic in front does present a problem, I suggest audible and visual indications of your approach.
Of course the vehicle you are driving will have another bearing on your actions. In the Jeep I would do things that I would not do in the Tiv (eg. mounting kerbs, banks, muddy pull-ins) ... and somewhat vice versa (eg. clog in!).
Streaky
Again, as others have said ('me too' part two), the problem is then the numpties that don't think they just react. This can put you in an invidious position and one which can present you with arguably more danger than it presents the EV with its more noticable presence.
If traffic in front does present a problem, I suggest audible and visual indications of your approach.
Of course the vehicle you are driving will have another bearing on your actions. In the Jeep I would do things that I would not do in the Tiv (eg. mounting kerbs, banks, muddy pull-ins) ... and somewhat vice versa (eg. clog in!).
Streaky
Personally, If I were responding to an incident and a driver used good old common sense by giving it some beans in order to pull over in a safe place then I would give him/her a jolly good thank you on the way past.
Nothing makes you need to change your pants more than someone slamming on the anchors right in front of you.
Common sense normally prevails, and people that use it get a big thumbs up.
Nothing makes you need to change your pants more than someone slamming on the anchors right in front of you.
Common sense normally prevails, and people that use it get a big thumbs up.
way you My prospective son-in-law's father is a Paramedic. One day he was in an ambulance en route to an incident when he happened upon a silver TVR. The TVR driver floored it and got the hell out of the way. The Paramedics were quite happy about this and wished that more people would do it.
I was that TVR driver...
I was that TVR driver...
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