Use of Bus lanes for police cars

[rodney59]

Can Police cars use Bus lanes, (when they are not on an emergency call- and stop at red lights (twice)!)
As I saw one this morning.

[will crash]

There is no specific exemption for Police to use bus lanes. Some Councils in London have issued exemptions to some bus lanes in their respective boroughs.
However if the Police driver feels that if they can justify using a bus lane they will do so.
Personally I don`t, I`ve seen too many RTA`s in bus lanes. It`s far better to be in a postion where everyone can see you and you can see them.

[streaky]

One more example, perhaps, of "one law for them and one for us." After all, if T Bliar can do it ...

[xxplod]

We have a sad b*stard in Basingstoke who complains that Police vehicles use a bus lane which the pillock can see from his house. The answer is Yes. Marked Police vehicles can use bus lanes. Unmarked ones should not, unless it is an emergency.
At my last nick we had one road which was all bus lane, with residents only allowed access. What do we say to the council tax paying residents when they are getting their cars/sheds etc... screwed? Sorry Sir. Can't patrol your street I'm afraid, it's a bus lane.
Of course not. Clearly if an ambulance/fire engine goes through it is likely to be an emergency, but they don't patrol the streets looking for criminals do they?
FFS - if all people have to worry about is marked Police cars using bus lanes. GET A LIFE. They are invariably the same people who complain how long the Police took to attend their pathetic tale of woe that the Police should not be attending in the first place.


>> Edited by xxplod on Tuesday 3rd February 17:13

[te51cle]

xxplod said:

We have a sad b*stard in Basingstoke who complains that Police vehicles use a bus lane which the pillock can see from his house. The answer is Yes. Marked Police vehicles can use bus lanes. Unmarked ones should not, unless it is an emergency. At my last nick we had one road which was all bus lane, with residents only allowed access. What do we say to the council tax paying residents when they are getting their cars/sheds etc... screwed? Sorry Sir. Can't patrol your street I'm afraid, it's a bus lane. Of course not. Clearly if an ambulance/fire engine goes through it is likely to be an emergency, but they don't patrol the streets looking for criminals do they? FFS - if all people have to worry about is marked Police cars using bus lanes. GET A LIFE. They are invariably the same people who complain how long the Police took to attend their pathetic tale of woe that the Police should not be attending in the first place. >> Edited by xxplod on Tuesday 3rd February 17:13

Is that the short bus lane at the end of Eastrop Lane by any chance ?

[xxplod]

[andrew54]

xxplod said:

What do we say to the council tax paying residents when they are getting their cars/sheds etc... screwed? Sorry Sir. Can't patrol your street I'm afraid, it's a bus lane.

Err........ walk? cycle?

[xxplod]

Er, yes. Can do, but if you're one of two available Officers, it is really effective to have to walk or cycle 3 miles there and back to patrol one street, when at any time you might be called to attend an injury RTA, serious domestic assault or other emergency call?
In a ideal world.....