Discussion
A20 at Mottingham yesterday evening, a white Movano van appeared, liberally festooned with blue lights - 2 full-width beacons on the roof, top side repeaters each end, bumper lights; you certainly were't going to miss it. The strange thing is, although all the lights were obvious and not in any way concealed, it had no markings at all, other than a small standard "compressed gas" sticker on the rear. No hi-vis, no lettering.
It continued on to the M20, struggling to maintain much over 70; maybe 75 tops except on the downhill stretches where it got up to 85-ish (I'd estimate).
Mostly everyone stayed behind it, me included, although two hardy souls did pass it, almost certainly doing more than 80mph to do so.
It was driven quite badly; hogged lane 3 for a long time, and then when it did change lanes, there was no use of indicators and it pulled straight in front of a car. At another point it did indicate into lane 3 then left the indicators on for ages. Didn't give the impression of professional driving standards!
It also had sirens which it used when the motorway snarled up, but it didn't use the shelf at all, just fought it's way through 4 lanes of merging motorway (M26 junction, always bad at rush hour).
Just curious as to what it could have been up to. Thoughts:
- prisoner transfer? Well that's almost all subbed out, if it was someone important enough to need a blues & twos run, surely they'd also have had an escort?
- bullion? Again, would need much more security
- squad transport - no windows in the back
- bomb squad? Unusual, no livery on the van.
Just wondered if anyone may have a clue as to what was going on?
It continued on to the M20, struggling to maintain much over 70; maybe 75 tops except on the downhill stretches where it got up to 85-ish (I'd estimate).
Mostly everyone stayed behind it, me included, although two hardy souls did pass it, almost certainly doing more than 80mph to do so.
It was driven quite badly; hogged lane 3 for a long time, and then when it did change lanes, there was no use of indicators and it pulled straight in front of a car. At another point it did indicate into lane 3 then left the indicators on for ages. Didn't give the impression of professional driving standards!
It also had sirens which it used when the motorway snarled up, but it didn't use the shelf at all, just fought it's way through 4 lanes of merging motorway (M26 junction, always bad at rush hour).
Just curious as to what it could have been up to. Thoughts:
- prisoner transfer? Well that's almost all subbed out, if it was someone important enough to need a blues & twos run, surely they'd also have had an escort?
- bullion? Again, would need much more security
- squad transport - no windows in the back
- bomb squad? Unusual, no livery on the van.
Just wondered if anyone may have a clue as to what was going on?
Edited by CAPP0 on Saturday 26th September 11:21
on the way back to Chatham? Are there not some blue light users who are not actually allowed to exceed the speed limits?
I recall a consultation is still out whether or not to allow a wider range of emergency vehicles to do this.
This is from conversations with blood bikers who have blues & twos, but can't go over 70...(or whatever the limit is).
The range of emergency services not allowed to break the NSL included groups like search and rescue, HMRC and even the coal board.
So I would suspect one of those.
Ian
I recall a consultation is still out whether or not to allow a wider range of emergency vehicles to do this.
This is from conversations with blood bikers who have blues & twos, but can't go over 70...(or whatever the limit is).
The range of emergency services not allowed to break the NSL included groups like search and rescue, HMRC and even the coal board.
So I would suspect one of those.
Ian
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