Moving over for anything other than an emergency vehicle?
Discussion
Was sat on a dual carriageway in the tail end of a traffic jam yesterday. I had previously overtaken an HGV recovery truck and an accompanying support pick up following close behind a minute or two previously.
I look in my rear view mirror and see the HGV lit up with amber flashing lights and closing on me very quickly. Said truck gets closer to me, moves into the middle of the road to straddle both lanes and leans on his horn. Instinctively me and the rest of the traffic split to create a path down the middle. The recovery truck and pick up drive through and continue to do so through about 300m of traffic until I lose sight of them round a corner
The livery on the truck and pickup were of a private company "XXXXXXX Motor group limited". No sirens amd no flashing lights.
Are there any circumstances in which the above is legal? I was dumbfounded. Never seen anything like it. I can only think it was to selfishly progress through the traffic? The spot was one of many on the A27 notorious for tailbacks.
I look in my rear view mirror and see the HGV lit up with amber flashing lights and closing on me very quickly. Said truck gets closer to me, moves into the middle of the road to straddle both lanes and leans on his horn. Instinctively me and the rest of the traffic split to create a path down the middle. The recovery truck and pick up drive through and continue to do so through about 300m of traffic until I lose sight of them round a corner
The livery on the truck and pickup were of a private company "XXXXXXX Motor group limited". No sirens amd no flashing lights.
Are there any circumstances in which the above is legal? I was dumbfounded. Never seen anything like it. I can only think it was to selfishly progress through the traffic? The spot was one of many on the A27 notorious for tailbacks.
In the last few years I've appalling luck with getting stuck in closed motorways and dual carriageways as a result of accidents further up. On several occasions, recovery trucks went past either in a similar manner or past the hard shoulder and, to be honest, thank god they did. How else on earth are they going to be able to move vehicles blocking the road following a smash up?
If the road isn't completely blocked & some traffic is still able to pass then it's the best way of getting recovery vehicles to the scene quickly.
The alternative on a motorway or dual carriageway would be for them to approach the scene against the flow of traffic & that would involve closing the road after the scene which would make the tailback even worse esp if it's a long way to the next junction as any traffic in that section would need to clear before anything would be allowed onto the carriageway.
The alternative on a motorway or dual carriageway would be for them to approach the scene against the flow of traffic & that would involve closing the road after the scene which would make the tailback even worse esp if it's a long way to the next junction as any traffic in that section would need to clear before anything would be allowed onto the carriageway.
As far as I am aware the below have powers to stop vehicles on all roads
- Emergency vehicles
- Highways Agency Traffic Officers
- Vehicle & Operator Services Agency Officers
You MUST obey signals given by police officers, traffic officers, traffic wardens and signs used by school crossing patrols.
- Emergency vehicles
- Highways Agency Traffic Officers
- Vehicle & Operator Services Agency Officers
You MUST obey signals given by police officers, traffic officers, traffic wardens and signs used by school crossing patrols.
Cabrony said:
Was sat on a dual carriageway in the tail end of a traffic jam yesterday. I had previously overtaken an HGV recovery truck and an accompanying support pick up following close behind a minute or two previously.
I look in my rear view mirror and see the HGV lit up with amber flashing lights and closing on me very quickly. Said truck gets closer to me, moves into the middle of the road to straddle both lanes and leans on his horn. Instinctively me and the rest of the traffic split to create a path down the middle. The recovery truck and pick up drive through and continue to do so through about 300m of traffic until I lose sight of them round a corner
The livery on the truck and pickup were of a private company "XXXXXXX Motor group limited". No sirens amd no flashing lights.
Are there any circumstances in which the above is legal? I was dumbfounded. Never seen anything like it. I can only think it was to selfishly progress through the traffic? The spot was one of many on the A27 notorious for tailbacks.
Recovery Truck and you Object to them coming through???I look in my rear view mirror and see the HGV lit up with amber flashing lights and closing on me very quickly. Said truck gets closer to me, moves into the middle of the road to straddle both lanes and leans on his horn. Instinctively me and the rest of the traffic split to create a path down the middle. The recovery truck and pick up drive through and continue to do so through about 300m of traffic until I lose sight of them round a corner
The livery on the truck and pickup were of a private company "XXXXXXX Motor group limited". No sirens amd no flashing lights.
Are there any circumstances in which the above is legal? I was dumbfounded. Never seen anything like it. I can only think it was to selfishly progress through the traffic? The spot was one of many on the A27 notorious for tailbacks.
On the motorway we usually grant recovery firms authorisation to use the hard shoulder to clear the scene for us. However if on an A road with no hard shoulder this is difficult and they sometimes have to come down the middle of the traffic. Usually this is with a police escort but if there are no police resources available which is often the case they make their own way to the scene. They will not be breaking the speed limit if traffic is at a standstill so no offences. Likewise no offences if a driver decides to not let them pass. Usually the driver will get out and explain to the car that they need to get through to clear the cause of the traffic and they then move.
Crispynotes said:
As far as I am aware the below have powers to stop vehicles on all roads
- Emergency vehicles
- Highways England Traffic Officers
- Vehicle & Operator Services Agency Officers
You MUST obey signals given by police officers, traffic officers, traffic wardens and signs used by school crossing patrols.
Fixed that for you, we've been HE since 1st Apr 15. - Emergency vehicles
- Highways England Traffic Officers
- Vehicle & Operator Services Agency Officers
You MUST obey signals given by police officers, traffic officers, traffic wardens and signs used by school crossing patrols.
On my motorbike i had some LED spot lights fitted. Fantastic for helping you along in the night.
After a few months of hard use at motorway speeds in the rain, they developed a fault. Once warmed up they would start flashing. I only noticed this after i pulled up behind a car in traffic to see the reflections flashing on the back of his car.... as he tried desperately to get out of my way.
Down the M4 it was like the sea parting for me.
Unfortunately the lights are now fixed.
After a few months of hard use at motorway speeds in the rain, they developed a fault. Once warmed up they would start flashing. I only noticed this after i pulled up behind a car in traffic to see the reflections flashing on the back of his car.... as he tried desperately to get out of my way.
Down the M4 it was like the sea parting for me.
Unfortunately the lights are now fixed.
Cabrony said:
Are there any circumstances in which the above is legal? I was dumbfounded. Never seen anything like it. I can only think it was to selfishly progress through the traffic? The spot was one of many on the A27 notorious for tailbacks.
So at no point did you think the recovery trucks might be attending the thing that was causing you to stop in a tail back? 
Nickyboy said:
Cabrony said:
Are there any circumstances in which the above is legal? I was dumbfounded. Never seen anything like it. I can only think it was to selfishly progress through the traffic? The spot was one of many on the A27 notorious for tailbacks.
So at no point did you think the recovery trucks might be attending the thing that was causing you to stop in a tail back? 
grumpy52 said:
Is it not time we adopted the ruling that many other countries have .
When road traffic is at a standstill other than for Traffic lights or junctions on multi lane roads without a hard shoulder the centre of the roadway to be kept clear for emergency ,highways and recovery vehicles.
I don`t think the roads are that wide in many places and besides there are too many laws as it is. Lets stick with common sense. I know the OP failed to put two and two together but at least he got out of the way and let them pass anyway. When road traffic is at a standstill other than for Traffic lights or junctions on multi lane roads without a hard shoulder the centre of the roadway to be kept clear for emergency ,highways and recovery vehicles.
grumpy52 said:
Is it not time we adopted the ruling that many other countries have .
When road traffic is at a standstill other than for Traffic lights or junctions on multi lane roads without a hard shoulder the centre of the roadway to be kept clear for emergency ,highways and recovery vehicles.
It would end up being used by the type of people who think it's ok to tailgate ambulances.When road traffic is at a standstill other than for Traffic lights or junctions on multi lane roads without a hard shoulder the centre of the roadway to be kept clear for emergency ,highways and recovery vehicles.
I was on the A14 a few weeks back and there was a collision involving a few cars and a motorcycle at the huntingdon junction. Police in attendance and both lanes blocked.
The stationary tailback was long and at the A1 junction there were two recovery trucks, lit up, trying to get through the centre of the two lanes. They had no police focu...escort ( ), but were struggling to get through. They were relying on a car driver to walk down the stationary traffic in front and ask people to pull over to make room.
It looked very frustrating for them and I suspect it took them a while to get to the scene, thus keeping the queues there longer than might otherwise be necessary.
The stationary tailback was long and at the A1 junction there were two recovery trucks, lit up, trying to get through the centre of the two lanes. They had no police focu...escort (
), but were struggling to get through. They were relying on a car driver to walk down the stationary traffic in front and ask people to pull over to make room. It looked very frustrating for them and I suspect it took them a while to get to the scene, thus keeping the queues there longer than might otherwise be necessary.
Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff