What should RPU be focusing on?
Discussion
An interesting question, but after Mr Bangham's focus on speed, what should Road Policing Teams really be focusing on?
Personally speaking and I think my personal biggest bug bear is inconsiderate driving as a whole. Speed personally is "less of" an issue.
By inconsiderate driving I mean people travelling excessively close together with little in regards to the driving conditions and their own brain cells or pulling out fairly deliberately on others.
Around here also the MLM's are a regular problem (including foreign HGV's as I saw recently).
Personally speaking and I think my personal biggest bug bear is inconsiderate driving as a whole. Speed personally is "less of" an issue.
By inconsiderate driving I mean people travelling excessively close together with little in regards to the driving conditions and their own brain cells or pulling out fairly deliberately on others.
Around here also the MLM's are a regular problem (including foreign HGV's as I saw recently).
Yes, for me, driving standards generally is a big issue.
Speed is easily enforced automatically, which I believe is partly why there's such an emphasis on it. Compared to boots on the ground or in this case tyres on the tarmac it's also cheap to enforce.
I'd love to see much less of an emphasis on 'academic' speed - i.e things like prosecuting for 80mph on a dry, clear motorway, and much more on dangerous use of speed.
I'd also like to see far more people being pulled up for tailgating, aggressive driving generally, incompetent driving (poor observation, poor lane use, poor signalling etc etc.)
I'm all for keeping an emphasis on drink/drug driving.
For mobile phone use, I'd like a similar approach as I've mentioned for speed - i.e forget people briefly using it while stuck in traffic or whatever, and concentrate on the truly dangerous use - texting while in motion, extended handheld use in busy situations or at speed etc.
I think a summing up of my attitude would be I'd like to see enforcement based on common sense and the 'spirit of the law' rather than academically based on the letter of the law.
Speed is easily enforced automatically, which I believe is partly why there's such an emphasis on it. Compared to boots on the ground or in this case tyres on the tarmac it's also cheap to enforce.
I'd love to see much less of an emphasis on 'academic' speed - i.e things like prosecuting for 80mph on a dry, clear motorway, and much more on dangerous use of speed.
I'd also like to see far more people being pulled up for tailgating, aggressive driving generally, incompetent driving (poor observation, poor lane use, poor signalling etc etc.)
I'm all for keeping an emphasis on drink/drug driving.
For mobile phone use, I'd like a similar approach as I've mentioned for speed - i.e forget people briefly using it while stuck in traffic or whatever, and concentrate on the truly dangerous use - texting while in motion, extended handheld use in busy situations or at speed etc.
I think a summing up of my attitude would be I'd like to see enforcement based on common sense and the 'spirit of the law' rather than academically based on the letter of the law.
Tailgating and middle lane "ownership".
Safety of the roads would be massively improved by more attention to the former, and the latter would increase the capacity of the road network as most 3 lane motorways are effectively 2 lane.
Every one bleats on about speed, but every single large scale pile up on motorways is caused by idiots driving too close to the car in front. Yes, two cars will collide for some reason. What shouldn't happen is 20 cars piling into the back of them.
Safety of the roads would be massively improved by more attention to the former, and the latter would increase the capacity of the road network as most 3 lane motorways are effectively 2 lane.
Every one bleats on about speed, but every single large scale pile up on motorways is caused by idiots driving too close to the car in front. Yes, two cars will collide for some reason. What shouldn't happen is 20 cars piling into the back of them.
pip t said:
Yes, for me, driving standards generally is a big issue.
I'd love to see much less of an emphasis on 'academic' speed - i.e things like prosecuting for 80mph on a dry, clear motorway, and much more on dangerous use of speed.
I'd also like to see far more people being pulled up for tailgating, aggressive driving generally, incompetent driving (poor observation, poor lane use, poor signalling etc etc.)
I think a summing up of my attitude would be I'd like to see enforcement based on common sense and the 'spirit of the law' rather than academically based on the letter of the law.
I fully concur, but sadly the vast majority of drivers in the UK seem to lost any "common sense" they may have had to start with and that is now reflected by those in authority who seem to want to punish people in a binary way using technology... I'd love to see much less of an emphasis on 'academic' speed - i.e things like prosecuting for 80mph on a dry, clear motorway, and much more on dangerous use of speed.
I'd also like to see far more people being pulled up for tailgating, aggressive driving generally, incompetent driving (poor observation, poor lane use, poor signalling etc etc.)
I think a summing up of my attitude would be I'd like to see enforcement based on common sense and the 'spirit of the law' rather than academically based on the letter of the law.
If a camera can't capture the evidence you may as well forget it as using real people to enforce rules has virtually become extinct...
It's almost as though there is another Highway code in existence in another parallel universe that tells people:
They have right of way as soon as they switch on their indicator to pull out in front of faster moving traffic... rear view mirrors are there to hang an Alpine Breeze Tree shaped air freshener..
It also appears to tell motorists to drive along side another vehicle where possible to become a rolling road block.. (see above about the use of the rear view mirror)
Pull out of minor side road as fast as you can and then slam on your brakes to crawl along to see how long of a snake of queuing traffic you can create..(see above about the use of the rear view mirror)
Religiously follow the sat nav when it says "keep right" by moving across to lane 2/3 on diverging dual carriage ways / motorways ..(see above about the use of the rear view mirror)
Stay in lane 2 or 3 on DCs/M'Ways because there is a slightly slower moving vehicle 3/4s of mile in the distance...(see above about the use of the rear view mirror)
Until we have a clamp down on this type of inconsiderate attitude towards driving ... we are doomed....
vonhosen said:
RPUs spend very little time or effort on speed enforcement, that is mostly the preserve of SCPs.
Actually seen a lot of time from KRPU in recent months on speeding actually, probably because KMSCP seem to be absolutely sod all.Last time I saw speed monitoring and the previous few times it was a member of the RPU team. Last time I saw any of the SCP team it was 2015 (with a dangerously parked van no less).
Ninja59 said:
vonhosen said:
RPUs spend very little time or effort on speed enforcement, that is mostly the preserve of SCPs.
Actually seen a lot of time from KRPU in recent months on speeding actually, probably because KMSCP seem to be absolutely sod all.Last time I saw speed monitoring and the previous few times it was a member of the RPU team. Last time I saw any of the SCP team it was 2015 (with a dangerously parked van no less).
grumpy52 said:
Driving standards .
Drug Driving .
Drunk Driving .
Distracted by Mobile or other device . If not distracted just warning .
Brake testing , deliberately holding up others should be hefty fines and long bans .
Crash for cash = life ban.and minimum of 10 yrs in the chokey
All of the above plus Tailgating.Drug Driving .
Drunk Driving .
Distracted by Mobile or other device . If not distracted just warning .
Brake testing , deliberately holding up others should be hefty fines and long bans .
Crash for cash = life ban.and minimum of 10 yrs in the chokey
One of my pet hates. Not necessarily aggressively though this does happen, but drivers just not thinking, "Can I stop if he brakes hard?"
HantsRat said:
Everything on this thread is what we already do? As well as speed enforcement.
You're not doing a very good job of it based on this.http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-37...
Maybe your priorities aren't quite what you claim?
cmaguire said:
You're not doing a very good job of it based on this.
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-37...
Maybe your priorities aren't quite what you claim?
Join up and do a better job then. To most people including officers, mobile phones/drink drive etc are more dangerous and more of a priority than someone sat in the middle lane. More accidents and deaths occur this way. That's not to say we don't deal with middle lane driving but only where appropriate. http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-37...
Maybe your priorities aren't quite what you claim?
E.g. Someone sat in the middle lane on an empty motorway is no danger. Someone in the middle lane at rush hour causes cases to undertake/break and struggle to get passes is a danger.
Edited by HantsRat on Wednesday 7th February 09:19
HantsRat said:
Everything on this thread is what we already do? As well as speed enforcement.
Precisely, and ignoring Mr Bangham's recent input imo RPU, as opposed to the camera lot, have the correct approach, ie the specific number is not the issue but it's the context.My view is that there aren't enough troops on the street, metaphorically speaking. Too many of those that are being tasked to domestics etc. Of course given the choice of attending to someone having the living crap being beaten out of them versus dealing with an errant motorist then the decision will only go one way, however the current balance of resources is wrong imo.
More units out there, will not only see and be able to deal with more shockingly bad driving but also detect more criminals that just happen to be using the roads.
If you really examine your local police precept on the council tax, figure it out to a weekly / daily rate you will realise just how little we pay. The RP part of that is even more miniscule, personally I'd like to see that part doubled, trebled, quadrupled, whatever. Would pay it willingly.
However if Bangham continues, stuff it, not a penny.
HantsRat said:
cmaguire said:
You're not doing a very good job of it based on this.
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-37...
Maybe your priorities aren't quite what you claim?
Join up and do a better job then. To most people including officers, mobile phones/drink drive etc are more dangerous and more of a priority than someone sat in the middle lane. More accidents and deaths occur this way. That's not to say we don't deal with middle lane driving but only where appropriate. http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-37...
Maybe your priorities aren't quite what you claim?
E.g. Someone sat in the middle lane on an empty motorway is no danger. Someone in the middle lane at rush hour causes cases to undertake/break and struggle to get passes is a danger.
Edited by HantsRat on Wednesday 7th February 09:19
Priorities.
I don't blame you, I'd rather none of you were on the road at all and just came out as response only, but the authorities BS about what they are doing is so transparent it is laughable.
cmaguire said:
Yet the same logic of your E.g. conveniently doesn't extend to the vehicle exceeding the speed limit on an empty Motorway as opposed to when traffic is heavier.
Priorities.
I don't blame you, I'd rather none of you were on the road at all and just came out as response only, but the authorities BS about what they are doing is so transparent it is laughable.
Speeding is against the law. It's pretty black & white and there is specific legislation for it. There is no law that states sitting in the middle lane is illegal as it falls under careless and inconsiderate driving. If no one is around, there is no one to be affected by your driving and you are not being inconsiderate to anyone. Priorities.
I don't blame you, I'd rather none of you were on the road at all and just came out as response only, but the authorities BS about what they are doing is so transparent it is laughable.
HantsRat said:
Join up and do a better job then. To most people including officers, mobile phones/drink drive etc are more dangerous and more of a priority than someone sat in the middle lane. More accidents and deaths occur this way. That's not to say we don't deal with middle lane driving but only where appropriate.
E.g. Someone sat in the middle lane on an empty motorway is no danger. Someone in the middle lane at rush hour causes cases to undertake/break and struggle to get passes is a danger.
I would say MLMs are one of the most dangerous along with other selfish driving like going too slowly or too fast for the situation!!! the result is the other motorway users become frustrated and angry aggressive driving,tailgating E.g. Someone sat in the middle lane on an empty motorway is no danger. Someone in the middle lane at rush hour causes cases to undertake/break and struggle to get passes is a danger.
Edited by HantsRat on Wednesday 7th February 09:19
and or lack of concentration is the symptom of the MLM , most people are on the roads to get somewhere not for fun ... selfish t
ts cause congestion and accidents ...HantsRat said:
Speeding is against the law. It's pretty black & white and there is specific legislation for it. There is no law that states sitting in the middle lane is illegal as it falls under careless and inconsiderate driving. If no one is around, there is no one to be affected by your driving and you are not being inconsiderate to anyone.
If a driver is sitting in the middle lane on a near empty Motorway it may have little impact at that time, but if they are doing it then (when there is absolutely no justification) you couldn't have a better indicator that they'll be doing it when it may have an impact.Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff