Avoiding a Blues and Twos
Discussion
I'm pretty sure what the answer will be but any advice appreciated.
MOP (me) driving along a built up road approximately 7.5m wide.
Marked police car coming the opposite direction, with blues and twos on, overtaking other vehicles on "wrong" side of road.
MOP has no option other than mounting the nearside kerb to avoid a collision or hinder plod's progress.
In doing so damage is caused to front alloy wheel on MOP's car.
Question - do I have any come back in respect of claiming for damage??? I didn't get the VRN of plod vehicle but have an accurate time of incident.
Thanks.
MOP (me) driving along a built up road approximately 7.5m wide.
Marked police car coming the opposite direction, with blues and twos on, overtaking other vehicles on "wrong" side of road.
MOP has no option other than mounting the nearside kerb to avoid a collision or hinder plod's progress.
In doing so damage is caused to front alloy wheel on MOP's car.
Question - do I have any come back in respect of claiming for damage??? I didn't get the VRN of plod vehicle but have an accurate time of incident.
Thanks.
Personally I don’t think you have or should have a claim.
If you swerved to avoid a collision then yes you would.
You made a decision to mount the pavement , and did so in a way that damaged the wheel.
Not to sound condescending I just think that’s how it goes - I wouldn’t damage my car to allow blues and twos to pass, but if I know the kerb is manageable and can, I’d go wider first to put my front wheel on lock so the tyre makes contact, not the rim.
If you swerved to avoid a collision then yes you would.
You made a decision to mount the pavement , and did so in a way that damaged the wheel.
Not to sound condescending I just think that’s how it goes - I wouldn’t damage my car to allow blues and twos to pass, but if I know the kerb is manageable and can, I’d go wider first to put my front wheel on lock so the tyre makes contact, not the rim.
This is always something that I see, unnecessarily to be honest as people see us approaching and just dive to the side of the road (but with the best intentions) Did you have no time to stop and no other option but to damage your wheel?
I'll always give people plenty of room and time to move, I know there are some that don't but I'm not in the habit of causing people to smash their property up.
I'll always give people plenty of room and time to move, I know there are some that don't but I'm not in the habit of causing people to smash their property up.
Unless the road had parked cars a 7.5m wide road is sufficient to allow three cars abreast.
Plus in the OP you say the other option would have merely hindered his progress, not caused a collision. I think you could have avoided the damage without any collision based on your original post - if it had been to avoid an accident you would have written that.
Plus in the OP you say the other option would have merely hindered his progress, not caused a collision. I think you could have avoided the damage without any collision based on your original post - if it had been to avoid an accident you would have written that.
Edited by Dingu on Tuesday 30th August 18:39
Edited by Dingu on Tuesday 30th August 18:39
I think you are out of luck. You chose to mount the kerb despite the highway code's advice not to. If you had compelling video evidence as to why you had "no option" then you might have a hope.
https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/other-vehicles.htm...
5. Other vehicles (219 to 225)
219
Emergency and Incident Support vehicles. You should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police, doctors or other emergency vehicles using flashing blue, red or green lights and sirens or flashing headlights, or Highways Agency Traffic Officer and Incident Support vehicles using flashing amber lights. When one approaches do not panic. Consider the route of such a vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass, while complying with all traffic signs. If necessary, pull to the side of the road and stop, but try to avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or narrow section of road. Do not endanger yourself, other road users or pedestrians and [b]avoid mounting the kerb.[b] Do not brake harshly on approach to a junction or roundabout, as a following vehicle may not have the same view as you.
https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/other-vehicles.htm...
5. Other vehicles (219 to 225)
219
Emergency and Incident Support vehicles. You should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police, doctors or other emergency vehicles using flashing blue, red or green lights and sirens or flashing headlights, or Highways Agency Traffic Officer and Incident Support vehicles using flashing amber lights. When one approaches do not panic. Consider the route of such a vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass, while complying with all traffic signs. If necessary, pull to the side of the road and stop, but try to avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or narrow section of road. Do not endanger yourself, other road users or pedestrians and [b]avoid mounting the kerb.[b] Do not brake harshly on approach to a junction or roundabout, as a following vehicle may not have the same view as you.
From the time you seen and heard the police car you didn't have the chance to stop somewhere safe? None of the cars on the other side of the road stopped or made space either?
It's hard to picture what all went on, but it doesn't sound good you were still travelling forward creating a pinch point.
It's hard to picture what all went on, but it doesn't sound good you were still travelling forward creating a pinch point.
There is such a pinch point in Bournemouth - people beaching their cars , totally their fault.
In examples like this the services might be better served turning off the blues and proceeding at the 30 limit - I bet it would be quicker than the gauntlet of everyone slamming on their brakes.
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20128897.am...
In examples like this the services might be better served turning off the blues and proceeding at the 30 limit - I bet it would be quicker than the gauntlet of everyone slamming on their brakes.
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20128897.am...
Your replies are pretty much what I expected, thanks.
In hindsight I should have just come to a halt and let plod sort himself out, but then hindsight is a wonderful thing.
I was half hoping someone had had a similar situation and managed some compensation.
A wheel refurb is not the end of the world so I'll put it down to experience.
In hindsight I should have just come to a halt and let plod sort himself out, but then hindsight is a wonderful thing.
I was half hoping someone had had a similar situation and managed some compensation.
A wheel refurb is not the end of the world so I'll put it down to experience.
LordBretSinclair said:
Your replies are pretty much what I expected, thanks.
In hindsight I should have just come to a halt and let plod sort himself out, but then hindsight is a wonderful thing.
I was half hoping someone had had a similar situation and managed some compensation.
A wheel refurb is not the end of the world so I'll put it down to experience.
If you believe in karma, perhaps your good act has at least balanced off the cretins who refuse to use sloping kerbs on hospital approach routes to let ambulances through.In hindsight I should have just come to a halt and let plod sort himself out, but then hindsight is a wonderful thing.
I was half hoping someone had had a similar situation and managed some compensation.
A wheel refurb is not the end of the world so I'll put it down to experience.
(Those sloping kerbs that were installed specifically for that purpose).
I had a similar question, albeit no damage caused.
Was on the M6 last week, in the outside lane & happily overtaking a long line of vehicles in lane 2. Speed on cruise was around 78mph so likely 73/4ish in real terms, when a fully marked police X5 came screaming up behind me.
Was confident i wasn't the intended villain, but quickly realised the traffic to my left had nowhere they could move to so i was kind of stuck in lane 3 & at my current speed would have been there for a little while. Decided so as not to impede their progress i'd floor it to get past the middle lane conga & pulled left after probably less than 10secs, however had hit North of 100mph to do this.
Plod just came past & continued under blues & twos, but did make me wonder given i'm sure their cameras would have been rolling, if my actions were correct under these circumstances, or if i should have continued at legal speed or even tried to bully my way into the middle lane?
Was on the M6 last week, in the outside lane & happily overtaking a long line of vehicles in lane 2. Speed on cruise was around 78mph so likely 73/4ish in real terms, when a fully marked police X5 came screaming up behind me.
Was confident i wasn't the intended villain, but quickly realised the traffic to my left had nowhere they could move to so i was kind of stuck in lane 3 & at my current speed would have been there for a little while. Decided so as not to impede their progress i'd floor it to get past the middle lane conga & pulled left after probably less than 10secs, however had hit North of 100mph to do this.
Plod just came past & continued under blues & twos, but did make me wonder given i'm sure their cameras would have been rolling, if my actions were correct under these circumstances, or if i should have continued at legal speed or even tried to bully my way into the middle lane?
w8pmc said:
I had a similar question, albeit no damage caused.
Was on the M6 last week, in the outside lane & happily overtaking a long line of vehicles in lane 2. Speed on cruise was around 78mph so likely 73/4ish in real terms, when a fully marked police X5 came screaming up behind me.
Was confident i wasn't the intended villain, but quickly realised the traffic to my left had nowhere they could move to so i was kind of stuck in lane 3 & at my current speed would have been there for a little while. Decided so as not to impede their progress i'd floor it to get past the middle lane conga & pulled left after probably less than 10secs, however had hit North of 100mph to do this.
Plod just came past & continued under blues & twos, but did make me wonder given i'm sure their cameras would have been rolling, if my actions were correct under these circumstances, or if i should have continued at legal speed or even tried to bully my way into the middle lane?
As far as I’m aware speeding to get out of their way is the same as going through a red light - unless it’s under direct instruction it’s a no-no. Was on the M6 last week, in the outside lane & happily overtaking a long line of vehicles in lane 2. Speed on cruise was around 78mph so likely 73/4ish in real terms, when a fully marked police X5 came screaming up behind me.
Was confident i wasn't the intended villain, but quickly realised the traffic to my left had nowhere they could move to so i was kind of stuck in lane 3 & at my current speed would have been there for a little while. Decided so as not to impede their progress i'd floor it to get past the middle lane conga & pulled left after probably less than 10secs, however had hit North of 100mph to do this.
Plod just came past & continued under blues & twos, but did make me wonder given i'm sure their cameras would have been rolling, if my actions were correct under these circumstances, or if i should have continued at legal speed or even tried to bully my way into the middle lane?
However they were probably pleased you got out of the way and they’d have been more focused on the upcoming job I imagine.
mattyprice4004 said:
As far as I’m aware speeding to get out of their way is the same as going through a red light - unless it’s under direct instruction it’s a no-no.
However they were probably pleased you got out of the way and they’d have been more focused on the upcoming job I imagine.
Hope so as don't fancy watching the letter box for the next few weeks for a NIPHowever they were probably pleased you got out of the way and they’d have been more focused on the upcoming job I imagine.
I grew up & learnt to drive in North West London (Mill Hill), stones throw from the Metropolitan Police training centre, where it was an every day occurrence to have a panda or traffic car (more often than not on training) baring down on you very quickly / through traffic, especially at pinch points such as Bunns Lane. Because of this, I became quite immune to 'the panic' at quite a young age and whilst I am keen to move out of the way efficiently, I would never ever do this at the cost of damage to my vehicle, let alone safety. Especially being a youngster with 'big rims and skinny tyres' on my pride and joy, it was absolutely the last thing I wanted to do, but to be fair, the principle remains today in our family SUV with 60 profile side walls.
I would hazard at a guess that the chance of said emergency vehicle being enroute to something which required 'split second' life or death attendance, thus requiring you to ram your car up a kerb and burst tyres/buckle wheels, is very low. Be efficient, accommodating and safe.....never dangerous, damaging or risking a red light ticket.
Unless the OP has dashcam footage clearly showing him/her taking avoiding action, you've not got a chance of a claim.
I would hazard at a guess that the chance of said emergency vehicle being enroute to something which required 'split second' life or death attendance, thus requiring you to ram your car up a kerb and burst tyres/buckle wheels, is very low. Be efficient, accommodating and safe.....never dangerous, damaging or risking a red light ticket.
Unless the OP has dashcam footage clearly showing him/her taking avoiding action, you've not got a chance of a claim.
Edited by MattyD803 on Wednesday 31st August 10:48
w8pmc said:
Hope so as don't fancy watching the letter box for the next few weeks for a NIP
I'm sure it'll be fine, but next time I'd just dive left whenever there's a gap rather than overtaking the conga. When this happens I always manage to find a space - it might pee off the person either side of the space that I've forced my 5 Series into a gap that's not really big enough, but I can nip straight back out once the danger has passed.
Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff