Police cars with headlights out ...
Police cars with headlights out ...
Author
Discussion

jgs82

Original Poster:

51 posts

204 months

Thursday 10th January 2013
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So on my way to work today I saw 3 police cars with one headlight out. I can just about understand normal MLM's and other "interesting" road users not being aware enough to check these, but surely the police have higher standards? Or is it just a Yorkshire thing?

Slobberchops

3,636 posts

223 months

Thursday 10th January 2013
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3 seems a lot, but surely it's just as possible for them to go whilst driving as any other car? In which case the offence is not complete?

GrumpyTwig

3,354 posts

179 months

Friday 11th January 2013
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Seems you're the odd one out if you have all lights working here.

benjj

6,787 posts

185 months

Friday 11th January 2013
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Perhaps if they stopped driving into other cars and pedestrians at speed their lights would work for longer wink

Mr E

22,695 posts

281 months

Friday 11th January 2013
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WeirdNeville said:
When the maintenance contract doesn't permit you to change your own lightbulbs, what are you going to do?
Really? So if a bulb goes, you must RTB and get a fresh car?

supersport

4,543 posts

249 months

Friday 11th January 2013
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That's not really a good enough excuses is it, it wouldn't be for us?

JonnyFive

29,754 posts

211 months

Friday 11th January 2013
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Surely they just change it in the morning/evening before that shift starts?

Got to say, I've never seen or maybe never noticed, a Police car with a lamp out.

BadRotorFinger

441 posts

214 months

Friday 11th January 2013
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Us Ambos rarely get to complete or start a vehicle check before being called out due to demand, that is the vehicle and the drugs/equipment. If a fault is found we will VOR(vehicle off road) to get it fixed or swap if a repair is not immediately feasible.

No check and you'll not know if fault exists, such is life, we don't like it.

C2'S'man

622 posts

245 months

Friday 11th January 2013
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When I was in traffic we always had a stock of bulbs in the office, so no matter what time of day/night/week-end we could always change one.

Things have changed since then, health and safety, jobs worth etc, so if a bulb blows now, the car is immobile until it is taken to the garage for a 'technician' to replace it frown

g

Feirny

2,865 posts

169 months

Friday 11th January 2013
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WeirdNeville said:
Cars are out 24/7 handed between teams. A car sat idle is almost unheard of, unless it's properly broken.
And changing it yourself depended on your level of confidence in doing such things, and an availability of the correct bulbs.
I went past my local plod station earlier and there was at least 6 Astras parked out the front, they're quite often all there.

C3BER

4,714 posts

245 months

Saturday 12th January 2013
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Same with our fleet...not allowed to change a bulb frown

In saying that I changed a bulb on my pug and lost the spring. "That will be 250 pounds sir".

Evoluzione

10,345 posts

265 months

Saturday 12th January 2013
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To be fair to them, on a lot of cars now it's a 2hr job requiring many tools just to get to the bulb.
Many of them can't understand how to do their own job, let alone someone elses.....


C3BER

4,714 posts

245 months

Saturday 12th January 2013
quotequote all
Back in my sneaky days we had a switch we flicked to turn one of the lights out. Behind you there is a car, next corner there is another car with a light out...that car must have gone because the car behind has two working lights. Very simple but very very effective wink

pah250

3,270 posts

177 months

Saturday 12th January 2013
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Back when I was a student, I had a part time job behind the counter at a petrol station. A marked police car came in and I noticed they had a tail light out. So when I served the officers at the till I mentioned it to them, just as I would with any other customer with a bulb out. The response I got for pointing it out was somewhat negative. I think they thought I was being sarcastic about it, but all I did was bring it to their attention. Serves me right for trying to be helpful I guess. They didn't even bother to check when they got back to the car.

Feirny

2,865 posts

169 months

Saturday 12th January 2013
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Evoluzione said:
To be fair to them, on a lot of cars now it's a 2hr job requiring many tools just to get to the bulb.
Many of them can't understand how to do their own job, let alone someone elses.....
Are you sure about that? I change quite a few headlights per day and not one has taken me more than 15minutes.

gemini

11,352 posts

286 months

Saturday 12th January 2013
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Our cars are taken off the road when we notice a light out.
Each veh is checked thoroughly before each shift, so 3 x a day.
It has to be booked in to the garage for a new bulb.

Things have changed in 30 yrs and not always for the better!

Lets face it, get to the emergency or leave the car waiting for the garage?
Damned if you do and spotted by a critical PHer if you dont!

Gotta love this place

Evoluzione

10,345 posts

265 months

Saturday 12th January 2013
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Feirny said:
Are you sure about that? I change quite a few headlights per day and not one has taken me more than 15minutes.
If you are doing it regularly, badly or it's your job then you are going to be doing it quite quickly.

I remember offering to do a GFs Renault, it was recessed so far under some form of nose cone, behind covers and an air box I did the sensible thing and paid someone else to do it. He put it on a lift and did it from underneath.
There is a lot to be said for doing what you are supposed to be doing and pay someone else to do what they are trained to do, something a lot of people don't understand anymore....

FlauM

380 posts

175 months

Saturday 12th January 2013
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When I was at school I did work experience with West Yorkshire police. Before the car could move the officer had to fill in a book that stated things like mileage, condition of lights, etc.

I'm assuming officers either don't check, or the bulb has literally just blown (although I see at least two WYP vehicles a week with faulty lights).

One thing I have noticed is I've NEVER seen a traffic car with faulty lights.

Jon.

Feirny

2,865 posts

169 months

Saturday 12th January 2013
quotequote all
Evoluzione said:
If you are doing it regularly, badly or it's your job then you are going to be doing it quite quickly.

I remember offering to do a GFs Renault, it was recessed so far under some form of nose cone, behind covers and an air box I did the sensible thing and paid someone else to do it. He put it on a lift and did it from underneath.
There is a lot to be said for doing what you are supposed to be doing and pay someone else to do what they are trained to do, something a lot of people don't understand anymore....
Ahh so you were referring to Joe Bloggs who doesn't really have a clue, fair enough.

Evoluzione

10,345 posts

265 months

Sunday 13th January 2013
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Feirny said:
Ahh so you were referring to Joe Bloggs who doesn't really have a clue, fair enough.
No, as per thread subject, I'm referring to a Police person.



Who doesn't really have a clue. smile