Odd new plod strategy on the A3 this evening
Discussion
Coming up the A3 this evening, I ended up behind a marked police car from Guildford all the way up to the M25 who had chosen, for whatever reason, to sit in the outside lane at 68mph.
Didn't matter whether there were cars in the inner lanes or not. There he sat, outside lane the whole way, making sure that nobody could legally pass him.
Anyone have any thoughts as to why?
Didn't matter whether there were cars in the inner lanes or not. There he sat, outside lane the whole way, making sure that nobody could legally pass him.
Anyone have any thoughts as to why?
sinizter said:
If you had sufficient space ahead of you in whatever lane you were in, you could presumably do the speed limit, which would shortly place you ahead of the fuzz ? All legally.
In theory maybe, but given that we were in freely flowing traffic, would you really want to risk the wrath of a copper having a bad day by passing him on the inside, even if it's not strictly speaking illegal?Kermit power said:
sinizter said:
If you had sufficient space ahead of you in whatever lane you were in, you could presumably do the speed limit, which would shortly place you ahead of the fuzz ? All legally.
In theory maybe, but given that we were in freely flowing traffic, would you really want to risk the wrath of a copper having a bad day by passing him on the inside, even if it's not strictly speaking illegal?But it is very annoying when you are stuck behind someone, under the speed limit - and in this cases, feel that there is nothing you could do.
Edited by sinizter on Wednesday 15th December 09:09
I had this on the M40 a few weeks ago - late at night and a fully marked van sat in the middle lane doing 68-70. Lots of jostling cars behind him and everytime someone finally decided to creep past he put on the blues and pulled in front of them; at which point he'd turn off the lights and slow down to 68 again!
I also had a marked Volvo estate on the M25 in Surrey doing practically the same thing early one morning recently. Although he didn't use the lights, he had a little LED notice board that popped up in the back window as you approached and scrolled Speed Limit = 70mph. My GPS was indicating he was doing 65mph in the middle lane...
I guess just like in every job, there's a few t
ts about that bring down all of their colleagues.
(and as for the van; after about 30 frustrating minutes he found out how loud a modified RS6 is at full chat... interestingly he didn't do anything and everyone else then started going past from what I could see in the mirror!)
I also had a marked Volvo estate on the M25 in Surrey doing practically the same thing early one morning recently. Although he didn't use the lights, he had a little LED notice board that popped up in the back window as you approached and scrolled Speed Limit = 70mph. My GPS was indicating he was doing 65mph in the middle lane...
I guess just like in every job, there's a few t
ts about that bring down all of their colleagues.(and as for the van; after about 30 frustrating minutes he found out how loud a modified RS6 is at full chat... interestingly he didn't do anything and everyone else then started going past from what I could see in the mirror!)
john_r said:
(and as for the van; after about 30 frustrating minutes he found out how loud a modified RS6 is at full chat... interestingly he didn't do anything and everyone else then started going past from what I could see in the mirror!)
Nice one JR.
I had similar on the M1 recently. Twist was that the patrol car was obeying the 60 limit displayed on the gantrys (you know the ones that everyone usually ignores) . So we had quiet 4 lane motorway with everyone bombing up the outside lane until they spotted plod then anchoring up and falling in line.
This went on for 5 miles until plod peeled off then normal service was resumed. The hazard that necessitated a 60 limit never materialised surprise surprise.
I didn't have the guts to just burn them up!
john_r said:
I had this on the M40 a few weeks ago - late at night and a fully marked van sat in the middle lane doing 68-70. Lots of jostling cars behind him and everytime someone finally decided to creep past he put on the blues and pulled in front of them; at which point he'd turn off the lights and slow down to 68 again!
In which case he is breaking the law he can only do 60mph in a van!I found out the hard way, I got done for it a few months back, was on motorway and they clocked me at 74mph, gave me 3 points and £60 fine for my trouble.
Wouldn't have minded too much but I was going slower than most people on that stretch of road at the time.
I am now starting to believe that there is a fraction that are out to get their numbers up at whatever the cost, vans being an easy target.
Before anyone starts I know us large vehicle drivers have a bad reputation but some of us aren't that bad!
xllifts said:
john_r said:
I had this on the M40 a few weeks ago - late at night and a fully marked van sat in the middle lane doing 68-70. Lots of jostling cars behind him and everytime someone finally decided to creep past he put on the blues and pulled in front of them; at which point he'd turn off the lights and slow down to 68 again!
In which case he is breaking the law he can only do 60mph in a van!I found out the hard way, I got done for it a few months back, was on motorway and they clocked me at 74mph, gave me 3 points and £60 fine for my trouble.
Wouldn't have minded too much but I was going slower than most people on that stretch of road at the time.
I am now starting to believe that there is a fraction that are out to get their numbers up at whatever the cost, vans being an easy target.
Before anyone starts I know us large vehicle drivers have a bad reputation but some of us aren't that bad!
xllifts said:
john_r said:
I had this on the M40 a few weeks ago - late at night and a fully marked van sat in the middle lane doing 68-70. Lots of jostling cars behind him and everytime someone finally decided to creep past he put on the blues and pulled in front of them; at which point he'd turn off the lights and slow down to 68 again!
In which case he is breaking the law he can only do 60mph in a van!I found out the hard way, I got done for it a few months back, was on motorway and they clocked me at 74mph, gave me 3 points and £60 fine for my trouble.
Wouldn't have minded too much but I was going slower than most people on that stretch of road at the time.
I am now starting to believe that there is a fraction that are out to get their numbers up at whatever the cost, vans being an easy target.
Before anyone starts I know us large vehicle drivers have a bad reputation but some of us aren't that bad!
A van on the motorway can do 70 mph. (74 mph in a van on the motorway is very harsh!!!)
Saw an undercover car on the M275 last month sitting in the out side lane doing roughly 65ish with a 350z, slk and 530 following closly behind.
350z got pissed off, under took and got pulled stright away. Bad policing if you ask me!
Also a week or so later, the same thing on the M25, undercover passat. Pulled another passat.
Then when we turned off downt the A3 head cauht up and was in front sitting at the light with an old 318 next to him. Police floored it, so 318 followed siute, 1 mile down the road, he'd been pulled.
I have to say its a poor way to do policing, near on entrapment by my books!
350z got pissed off, under took and got pulled stright away. Bad policing if you ask me!
Also a week or so later, the same thing on the M25, undercover passat. Pulled another passat.
Then when we turned off downt the A3 head cauht up and was in front sitting at the light with an old 318 next to him. Police floored it, so 318 followed siute, 1 mile down the road, he'd been pulled.
I have to say its a poor way to do policing, near on entrapment by my books!
motorbreath said:
Saw an undercover car on the M275 last month sitting in the out side lane doing roughly 65ish with a 350z, slk and 530 following closly behind.
350z got pissed off, under took and got pulled stright away. Bad policing if you ask me!
Also a week or so later, the same thing on the M25, undercover passat. Pulled anotheir passat.
Then when we turned off downt the A3 head cauht up and was in front sitting at the light with an old 318 next to him. Police floored it, so 318 followed siute, 1 mile down the road, he'd been pulled.
I have to say its a poor way to do policing, near on entrapment by my books!
I very much doubt the passat did anyone for speeding 350z got pissed off, under took and got pulled stright away. Bad policing if you ask me!
Also a week or so later, the same thing on the M25, undercover passat. Pulled anotheir passat.
Then when we turned off downt the A3 head cauht up and was in front sitting at the light with an old 318 next to him. Police floored it, so 318 followed siute, 1 mile down the road, he'd been pulled.
I have to say its a poor way to do policing, near on entrapment by my books!
Furry Exocet said:
motorbreath said:
Saw an undercover car on the M275 last month sitting in the out side lane doing roughly 65ish with a 350z, slk and 530 following closly behind.
350z got pissed off, under took and got pulled stright away. Bad policing if you ask me!
Also a week or so later, the same thing on the M25, undercover passat. Pulled anotheir passat.
Then when we turned off downt the A3 head cauht up and was in front sitting at the light with an old 318 next to him. Police floored it, so 318 followed siute, 1 mile down the road, he'd been pulled.
I have to say its a poor way to do policing, near on entrapment by my books!
I very much doubt the passat did anyone for speeding 350z got pissed off, under took and got pulled stright away. Bad policing if you ask me!
Also a week or so later, the same thing on the M25, undercover passat. Pulled anotheir passat.
Then when we turned off downt the A3 head cauht up and was in front sitting at the light with an old 318 next to him. Police floored it, so 318 followed siute, 1 mile down the road, he'd been pulled.
I have to say its a poor way to do policing, near on entrapment by my books!
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