Racing at a set of lights
Discussion
Hang on a moment here.
If I am in lane 1, nothing in lane 2, and I floor it, as I usually do anyway, I cannot be nicked for racing, because there is no car alongside me.
But just because coincidentally, on odd occassions, there happens to be a car in lane 2, I am now committing an offence?
The law is an ass.
You may just as well argue that any number of vehicles, travelling in the same direction, under any circumstances, are all racing each other. Like on a motorway for example. Ergo, everyone is racing and committing an offence.
If I am in lane 1, nothing in lane 2, and I floor it, as I usually do anyway, I cannot be nicked for racing, because there is no car alongside me.
But just because coincidentally, on odd occassions, there happens to be a car in lane 2, I am now committing an offence?
The law is an ass.
You may just as well argue that any number of vehicles, travelling in the same direction, under any circumstances, are all racing each other. Like on a motorway for example. Ergo, everyone is racing and committing an offence.
excessive acceleration.
Streetcop said:I would not disagree, but how could you prove intent?
.....can you also get done for excessive braking?
If the intention is to cause the vehicle behind to collide with you...then yes....
(regardless of the vehicle behind being able to stop in the distance he/she can see to be clear)
supraman2954 said:
I would not disagree, but how could you prove intent?
By interview....failing that.....a jury...
I once dealt with such a case where a driver braked hard in front of another; in an obvious attempt to cause the following car to collide with his...(there was history between the two blokes)...
The driver at the front was arrested on various charges and the matter ended up at crown court...
I have to say though, that the driver in the dock was found 'not-guilty'...but it hung in the balance for a couple of hours....
Streetcop said:Thats interesting, so many road hogs think that it is correct and proper to give you a brake test instead of simply moving over into the vacant left lane and allowing you to pass.
.....can you also get done for excessive braking?
If the intention is to cause the vehicle behind to collide with you...then yes....
(regardless of the vehicle behind being able to stop in the distance he/she can see to be clear)
Streetcop said:
.....can you also get done for excessive braking?
If the intention is to cause the vehicle behind to collide with you...then yes....
(regardless of the vehicle behind being able to stop in the distance he/she can see to be clear)
Has anyone ever been sucessfully prosecuted for that?
neil.b said:
Can you get done for accelerating too fast?
I got stopped for this once. Mate in an MX5 in front, me in Sierra behind him at lights heading onto empty roundabout, both knowing that if you floor it you can make it through the next lights on the roundabout (about 30 metres away) before they change and be on your way. Didn't notice the fully marked police car several cars behind though.
Lights change, we both accelerate hard through next lights (on green) but then ease off, nowhere near the speed limit and definitely not racing. Next thing I have the blue lights behind me, but he overtakes and pulls my mate in a lay-by. Seeing this, and not thinking we had done anything wrong, I carry on, but he pulls out again, comes screaming past me, and pulls me further up the road.
Apparently he had a "Police - Stop" sign in the back window, and when he overtook me I was supposed to see it and stop. With all the flashing lights and noise, I hadn't seen this. He was very p*ssed off that I didn't stop, and kept saying "when I put the
ing stop sign up you're supposed to ing stop" etc etc. Every other word was a swear word. He asked me if the car was mine about ten times (it was) and then "are you sure?" (Yes!!!!). Apparently he could "do me" for driving without due care and attention if he wanted. The woman PC with him was very quiet throughout all this! Eventually he gave me a producer (only one I've ever had) for my local police station. I went there the next day and said I wanted to complain about the officer who stopped me (if only for the language) but apparently I would have to go to another branch, as the officer involved was from there. I didn't bother.
That week I cancelled my application for the police force. I had already passed the physical and initial tests, and had been invited to a residential selection course. There were other reasons for cancelling - mainly the length of time the whole application process took, and other graduate job offers I had received. But the attitude of this one officer also really got to me.
Sorry got a bit off topic there....
Also need to remember that Racing can easily lead to actions that could result in a "Dangerous Driving" conviction.
One a few weeks back, driver was "caught up" in the antics of the racers around the ring-road in A major City, they use the pedestrian lights as the signal and cars cruise up to them as they are triggered by the crowd at the side of the road. This guy I believe was not necessarily there to race as he was quite mature and many years no convictions, got caught up by the heat of the moment accelerated from inside lane to over 70 (in a 30) pulled over to pass a car on inside lane then quickly back to N/S to turn left. This was at night and raining! in the course of a 400 yard bit of stupidity caught on video he now has a twelve month ban and is awaiting to hear whether it will be Prison or CPO!
Be very careful where and when you give it large!
A
>> Edited by Agnostic on Friday 25th March 11:18
One a few weeks back, driver was "caught up" in the antics of the racers around the ring-road in A major City, they use the pedestrian lights as the signal and cars cruise up to them as they are triggered by the crowd at the side of the road. This guy I believe was not necessarily there to race as he was quite mature and many years no convictions, got caught up by the heat of the moment accelerated from inside lane to over 70 (in a 30) pulled over to pass a car on inside lane then quickly back to N/S to turn left. This was at night and raining! in the course of a 400 yard bit of stupidity caught on video he now has a twelve month ban and is awaiting to hear whether it will be Prison or CPO!
Be very careful where and when you give it large!
A
>> Edited by Agnostic on Friday 25th March 11:18
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