Overtaken when I moved for a police car - eh?
Discussion
this is very annoying and has happened twice in the same day.
police car lights several car lengths behind me in rear view mirror, so i indicate, pull to the left and slow down as on a main road with oncoming traffic.
Then... the 1.0 polo behind me cains it past me, forcing the police car to overtake him AND me at the same time, pushing the police car right across the road. the police man did not look impressed.
Then... exactly the same thing happened hours after, altho this time the police car slammed it's brakes on to avoid hitting the car overtaking me!
Never had this happen before, don't these people have eyes, or am i doing something wrong?!!
police car lights several car lengths behind me in rear view mirror, so i indicate, pull to the left and slow down as on a main road with oncoming traffic.
Then... the 1.0 polo behind me cains it past me, forcing the police car to overtake him AND me at the same time, pushing the police car right across the road. the police man did not look impressed.
Then... exactly the same thing happened hours after, altho this time the police car slammed it's brakes on to avoid hitting the car overtaking me!
Never had this happen before, don't these people have eyes, or am i doing something wrong?!!
Personally unless it's a case of I am not moving I look for a spot where the Emergency vehicle can pass me without me or them slowing down too much. That way THEY keep moving. Too many times I have seen drivers slam on the brakes and hold up the "ES" vehicle trying to get out of the way when if they just kept moving the vehicle could easily pass them.
This happens to me quite often as the Ambulance station is on the road on my way to work.
I have even had people stop alongside me and shout at me for "suddenly pulling over" they seem to be oblivious to the big flashing blue lights and siren 20 feet away that is now having to wait for the moron to finish being a moron.
Normally these people realise and then proceed to get further in the way by pulling off and driving slowly while waving their arm out the window as if to say "come past", except there is traffic coming the other way and they are now a rolling road block.
If I had my own country that I was dictator of I would pluck such fools from their car and set their pants on fire to wake them up, then I would make them walk everywhere for the rest of their lives. In fact Iwould make them walk everywhere on the left hand side of the pavement so If I encountered them in town I could pass them easily there too because you just know they would be the zig-zag slow walking type as well as a s
t driver.
I have even had people stop alongside me and shout at me for "suddenly pulling over" they seem to be oblivious to the big flashing blue lights and siren 20 feet away that is now having to wait for the moron to finish being a moron.
Normally these people realise and then proceed to get further in the way by pulling off and driving slowly while waving their arm out the window as if to say "come past", except there is traffic coming the other way and they are now a rolling road block.
If I had my own country that I was dictator of I would pluck such fools from their car and set their pants on fire to wake them up, then I would make them walk everywhere for the rest of their lives. In fact Iwould make them walk everywhere on the left hand side of the pavement so If I encountered them in town I could pass them easily there too because you just know they would be the zig-zag slow walking type as well as a s
t driver.There are a monumental amount of bellends on the road these days, I try to slow down a bit and move over giving them space. I find when cars stop or slow down too much it can make the situation harder and sometimes more unpredictable for the emergency vehicle coming through. Never underestimate the stupidity of most road users.
Dr Boxcat said:
There are a monumental amount of bellends on the road these days, I try to slow down a bit and move over giving them space. I find when cars stop or slow down too much it can make the situation harder and sometimes more unpredictable for the emergency vehicle coming through. Never underestimate the stupidity of most road users.
yer i always try never to come to a complete stop unless a very tight road etc. Normally i pull in to the side, but keep rolling at a certian speed slower than i was going whilst indicating to allow the police car room and to aknowledge i've seen them coming.Try to avoid actually stopping, it causes no end of knock on problems (eg bunching) Just keep left & make room at pinch points etc.
I very nearly rammed someone off the road when they stopped in front of me on a blind bend, with an ambulance behind me. That was obviously numtiness of the plank variety but you get the idea.
I very nearly rammed someone off the road when they stopped in front of me on a blind bend, with an ambulance behind me. That was obviously numtiness of the plank variety but you get the idea.
It really pisses me off when people do that. Commuting in suburban traffic and living near a hospital I find myself pulling over for ambulances several times a week usually.
It sort of restores my faith in humanity when I see everyone working together to create a path through for them ... and then promptly dashes it again when some twunt tries to overtake everyone as they're pulling back onto the road.
I quite often see people tailgating the ambulances through. I'm guessing in at least some cases they're relatives of the person in the ambulance, and good to luck to them if they are, but it's in desperately bad taste if not. We are talking about Londoners here, though.
It sort of restores my faith in humanity when I see everyone working together to create a path through for them ... and then promptly dashes it again when some twunt tries to overtake everyone as they're pulling back onto the road.
I quite often see people tailgating the ambulances through. I'm guessing in at least some cases they're relatives of the person in the ambulance, and good to luck to them if they are, but it's in desperately bad taste if not. We are talking about Londoners here, though.
I had this quite recently too, there was an ambulance hooning it up behind a line of 4 or 5 cars (I was the second car in the line), everybody clocks it and moves over, slowing to a crawl. The woman at the back decides we're bowing before her beauty (we weren't) and proceeds to overtake all of us, forcing the ambulance to toddle along behind her at 30 until she notices, well after she'd overtaken us, and emergency stops in the middle of the road.
I also had a moment last year in my VX220 - it was a lovely summer's day and I had my roof down and windows open. Travelling down a narrow road, I spot a fire engine coming the other way. It's still some distance away but there are parked cars all over the place, so I found a nice place to pull in and let it through. I was "parked" quite offensively - there was enough room for the fire engine to get through, but I was sticking out at least half a car's width in the space. Cars coming the way I was would have to cross the white line to get past me, shock and horror. A car comes up behind leaning on the horn, driver opens the pax window and shouts "learn how to park you flash tt" or something similar. I calmly pointed at the fire engine rapidly approaching, and I've never seen a look of terror as he tears off in reverse finding somewhere to pull in.
I also had a moment last year in my VX220 - it was a lovely summer's day and I had my roof down and windows open. Travelling down a narrow road, I spot a fire engine coming the other way. It's still some distance away but there are parked cars all over the place, so I found a nice place to pull in and let it through. I was "parked" quite offensively - there was enough room for the fire engine to get through, but I was sticking out at least half a car's width in the space. Cars coming the way I was would have to cross the white line to get past me, shock and horror. A car comes up behind leaning on the horn, driver opens the pax window and shouts "learn how to park you flash t
t" or something similar. I calmly pointed at the fire engine rapidly approaching, and I've never seen a look of terror as he tears off in reverse finding somewhere to pull in.Getragdogleg said:
If I had my own country that I was dictator of I would pluck such fools from their car and set their pants on fire to wake them up, then I would make them walk everywhere for the rest of their lives. In fact Iwould make them walk everywhere on the left hand side of the pavement so If I encountered them in town I could pass them easily there too because you just know they would be the zig-zag slow walking type as well as a st driver.
You have my vote.t driver.
sebhaque said:
I also had a moment last year in my VX220 - it was a lovely summer's day and I had my roof down and windows open. Travelling down a narrow road, I spot a fire engine coming the other way. It's still some distance away but there are parked cars all over the place, so I found a nice place to pull in and let it through. I was "parked" quite offensively - there was enough room for the fire engine to get through, but I was sticking out at least half a car's width in the space. Cars coming the way I was would have to cross the white line to get past me, shock and horror. A car comes up behind leaning on the horn, driver opens the pax window and shouts "learn how to park you flash tt" or something similar. I calmly pointed at the fire engine rapidly approaching, and I've never seen a look of terror as he tears off in reverse finding somewhere to pull in.
t" or something similar. I calmly pointed at the fire engine rapidly approaching, and I've never seen a look of terror as he tears off in reverse finding somewhere to pull in.
Serves him right.
Chris71 said:
sebhaque said:
I also had a moment last year in my VX220 - it was a lovely summer's day and I had my roof down and windows open. Travelling down a narrow road, I spot a fire engine coming the other way. It's still some distance away but there are parked cars all over the place, so I found a nice place to pull in and let it through. I was "parked" quite offensively - there was enough room for the fire engine to get through, but I was sticking out at least half a car's width in the space. Cars coming the way I was would have to cross the white line to get past me, shock and horror. A car comes up behind leaning on the horn, driver opens the pax window and shouts "learn how to park you flash tt" or something similar. I calmly pointed at the fire engine rapidly approaching, and I've never seen a look of terror as he tears off in reverse finding somewhere to pull in.
t" or something similar. I calmly pointed at the fire engine rapidly approaching, and I've never seen a look of terror as he tears off in reverse finding somewhere to pull in.Serves him right.
Some motorists dive to the kerb and stop at the first sight of blues/sirens. This is not always the best thing to do which is why they should be passed (stopping close to a traffic island in a long line of traffic for example). The Highway Code offers the following guidance:
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 avoid mounting the kerb. Do not brake harshly on approach to a junction or roundabout, as a following vehicle may not have the same view as you.
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 avoid mounting the kerb. Do not brake harshly on approach to a junction or roundabout, as a following vehicle may not have the same view as you.
The manner in which you "dive" to allow them past is everything.
If observed from a while away your movements should be predictable. There again there are some idiots who will swerve to avoid you (overtake) as they haven't seen the emergency vehicle.
Diving into the side of the road is asking for it, but early indication usually sorts this. In London anyway.
If observed from a while away your movements should be predictable. There again there are some idiots who will swerve to avoid you (overtake) as they haven't seen the emergency vehicle.
Diving into the side of the road is asking for it, but early indication usually sorts this. In London anyway.
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