Fake police car, M1

[NickGibbs]

Yesterday afternoon on the M1 around Leicester in the pouring rain, this previous-gen Golf (grey, 09 plate) came rushing up behind us in the outside lane with its headlights flashing alternately. Thought it was plod, so let it by, but then realised I'd seen no blue lights in its grille as you normally see in unmarked cars and its taillights weren't on at all. Given the spray was horrific this was pretty suspicious in itself.
Plenty of other cars ahead moved over too. Surely a fake right? Anyone else seen this before?

[FourWheelDrift]

Spooks.

[PompeyPaul]

No idea. But could be any number of things (BASICs doctors, surveillance etc) or a fire vehicle where they simply forgot to flick the blue switch as they are usually separate switches.

[knitware]

Part of the driving test states in certain words that if someone is behind you and wants to get past then you should let them when it is safe to do so. Those in a hurry drivers could be any body, doctor, police, worried dad etc

[davyvee]

Seen a couple of similar golfs in Northumberland last weekend attending an accident.

[smith94]

If it was an R32 it may have well been a unmarked police car.

Quite a few of them in Leicestershire

Perhaps only had the front lights on as that was all that was needed to move traffic out his way?

[Debaser]

I've seen what I thought were a couple of fake emergency vehicles on the M1 a few years ago. One was a 3 series with a quiet siren and weak looking blue lights behind the grille. Shortly afterwards a tired looking builder's van went past with the same quiet siren and weak blue lights.

Plenty of people didn't get out their way because a radio at normal volume in their car would have drowned out the sirens, and the blue lights were difficult to spot.

[Bungleaio]

Leics police do have an unmarked Mk5 golf GTI.

[Paddymcc]

A golf with broken Hid lights?

I've seen them flash when there's a fault on the ballast.

[LordGrover]

Any chancer with £26.50 to spend? eBay.

[Dan_1981]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[andybailey1972]

FourWheelDrift said:

Spooks.

This

[NickGibbs]

LordGrover said:

Any chancer with £26.50 to spend? eBay.

I'm going with this. Nice extra for a taxi driver. "You can get there in regular time, or for an extra £5 a mile, there's THIS option"

[996TT02]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Fartomatic5000]

How many times did you see the headlights flashing in this alternate manner?

The golf has automatic headlight washers which activate every 10th time the screen is washed. It sprays one light, then then other, not both together at the same time (so that at least one light will shine ahead while the other is being washed). Could this have been what you saw?

[Hoofy]

knitware said:

Part of the driving test states in certain words that if someone is behind you and wants to get past then you should let them when it is safe to do so. Those in a hurry drivers could be any body, doctor, police, worried dad etc

Just let them go. Not worth it being the one who gets taken out if it isn't a professional driver and they make a mistake.

[NickGibbs]

Fartomatic5000 said:

How many times did you see the headlights flashing in this alternate manner?

The golf has automatic headlight washers which activate every 10th time the screen is washed. It sprays one light, then then other, not both together at the same time (so that at least one light will shine ahead while the other is being washed). Could this have been what you saw?

It was pouring with rain so unlikely