Would you follow a marked Trafpol car at speed?
Discussion
The reason that i ask this is that on a handful of occasions ive heard from other Trafpols (and had first hand exp) that they have been travelling along a road in excess of the speed limit on route to a call without Blue lights etc and a MOP has been following at the same speed.
When stopped, the MOP has pointed out that if its ok for the Trafpol to travel at that speed then surely its ok for him to do the same.
Personaly i cant believe that there are people out there who do this sort of thing.
I hate it when im with my family and being followed by a Marked vehicle.....i feel uncomfortable even though ive done nothing wrong.
Some people just invite trouble and more importantly 3 points.
Dont get me wrong, im not saying that this is a problem but it has happened more than once and i cant help but think what is going through that persons mind.
When stopped, the MOP has pointed out that if its ok for the Trafpol to travel at that speed then surely its ok for him to do the same.
Personaly i cant believe that there are people out there who do this sort of thing.
I hate it when im with my family and being followed by a Marked vehicle.....i feel uncomfortable even though ive done nothing wrong.
Some people just invite trouble and more importantly 3 points.
Dont get me wrong, im not saying that this is a problem but it has happened more than once and i cant help but think what is going through that persons mind.
Tonyrec said:
The reason that i ask this is that on a handful of occasions ive heard from other Trafpols (and had first hand exp) that they have been travelling along a road in excess of the speed limit on route to a call without Blue lights etc and a MOP has been following at the same speed.
When stopped, the MOP has pointed out that if its ok for the Trafpol to travel at that speed then surely its ok for him to do the same.
Personaly i cant believe that there are people out there who do this sort of thing.
I hate it when im with my family and being followed by a Marked vehicle.....i feel uncomfortable even though ive done nothing wrong.
Some people just invite trouble and more importantly 3 points.
Dont get me wrong, im not saying that this is a problem but it has happened more than once and i cant help but think what is going through that persons mind.
At a speed in excess of the limit? No, I wouldn't.
Anyone who does is just asking for trouble, IMHO.
Tonyrec said:
Going on from this, i know that the worst drivers are the Motorcyclists that follow an Ambulance in heavy traffic that is being escorted by Police.
These are true Kamikaze pilots and really and truly havent got a 'kin clue.
You couldnt pay me to ride like that.
Why do they do it? Just to save a few minutes.... Surely they don't jump red lights and such..?
That reminds me... There must be occasions where you see MOP's who react shall-we-say less than helpfully when they see another emergency vehcile (ambulance of fire engine) - Do you ever get an opportunity to stop them and give them some advice?
I had a Porsche Carrera4 04 reg, do exactly this last week on the M4. Less than 1 second behind me at 85mph. I increase to just under 100mph and he is with me for over a mile (although he did drop back a little at that speed).
I eventually stopped him and asked him why he was exceeding the limit. His excuse was the chap behind him
!
Conversation something like this!
"Did you see him flashing me to get out of the way?" He said in indignant tones!
Gone = "So why didn't you then? I would then be speaking to him and not you!"
"What about him then?"
Gone = "What about him? Am I talking to him or you? What about him and him and him and him (as more speeders went flashing past in lane 3)? Am I talking to them or you? I can only talk to one at a time and that is unfortunately you! You don't even know what is in the back of this vehicle (marked up estate with blacked out windows)! It might even be speed detection equipment! As it happens it is not but have you heard of VASCAR?
"No"
Gone = "Then for future reference, you need to learn about it because what you just did will make you a prime target for that. You look like an intelligent man because otherwise you would not be driving something like that unless you have stolen it! I am beginning to have my doubts about your level of intelligence! Its your licence, you take your chances with laser guns on bridges and the unmarked cars running up and down here but to tailgate a marked one is just plain stupid don't you agree?
"Yes. Sorry"
Gone = "Sometimes I really wonder about people like you (shaking my head). Build your speed up on the hard shoulder before you leave it safely AND DON'T EXCEED THE LIMIT NEAR MARKED VEHICLES!"
I eventually stopped him and asked him why he was exceeding the limit. His excuse was the chap behind him
! Conversation something like this!
"Did you see him flashing me to get out of the way?" He said in indignant tones!
Gone = "So why didn't you then? I would then be speaking to him and not you!"
"What about him then?"
Gone = "What about him? Am I talking to him or you? What about him and him and him and him (as more speeders went flashing past in lane 3)? Am I talking to them or you? I can only talk to one at a time and that is unfortunately you! You don't even know what is in the back of this vehicle (marked up estate with blacked out windows)! It might even be speed detection equipment! As it happens it is not but have you heard of VASCAR?
"No"
Gone = "Then for future reference, you need to learn about it because what you just did will make you a prime target for that. You look like an intelligent man because otherwise you would not be driving something like that unless you have stolen it! I am beginning to have my doubts about your level of intelligence! Its your licence, you take your chances with laser guns on bridges and the unmarked cars running up and down here but to tailgate a marked one is just plain stupid don't you agree?
"Yes. Sorry"
Gone = "Sometimes I really wonder about people like you (shaking my head). Build your speed up on the hard shoulder before you leave it safely AND DON'T EXCEED THE LIMIT NEAR MARKED VEHICLES!"
I can't remember the last time I saw a marked Trafpol other than filling up at the Scottish restaurant at Sparkford services...
In the unlikely event that I caught one up above the prevailing limit then I'd back-off: anyone who does otherwise is either challenging the BiBs to pull them or is too dozy to realise what's in front of them.
In the unlikely event that I caught one up above the prevailing limit then I'd back-off: anyone who does otherwise is either challenging the BiBs to pull them or is too dozy to realise what's in front of them.
borris-bear said:
Out of interest what are the rules governing police cars?
If on call should you display the blue flashing lights? and if not on call i assume police are subject to the same laws as the rest of us?
No. The laws state that for Policing purposes, the speed limit can be ignored. That covers all manner of reasons when progress is required without blue lights and sirens.
That includes driver training (which is not an emergency)
It includes surveilance work (which is not an emergency)
It includes general patrol work if there is a good reason for doing it (which is not an emergency)
It includes transporting a violent prisoner back to custody (which is not necessarily an emergency although it could be)
Following another speeder (which is not an emergency) to get a check on the target, the Police are exempt from the rule when they do so.
They are exempt from limits when trying to catch up with a vehicle/person which they see in the distance which may be similar to a suspect vehicle for a crime either at that time or in the past.
If they attend crimes in progress with everything going, it tends to give the game away and the perpetrator can make good his/her escape!
They are exempt from limits if they are late for a court hearing (stated case).
They are not exempt from limits if the chips are getting cold or the Chief Constable is standing on the 'Tee' having forgotton his No 1 wood!
Basically, calls to Police control rooms are graded by the operators in the order of importance that they should receive. Immedite response incidents are usually attended with everything going, but not always as the burglar on premises requires silent approach! Any other response is really down to the driver at the time whether he/she thinks that it is appropriate to either exceed the limit or use the warning equipment. This does not extend to patrol issues where there is no graded response.
If the driver decides that there is a need to exceed the limit without warning equipment working, then he/she will have to satisfy any enquiry about why (after complaint or collision) in line with the exemption for Policing purposes. If this cannot be satisfied, then the driver will be subject to the same rules as everyone else attached to an NIP and Section 172 notice!
ca092003 said:
Gone
May I ask what type of vehicle you were driving i.e. how come no VASCAR fitted?
I work for a department that is called 'Tactical Support'. It deals with major crime stuff and not Road Policing issues. There is no need for a VASCAR unit to be fitted as it is not the line of work that I am involved in. I do however use the motorways a lot as do the rest of the department to get from one major town to another. It was a Vauxhall estate!
borris-bear said:
Out of interest what are the rules governing police cars?
If on call should you display the blue flashing lights? and if not on call i assume police are subject to the same laws as the rest of us?
Vehicles being using for emergency services purposes (police, fire, ambulance, HMCG plus a few obscure ones) are always subject to the same rules regardless of whether they are using warning equipment or not.
In some circumstances the drivers of these vehicles are allowed to claim exemptions from the offences of (for example) exceeding the speed limit, failure to observe a stop sign/signal (they can be treated as a 'give way'), failure to observe a keep left/right sign etc - if 'the purpose for which the vehicle is being used on that occasion would be hindered by teh observance of the provision/signal' etc. Note that the exemptions are *not* automatic.
You can *never* claim exemptions for driving like a
...I mean careless/dangerous driving (in fact the magistrate would crucify you if that came up as you're supposed to know better) or failure to observe a 'no entry' sign, wrong way down a one-way street etc. HtH
Loaf
gone said:
Gone
May I ask what type of vehicle you were driving i.e. how come no VASCAR fitted?
I work for a department that is called 'Tactical Support'. It deals with major crime stuff and not Road Policing issues. There is no need for a VASCAR unit to be fitted as it is not the line of work that I am involved in. I do however use the motorways a lot as do the rest of the department to get from one major town to another. It was a Vauxhall estate!
Thanks. Were you alone or was there another BiB with you?
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