Undertaking

[johndoc2000]

I've heard since this happened that I didn't do a lot wrong but here goes…
Driving home from a night shift at around 4am, West London, deserted road. Making my way along the high street in the inside of two lanes approaching a set of lights with a 1.1 fiesta in the outside lane sitting in front of a red. Not being into approaching at mach 7 and screeching to a halt, started to slow down. Around sixty yards away (I think), they turn green so I accelerate and pass the stationary fiesta who was trying to find first. Straight down the road around a mile away, pull into the road I live on and to make things easy in the morning, turn and park in the direction I've just come from.
At this point, Fiesta (unmarked BIB) pulls in followed by panda who had been coming to meet from further down the road me as (I assume) requested by radio. Usual checking of the car, is it yours etc. etc. Licence etc. If I'd just parked up and switched my lights off, they'd have been looking for me all night!
Anyway. 'Are you aware that you shouldn't pass on the left? What would have happened if we had decided to turn left? (into an emerging one-way street !!?????!) If you are stopped for a similar 'offence' in the next 12 months, details of this event will be on record.' Etc etc. etc.
All finished off by a (due to my Irish accent), 'Remember, we don't undertake Sir. Not in this country anyway' (!!!!!!!!)

Undertaking?? Not all that clever but does it warrant the above???

[kevinday]

johndoc2000 said:

I've heard since this happened that I didn't do a lot wrong but here goes… Driving home from a night shift at around 4am, West London, deserted road. Making my way along the high street in the inside of two lanes approaching a set of lights with a 1.1 fiesta in the outside lane sitting in front of a red. Not being into approaching at mach 7 and screeching to a halt, started to slow down. Around sixty yards away (I think), they turn green so I accelerate and pass the stationary fiesta who was trying to find first. Straight down the road around a mile away, pull into the road I live on and to make things easy in the morning, turn and park in the direction I've just come from. At this point, Fiesta (unmarked BIB) pulls in followed by panda who had been coming to meet from further down the road me as (I assume) requested by radio. Usual checking of the car, is it yours etc. etc. Licence etc. If I'd just parked up and switched my lights off, they'd have been looking for me all night! Anyway. 'Are you aware that you shouldn't pass on the left? What would have happened if we had decided to turn left? (into an emerging one-way street !!?????!) If you are stopped for a similar 'offence' in the next 12 months, details of this event will be on record.' Etc etc. etc. All finished off by a (due to my Irish accent), 'Remember, we don't undertake Sir. Not in this country anyway' (!!!!!!!!) Undertaking?? Not all that clever but does it warrant the above???

You were not overtaking on the inside, your lane of traffic was moving faster at that point in time. As a matter of interest, what was the police car doing in the outside lane if the inside lane was clear?

[Einion Yrth]

kevinday said:

what was the police car doing in the outside lane if the inside lane was clear?

Particularly if the merest smidgeon of the concept of turning left had even begun to speculate as to the possibilty of crossing his mind.

[Mr Whippy]

If they were turning left, they would have first had to change to the left lane, which would require mirror SIGNAL manouevre.

Since there was no signal, you can assume they were not planning on turning.

What are we meant to do, drive upto their side, but not pass, and just wait for them to go faster and pull infront?

Clearly bored weren't they! I'd pride myself after such an occurence to know that I wasn't such an arsehole

Dave

[jon_w]

johndoc2000 said:

'Are you aware that you shouldn't pass on the left? ... 'Remember, we don't undertake Sir. Not in this country anyway' (!!!!!!!!)

If you were feeling particularly brave you could have pointed out that we also drive on the left - so what was he doing in the right hand lane with an empty lane to his left?

Also the Highway Code [139] states:

"Stay in your lane if traffic is moving slowly in queues. If the queue on your right is moving more slowly than you are, you may pass on the left"

I'd have been pretty "off" with a copper who spoke to me for something like that.

[Balmoral Green]

Firstly I reckon his lane discipline was wrong, not yours, he should have been in lane 1 in the 1st place. What are you supposed to do, slow right down even though the lights have changed and your arrival time at and subsequently through the lights happens to be sooner because you were already moving, he was not. Its called the laws of physics.

What a cnut.

I really feel for the bib on this forum when we hear stuff like this, this sort of thing must make their blood boil more than ours having such inadequate colleagues.

>> Edited by Balmoral Green on Friday 10th June 21:57

[docjan]

He's wrong and theres no lane discipline involved. i.e. the police officers wrong, not the people/persons above me .

>> Edited by docjan on Saturday 11th June 01:38

[streaky]

Remember, (most) traffic laws (and guidance) do not apply to the police - plenty of demonstration in the courts recently.

To quote a phrase my old Granny (departed now for over 30 years) borrowed from an overheard conversation in the 20s ...

"One of us is wrong, and it ain't me!"

Streaky

PS - from your description you did nothing wrong, and nothing that I or most people wouldn't have done - S

[GreenV8S]

Devil's advocate mode on ...

There are plenty of valid reasons why the BiB could have ended up stopped in lane two with nothing in lane one, and nothing at all wrong with them being there.

Personally I'm not comfortable passing any car at a significant closing speed unless I'm absolutely certain they are going to stay out of my way. Being in the 'wrong' lane to make a left turn and not signalling an intention to turn left doesn't count as 'certain' in my book. It is easy to miss rapidly closing traffic behind you especially when your attention is taken up by traffic lights, conflicting traffic, road signs, and maybe keeping an eye out for people who need to be policed. I'm sure that if the roles were reversed and you turned into a passing patrol car you'd have the DC&A book thrown at you, I think the truth is that in this situation both drivers would naturaly tend to blame the other even though both carry some blame.

[rsvmilly]

1. Copper was in the wrong and his lane displine was hopeless.
2. So long as he doesn't intend to prosecute, don't bother pointing out what a tit he is. Just nod sagely and go on your way.