Why does Plod drive at 70?
Discussion
Travelling down M5 in Devon recently, came across major traffic bottleneck. Lots of nervious drivers all driving at exactly 70, alongside each other with minimal space between cars -- a major accident waiting to happen.
The reason was a marked patrol car driving at 70 switching between lane 1 and 2 as it passed lorries and caravans.
I don't understand what plod was trying to achieve. Road safety had been reduced, not increased.
Patrol cars driving at 56 or so provides a good reminder for everyone to check their speed, but does not impeded the flow of traffic. Crusing dowen the road in excess of 70 doesn't cause problems either... but driving at exactly 70 simply causes a dangerous bottleneck.
H
The reason was a marked patrol car driving at 70 switching between lane 1 and 2 as it passed lorries and caravans.
I don't understand what plod was trying to achieve. Road safety had been reduced, not increased.
Patrol cars driving at 56 or so provides a good reminder for everyone to check their speed, but does not impeded the flow of traffic. Crusing dowen the road in excess of 70 doesn't cause problems either... but driving at exactly 70 simply causes a dangerous bottleneck.
H
Interesting. When I was learning to ride, I was advised to keep up with the traffic in front. When I asked about speed limits, the reply was that if the traffic is moving at a speed moderately [not quantified] in excess of the speed limit then the safest thing to do is still to keep up with the traffic (on the basis that otherwise you are inviting vehicles behind you to overtake, thus compromising your own safety).
I don't know about the 70 but last Monday evening I was driving through the ' roadworks' on the M5 just south of Bristol. The speed limit, enforced by cameras is 40mph, there are of course no actual activities taking place. The few people about were crawling through,tortuous at that speed. A police car came through, no blues on travelling at about 55mph. It was interesting to see a few people then decide to follow him while others sat back at 40mph.
personally I think motorway roadworks 40 mph resrictions that are in force 24/7 even when no activities are taking place show contempt for motorists. I do appreciate that when contra flows are in operation that speed reductions are required but 40mph 24/7?
personally I think motorway roadworks 40 mph resrictions that are in force 24/7 even when no activities are taking place show contempt for motorists. I do appreciate that when contra flows are in operation that speed reductions are required but 40mph 24/7?
itchy said:
Interesting. When I was learning to ride, I was advised to keep up with the traffic in front. When I asked about speed limits, the reply was that if the traffic is moving at a speed moderately [not quantified] in excess of the speed limit then the safest thing to do is still to keep up with the traffic (on the basis that otherwise you are inviting vehicles behind you to overtake, thus compromising your own safety).
10 points to that man over there. trev r said:
They do it to be annoying and make themselves feel all powerful.
NO!
They do it because 70mph is the limit and they may not be on an emergency and able to justify exceeding that limit.
They do it to set an example
Thats why they do it
trev r said:
Anyone with the audacity to challenge their "authorita" and achieve the extremely dangerous velocity of 80 mph when "daring" to overtake them will be given hassle.
Strange that isn't it?
Its their job to enforce the law, or did you not realise that?
Is 80mph breaking the law?
I call it taking the p1ss
I don't see a problem with any driver driving at 70 and moving into lane 2 to overtake where necessary. If somebody wanted to drive at 60 or 70 then why should there be a problem? The driving is not dangerous, the gaps are good, the overtaking is good. It is a limit and you don't have to drive at the limit or beyond it.
What's wrong with them doing 70? They all do that around my way which means:
a) they maintain a good example.
b) they minimise the numpty trail (those who slow down to 60 on sight of a Police vehicle and create tailbacks).
c) they allow me to overtake at an indicated 75 and we all get on with our day.
If they drive along at 60 you still get the same idiots bunched up behind, or who will only go past at 63mph. Blame the poor drivers leaving insufficient spacing between vehicles, not the Police.
>> Edited by marshun on Friday 10th June 21:47
a) they maintain a good example.
b) they minimise the numpty trail (those who slow down to 60 on sight of a Police vehicle and create tailbacks).
c) they allow me to overtake at an indicated 75 and we all get on with our day.
If they drive along at 60 you still get the same idiots bunched up behind, or who will only go past at 63mph. Blame the poor drivers leaving insufficient spacing between vehicles, not the Police.
>> Edited by marshun on Friday 10th June 21:47
marshun said:
If they drive along at 60 you still get the same idiots bunched up behind, or who will only go past at 63mph.
Seen it where some try to be a
but I call it 
where they try slowing down even more......... Heard it down to forty something on a quiet stretch of m/way before someone has the brains to go past.
Not something I agree with, I have to say. Its just taking the p*ss.
hugerr said:
Patrol cars driving at 56 or so provides a good reminder for everyone to check their speed, but does not impeded the flow of traffic.
Experience suggests otherwise.
1) Too many drivers are totally unaware of the speed limit for the road on which they are driving - set aside arguments about whether it is the right limit or not (see Panic breaking for speed cameras and others).
2) Too many drivers appear to believe that the speed of the police vehicle is the maximum speed for the road (I've seen queues caused by drivers not overtaking a Police Incident caravan making its leisurely way along a NSL dual carriageway).
3) Too many drivers are intimidated by the thought of passing a police vehicle (see Undertaking and Balmoral Green's post here).
Ignorance, stupidity and fear ... a terrible combination!
Streaky
>> Edited by streaky on Saturday 11th June 07:54
I want to interpret the speed limit as showing the speed that is generally accepted as safe for that road under typical conditions. If it's safe to go faster and I go faster, then no harm done and no penalty deserved. I used to think that this was how they were enforced too. I've exceeded the speed limit on many occasions, technically an offense, in full sight of police officers who were well placed to stop me if they chose to, and not had any trouble. I have always assumed this is because my driving was clearly safe, and I was only exceeding the limit by a modest amount rather than taking the piss, and they thought that my behaviour was acceptable.
These days I think the limits are being interpreted with far less discretion and I no longer expect to be allowed to break the speed limits with impunity just because my driving is safe and reasonable. Seems like the propoganda is working, on me at least. Doesn't make me any safer though, in fact it probably has the opposite effect.
These days I think the limits are being interpreted with far less discretion and I no longer expect to be allowed to break the speed limits with impunity just because my driving is safe and reasonable. Seems like the propoganda is working, on me at least. Doesn't make me any safer though, in fact it probably has the opposite effect.
The other day I was following one doing 70, though he seemed to notice the bunching up of traffic behind him (in the space of a couple of minutes the road ahead of him was empty) and accelerated up to 80, whereby half the people behind him (me first) sped up with him and cruised at 80 and much more spread out.
No fuss, no big dramatics, just cruising along at a reasonable speed.
No fuss, no big dramatics, just cruising along at a reasonable speed.
I attended a Bikesafe event at the Ace Cafe a while ago. The instructors are all current trafpol m/cycle riders. Each and everyone was a true petrolhead.
I specifically asked one of the BiB what the deal was when overtaking a cruising police car. I was told that easing past at about 75ish, and then moving over and keeping to 70 was the ideal course of action.
I've always overtaken Police cars on the motorway. We're not expected to sit behind them creating a mobile roadblock. As long as you're not behaving like a complete to$$er, the BiB will leave you well alone.
A big thumbs up to all the trafpol who spend their time teaching numpties like me how to ride safely!!
I specifically asked one of the BiB what the deal was when overtaking a cruising police car. I was told that easing past at about 75ish, and then moving over and keeping to 70 was the ideal course of action.
I've always overtaken Police cars on the motorway. We're not expected to sit behind them creating a mobile roadblock. As long as you're not behaving like a complete to$$er, the BiB will leave you well alone.
A big thumbs up to all the trafpol who spend their time teaching numpties like me how to ride safely!!
Funnily enough I was driving along the M4 on Saturday and suddenly the smooth flowing traffic stopped and there was a sea of cars all travelling at 60mph. I could see a marked car on the inside lane, travelling at 60, and then a neat line of cars horizontally across from it, and clear road ahead. Then a few cars travelled forward slowly on the outside lane, but the middle an inside lanes were still solid at 60mph. I moved across to the outside lane and overtook it with all the other sensible people!
Gareth
Gareth
It would appear that there are far too many of these:
What's all that about?
And not enough of these:
Spot on!
Now spread the word.
>> Edited by destroyer on Monday 13th June 09:01
rich 36 said:
thats about right, then if its me doing it,
overly study the rear view mirror for pursuit, as I feel instantly law abiding and guilty
(usually narrowly avoiding large truck pulling into my path after indicating for 10 minutes)
What's all that about?
And not enough of these:
g_attrill said:
Funnily enough I was driving along the M4 on Saturday and suddenly the smooth flowing traffic stopped and there was a sea of cars all travelling at 60mph. I could see a marked car on the inside lane, travelling at 60, and then a neat line of cars horizontally across from it, and clear road ahead. Then a few cars travelled forward slowly on the outside lane, but the middle an inside lanes were still solid at 60mph. I moved across to the outside lane and overtook it with all the other sensible people!
Gareth
Spot on!
Now spread the word.
>> Edited by destroyer on Monday 13th June 09:01
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