Local BiB not responsible for traffic ?

[bigdods]

Driving down the A43 (DC) today bottom of a long hill on a bend just before a roundabout is a broken down lorry in the inside lane. This is causing a fiar old tailback and some fairly interesting manoeuvers by the panic brakers. I'm about 4 cars behind BiB in what must be a local panda (focus type thing). He drives up to lorry, wanders across to OS lane goes past then carries on. Surely in the name of safety he would be better placed pulling up a bit behind the lorry and sticking the blues on the help make it more visible ? Or dont local BiB get involved in traffic matters ?

Just curious, not BiB bashing.

[carrotchomper]

TBH sometimes it is just better to leave it be. Unless it's on a junction or something then the presence of blue lights just tends to exacerbate the situation, cause more rubbernecking and lead to all sorts of silliness! Plus one would then become stuck there until recovery arrives. For an artic, that's often ages!

[R_U_LOCAL]

A broken down lorry on a dual carriageway would normally require a response from a traffic car - they're equipped with cones, signs, visi-flashers etc, which a panda wouldn't be carrying.

A non-traffic patrol officer wouldn't be expected to stop, and their priorities are quite different from traffic Officers.

[Hooli]

seems daft from the point of view of a MOP not knowing the different roles etc that the panda car couldnt at least sit there with the blues on to warn the traffic. must be safer than the crazy antics people get upto when they have to do something difficult like slow AND change lanes all at once.

[R_U_LOCAL]

Hooli said:

seems daft from the point of view of a MOP not knowing the different roles etc that the panda car couldnt at least sit there with the blues on to warn the traffic. must be safer than the crazy antics people get upto when they have to do something difficult like slow AND change lanes all at once.

The panda car drivers are usually too busy sorting out the lives of the great unwashed.

[Bing o]

I'd rather that they were out thief taking than traffic directing - I want to get my money's worth after all

[imbecile]

R_U_LOCAL said:

The panda car drivers are usually too busy sorting out the lives of the great unwashed.

Is this as common as every police blog I've read suggests that it is?

[GPSHead]

Can a panda car pull over miscreants on the motorway? If not, presumably they radio a message to traffic if they see anything with which they're not impressed.

[vonhosen]

GPSHead said:

Can a panda car pull over miscreants on the motorway? If not, presumably they radio a message to traffic if they see anything with which they're not impressed.

Non traffic vehicles are far more likely to deal with traffic matters in a reactive manner than a proactive manner. They proactively deal with other problems, but in the main will just deal when they witnesses offences where they are inclined to be considering prosecution may be warranted for traffic matters. They are too busy with other things to do much proactive stuff in relation to traffic. You won't get panda cars patrolling on the motorway as a matter of course.

Edited by vonhosen on Thursday 9th August 06:43

[7db]

imbecile said:

R_U_LOCAL said:

The panda car drivers are usually too busy sorting out the lives of the great unwashed.

Is this as common as every police blog I've read suggests that it is?

There's a lot of them out there and they have a lot of problems.

Although my understanding is that if everyone stopped drinking tomorrow most of the Fight-stoppers-in-Fiestas would have nothing to do (apart from go to the empty pub for a pint)