Specs Cameras in the Blackwall Tunnel
Discussion
I was radio operator on a Rover SD1 and the sole car on a pursuit of an Allegro (1500ccc, so quite a goer) from south of the river into Blackwall tunnel. Local units had closed the tunnel approach motorway access roads and we were the only vehicles. We'd allowed the Allegro a bit of distance in the hope the driver would abandon the car and leg it but when it was apparent that he was going into the tunnel (he'd nicked it from north of the river) we closed the gap.
We weren't going all that fast, probably no more than 80mph, but in the confines of the tunnel, with the blue lights and the two tones reflecting off the white tiles, it was a real thrill. Subjectively, it was the fastest I've ever been in a car.
The Allegro was all over the road on the first, sharp right-hander and he hit the n/s kerb and bounced in the air. He accelerated into the next, more gentle, bend but managed to lose it again, this time going all over the road. My driver said, "His bottle's gone." and we closed right up behind him. I turned the blues and twos off and we drove the balance of the tunnel in an eerie quietness and at around 30mph. The chap obligingly pulled over to some local lads who had parked across the slip road and got out. He had enough bottle to stick two fingers up at us but this brave action was negated a bit as he had wet himself and the steam was coming up from his trousers.
Chasing after someone on foot is the most exciting type of pursuit but that run into Blackwall Tunnel came close. And at such a slow speed.
We weren't going all that fast, probably no more than 80mph, but in the confines of the tunnel, with the blue lights and the two tones reflecting off the white tiles, it was a real thrill. Subjectively, it was the fastest I've ever been in a car.
The Allegro was all over the road on the first, sharp right-hander and he hit the n/s kerb and bounced in the air. He accelerated into the next, more gentle, bend but managed to lose it again, this time going all over the road. My driver said, "His bottle's gone." and we closed right up behind him. I turned the blues and twos off and we drove the balance of the tunnel in an eerie quietness and at around 30mph. The chap obligingly pulled over to some local lads who had parked across the slip road and got out. He had enough bottle to stick two fingers up at us but this brave action was negated a bit as he had wet himself and the steam was coming up from his trousers.
Chasing after someone on foot is the most exciting type of pursuit but that run into Blackwall Tunnel came close. And at such a slow speed.
I was doing obs in a car park and asked the attendant to park his car, an Allegro in yellow, on the floor in question for me to use it as an observation point. It was a very luxurious one and had a reclining driver's seat. I lowered it so my eyes would be just above the bottom of the window. The chap we were looking for came through the entrance near to me so I tried hard not to move my upper body as I reached for the radio to give out the message to the other officers. It was just then that the backrest mechanism collapsed with an almighty crack and, as there were no headrests, I pulled a neck muscle as the back of the backrest hit the rear squab. The chap started to run and I put the message out to stop him. I tried to get out of the car buy I couldn't hold my head up. I sort of rolled out onto my knees and held my head in my hands. It was extremely uncomfortable and painful. The bloke was nicked and they other officers brought the chap back to me. As they saw me on the ground, moaning quietly to myself (I expected no sympathy) one PC said to the bloke, "What you done to my mate?" The bloke then started to cry.
I went to the attendant to apologise for the damage and he said something along the lines of, "Oh, it often does that." The thought of driving along a fast road and the backrest suddenly collapsing put me off ever buying an Allegro.
I went to the attendant to apologise for the damage and he said something along the lines of, "Oh, it often does that." The thought of driving along a fast road and the backrest suddenly collapsing put me off ever buying an Allegro.
900T-R said:
Painful as this little episode must've been for you, have a 
nonetheless...
Not for some time I didn't. The others found it a lot more hilarious than I did. We were keeping obs on a virtually new Merc that had been plated. It turned out that it was going to be exported to South Africa. The bloke was only the driver and wasn't very wide. He confessed then, as I was doing my injury on duty report (I was off three days and it meant a loss of lots of overtime) the arresting officers told the chap what had happened and he started to laugh - until I gave him one of my looks. nonetheless... I took some pills, went to bed but in the morning forgot about it and just got up as normal. The pain was agonising as my head stayed on the pillow. I didn't forget again.
Whenever I've been injured on duty there's always been something positive to focus on. Not this time though.
Marcellus said:
Discussed loads of times and consensus is their pollution monitors!
Not for the first time the consensus is wrong. Livingstone is every bit as evil as he is painted. They are type of average speed camera made by RedSpeed.Read it and weep
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2a79ho
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