Is this true?

[hughjayteens]

Saw this on another forum, and can't help but think it must only be in the USA as UK cars don't have red lights:

'For those of you who are not aware of 112 ...

WORTH READING. IF YOU CALL 112 ON THE MOBILE THE SCREEN COMES UP WITH
ATTEMPTING AN EMERGENCY CALL?
This actually happened to someone's daughter. Lauren was 19 yrs old and in college. This story takes place over the Christmas/New Year's
holiday break. It was the Saturday before New Year and it was about 1.00 pm in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend. An UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put its lights on. Lauren's parents have 4 children (of various ages) and have always told them never to pull over for an unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather wait until they get to a service station, etc.

So Lauren had actually listened to her parents' advice, and promptly
called No. 112 on her mobile phone to tell the police dispatcher that
she would not pull over right away. She proceeded to tell the dispatcher that there was an unmarked police car with a flashing red light on his rooftop behind her. The dispatcher checked to see if there was a police car where she was and there wasn't and he told her to keep driving, remain calm and that he had back-up already on the way. Ten minutes later 4 cop cars surrounded her and the unmarked car behind her. One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car behind.

They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground.........the man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other
crimes.

I never knew that bit of advice, but especially for a woman alone in
a car, you should not pull over for an unmarked car. Apparently police
have to respect your right to keep going to a "safe" place. You
obviously need to make some signals that you acknowledge them (i.e.,
put on your hazard lights) or call No. 112 like Lauren did. Too bad the cell phone companies don't give you this little bit of wonderful
information.
So now it's your turn to let your friends know about No. 112. This is
good information that I did not know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please pass on to any females that you know

some more info received from a friend (female):

999 is the emergency services.... apparently the 112 number takes
you straight to dispatch who can track the marked and unmarked
police cars.... 999 wouldn't be able to be as quick or
knowledgeable....
they probably also wouldn't know what to do if you called them and
questioned them about the car following you.... - this is from
personal experience, as they couldn't even find the Windsor Relief Road once when I dialled 999!!!! Plus the girl that sent me this called the number and checked it out and was advised to call them directly in these incidents.....'

[PetrolTed]

The talk of 'cell phones' suggests to me that it's an American piece of text.

[HarryW]

AFAIK 112 is the same on all mobile services in this country as 999. The main advantage of 112 is that if the network is busy it jumps the queue by dropping some else off, whereas 999 doesn't.
I also think, but am not totally sure though, that it is also the international emergency service number what ever country you are in with your mobile as well.

Harry

[bga]

I think there was some attempt at standardisation throughout the EU and Blighty decided to stick with 999 but also have 112 available.

[alans]

PetrolTed said:

The talk of 'cell phones' suggests to me that it's an American piece of text.

And the RED flashing light.

[docevi1]

yes 112 works, and it works across the continent as well (maybe USA as well according to that).

Next time an unmarked car tries to stop me on my way home (frequently now ) I'm going to the local police station slowly!

[silverback mike]

112 works, but doesn't get directly through to police dispatchers.

It routes like any 999 call, which gets through to the emergency call taker, whether you request police or any other emergency call.

I know this for a fact as I checked with the Force control console via the Control inspector today after reading this.

I can only state that I work for Avon and Somerset, and therefore cannot be completely sure about the other forces.

[Pigeon]

112 is simply an alias for 999 which exists on UK mobiles for euro-reasons. We don't use it on our landlines because it's too easy for certain line faults etc. to accidentally dial it. That doesn't seem to bother them in Europe, so they do use it on landlines. Once upon a time UK mobiles could only ring 112, but now they do 999 as well.

[Mr E]

112 should work anywhere in the world.

It will also work if the mobile is locked, out of credit, barred or simply has no sim......

Useful number.

[meeja]

Mr E said:

112 should work anywhere in the world. It will also work if the mobile is locked, out of credit, barred or simply has no sim...... Useful number.

And on most mobiles can still be dialled even when a keypad lock is applied (as with 999)

[rich 36]

The red light is a bit of a giveaway i suspect

[zumbruk]

Bears all the hallmarks of an Urban Legend.