Motoring Discussion > Reaction to Police Cars	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Fullchat	Replies: 41

New Tue 22 Oct 13 22:15   Reaction to Police Cars - Fullchat

The last couple of days I have been travelling to Sheffield to do some work and utilised a high mileage marked general purpose Focus diesel saloon. What a boat! The Ford diesel seem agricultural compared to my lovely Ceed which is going tomorrow (subject of previous thread). Anyway as I did when I was warranted I like to cruise on the motorway at about 80 - 85mph as the sight of a marked car tends to cause those cruising at that speed and slightly above to start braking and bunching and causing hassle to general traffic flow. So if I keep to that speed then those issues should not occur. I kept myself amused by watching the antics of cars catching up behind (between looking where I was going :] ) Some where clearly approaching in the 90+ mark and braked sharply to match my speed then slid in behind. Some did the same, weighed up the situation and then slowly creeped past Some chancers actually overtook albeit in HGV style then accelerated into the distance. Whats your style? Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 22 Oct 13 22:24   Reaction to Police Cars - Zero

Funny you should say that actually, Overtook a marked motorway police car (thames valley) a few days back he was doing 70 ish (unusual) and I was doing near 80 (ish) I'm a "catch up steadily, then HGV cruise pass" merchant. I always take a look at the cop in the car as I pass, I seem to recall they get a bit peed off if you dont even notice them! Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 22 Oct 13 22:29   Reaction to Police Cars - Runfer D'Hills

I try not to do anything which might make them notice me at all ! Not too slow, not too fast, not too near. Nothing too sudden. But, I will overtake them if I can do so without taking too many liberties. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 22 Oct 13 22:54   Reaction to Police Cars - Bromptonaut

>> Funny you should say that actually, Overtook a marked motorway police car (thames valley) a >> few days back he was doing 70 ish (unusual) and I was doing near 80 >> (ish) >> >> I'm a "catch up steadily, then HGV cruise pass" merchant. I always take a look >> at the cop in the car as I pass, I seem to recall they get >> a bit peed off if you dont even notice them! That would be my response too, provided the car is capable of a sustained 80 like the Xantia or Fleur the new 115PS Berlingo. OTOH Enrico the older 'lingo gets a tad stressed a more than 70 so I tend to tuck in inner/middle lane and behave like a real HGV at 55-65. Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Tue 22 Oct 13 at 22:56 Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 22 Oct 13 22:33   Reaction to Police Cars - WillDeBeest

Is your 80-85 indicated or actual? My test for correct cruising speed is whether I'm happy to pass a police car - not that it's a test I get to apply very often. Of more concern to me is how drivers react to a blue light in urban traffic. Rather than looking around and assessing how best they can facilitate the emergency vehicle's progress - as I think they tended to 20 years ago - an alarming number these days just stop. Perhaps it's another question for our instructors and the parents of recent learners. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 22 Oct 13 22:50   Reaction to Police Cars - Ted

I just don't speed...( goody two shoes )...so I'll overtake if they're going slower and it's safe. Just come back yesterday from Cumbria, 100 miles of M way in the rain and spray. Most of the way I sat behind a Sainsbury's artic at about 50 mph. I left a good space of about 100 yds and I noticed a Disco with a caravan behind me doing the same. Never saw a police car in all that distance. Could have done with a few about as the 100 mphers ploughed through the low visibility to possible oblivion ! The difficulty with blues and music in the city is that there's so much traffic that it's difficult to actually know where the vehicle is. I noticed an ambulance in the village a couple of weeks ago who switched off the normal sirens and put something on that sounded like a jagged wood saw trying to cut a sheet of steel very loudly. I asked my daughter but her ambulance hasn't been fitted yet...perhaps Dieselboy has one ? Ted Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 22 Oct 13 23:06   Reaction to Police Cars - Bromptonaut

>> The difficulty with blues and music in the city is that there's so much traffic >> that it's difficult to actually know where the vehicle is. I noticed an ambulance in >> the village a couple of weeks ago who switched off the normal sirens and put >> something on that sounded like a jagged wood saw trying to cut a sheet of >> steel very loudly. I asked my daughter but her ambulance hasn't been fitted yet...perhaps Dieselboy >> has one ? Blue light services in London have a variety of variations and harmonics on the standard wah-wah. Doesn't always make them any easier to locate by ear. Tonight c16:30 there was a City Police officer + BMW some way off their bailiwick in Barter St WC1. Passed him as he got in and started engine then spotted reflection of blues in signs and windows ahead and got out of way on pavement to left. Siren still startled me though!!!! Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Oct 13 01:35   Reaction to Police Cars - VxFan

It annoys me when numpties slam on the anchors in front of me when they see a highways agency vehicle in the distance. Granted they've got reflective stripes but anyone with half a brain should be able to tell the difference between that and a police vehicle. It's the same with breakdown wagons and the like with the chevron reflective stripes on the back. Anyone sees the stripes and on come the anchors again. Half the time the numpties aren't even doing the national speed limit to warrant braking anyway. Reply to this message | Report message

New Mon 28 Oct 13 23:01   Reaction to Police Cars - Dieselboy

Nope. Round here we just have high-low wail and yelp. The older Transits had an electronic nee-naw. Saying that, there is one new Merc which has the siren you describe, it's meant to be white noise. Reply to this message | Report message

New Mon 28 Oct 13 23:30   Reaction to Police Cars - Ted

>> Nope. Round here we just have high-low wail and yelp. The older Transits had an >> electronic nee-naw. Saying that, there is one new Merc which has the siren you describe, >> it's meant to be white noise. >> Thanks DB. The new tone is very effective in heavy traffic. It made everyone in the village centre look round when it changed from the wail. I look back to our new-fangled Panda cars in about 1967. No blue lights or sirens. Best you could do on a rush job was headlight flasher and horn. I took the wing mirror neatly off a Triumph Herald once in Piccadilly ! Ted Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 29 Oct 13 08:52   Reaction to Police Cars - Duncan

>> Best you could do on a rush job was headlight flasher and horn. I >> took the wing mirror neatly off a Triumph Herald once in Piccadilly ! >> >> Ted >> Piccadilly Manchester, or Piccadilly London? If it was in Manchester it doesn't matter. If it was in London that's pretty serious! Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 29 Oct 13 10:59   Reaction to Police Cars - Ted

Where's London ? Ted Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 30 Oct 13 18:18   Reaction to Police Cars - MD

>> >> Where's London ? >> >> Ted >> Due East from your birthplace. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Oct 13 01:40   Reaction to Police Cars - No FM2R

65 or 75. If the copper is at 70mph, then I can't be bothered to spend miles to crawl past them at my 70.5 to their 70. So, either I want to overtake and I do so at 75 or so, or I decide not to in which I case I pull way back and save myself the stress. I cannot believe a policeman is really going to bother with otherwise legal me as I putter past him at 75. If the policeman was at 80 - 85 then I'd just pick a spot a few hundred yards back and tag along. Doing 90 to get past would be pushing things, IMO. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Oct 13 08:48   Reaction to Police Cars - Old Navy

I normally trundle around at a cruise controlled indicated 75, (70 on the satnav). As I am retired it is a really bad day if I am in a rush to get somewhere. I had a smile a few months ago, I was on a dual carriageway in the lake district during tourist season and catching up on a queue of cars in lane one of two doing about (I guess) 68mph, as I passed this queue in lane two I saw a marked traffic BMW leading the queue. I continued on my merry way, but no one followed me and the eventually they all disappeared in my mirrors. Most odd! I was travelling south on the M6 at the end of the G? conference in Scotland. That was a demonstration of police vehicles (dozens of them) of every description from bikes to riot vans and from every southern force heading home at speed! Last edited by: Old Navy on Wed 23 Oct 13 at 08:52 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Oct 13 09:40   Reaction to Police Cars - legacylad

When taking my IAM test I asked my police examiner the protocol for overtaking marked cars. Officially you should always observe the limit. Unofficially he has no problem with people overtaking him on the motorway at a indicated 85/90, which in real terms is around 80. Seeing as I normally waft along at a leisurely 90 on motorways, should weather & traffic conditions permit, and never tailgate, I find this makes a lot of sense. Twice when taking the test I drove at 90 on the motorway section and in his written report he considered it judicious use of speed & power. Just don't get caught doing over a ton by the boys in blue. I prefer to blow off the cobwebs at night on a dual carriageway with light traffic, or preferably none at all! Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Oct 13 10:15   Reaction to Police Cars - diddy1234

and if the policeman got out of bed the wrong side ? Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Oct 13 10:30   Reaction to Police Cars - legacylad

I don't know anyone who has been prosecuted for driving at an indicated 90 on the motorway, assuming there are no speed restrictions in place. OTOH I regularly read of people prosecuted locally for driving at 70 in a local 50 limit. Which is why on that road I stick to a max of 55, even with an artic up my back end. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Oct 13 11:44   Reaction to Police Cars - Robin O'Reliant

A workmate of mine many years ago had an ex police Triumph he bought from a local dealer who specialised in such things. Obviously all the lights and livery had been removed but it still had the big white fairing when such things were still a rarity on bikes. He used to claim that he could retire if he had a quid for everyone who panic braked when they saw him in their mirrors, the worst being those who used the handbrake to slow so their brake lights didn't come on. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Oct 13 13:14   Reaction to Police Cars - borasport

at 80 i'd be quite happy to carry on cruising past - If they can see you aren't doing any harm, I can't see them wanting to bother you Those drivers who brake when they see a Police/HA vehicle or speed camera should have their keys taken off them Those drivers who brake when they see a Police/HA vehicle or speed camera when they are already travelling below the speed limit, should have their keys taken off them and those keys inserted somewhere they would find it very difficult and painful to retrieve them from Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Oct 13 13:23   Reaction to Police Cars - No FM2R

>>and those keys inserted Sideways. Reply to this message | Report message       1

New Wed 23 Oct 13 14:04   Reaction to Police Cars - Bromptonaut

It's the ones that slowdown for the HA patrols that get me. Differernt livery, no blues and often cruising in lane 1 at fiftyish yet still the muppets brake violently. Reply to this message | Report message       1

New Wed 23 Oct 13 14:32   Reaction to Police Cars - diddy1234

maybe these idiots that brake for anything that has emergency service banding haven't looked at their speedo for the past half hour ! Completely in their own world oblivious to anyone else, their aim behind the wheel is to aggravate and overtake the car in front. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Oct 13 16:43   Reaction to Police Cars - Armel Coussine

The police sometimes take offence if they think they are being dissed and ignored. So if you come up behind them at a highly illegal speed, it's only common courtesy to back off, ease up behind them, nip past, then ease away quite gently at first. Going through the motions, like addressing Prince Harry as 'Sir' or saying please and thank you. Old Bill is generally a stickler for correct behaviour. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Oct 13 18:32   Reaction to Police Cars - VxFan

>> It's the ones that slowdown for the HA patrols that get me. Differernt livery, no >> blues and often cruising in lane 1 at fiftyish yet still the muppets brake violently. Yep, I mentioned it a bit further up ;) Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 23 Oct 13 19:36   Reaction to Police Cars - Armel Coussine

>> lane 1 at fiftyish yet still the muppets brake violently. Beneath contempt, not worth a mention. 30 or 40 per cent of drivers. Mobile hazards to be blown off with due care. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 24 Oct 13 09:39   Reaction to Police Cars - Shiny

I always try to go about 10mph faster than them, see if they are glaring as I pass, and then once well ahead speed up. I never tuck in behind and then assess the situation, I see others do this and they remind me of people about to jump out of a plane. I always prefer to be seen to maintain a constant speed and path from first sight to last sight. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 24 Oct 13 11:41   Reaction to Police Cars - martint123

I'm usually out for pleasure riding nowadays so avoid motorways anyway but if I do creep up behind the law who may be hopping along slightly over the limit then I stay behind for a short while. If they are held up by traffic then I will whizz past. If not, I may well pull into a layby or somesuch to clean my visor and nibble on a mint - letting plod get on his/her way. There seems to be too many anti-bike patrols in this area so it's not worth pushing you luck. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 24 Oct 13 19:26   Reaction to Police Cars - R.P.

Quite funny, for a good reason I was a passenger in my wife's V50 this evening. I was wearing a black motorcycling jacket with a zipped in fluorescent bit. She's no slouch and was sort of making progress when an SUV pulled up alongside, female driver clearly thought we were fuzz..., then crawled past... Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 24 Oct 13 19:56   Reaction to Police Cars - Runfer D'Hills

>>for a good reason I was a passenger in my wife's V50 this evening Fallen off your scooter again? Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 25 Oct 13 16:34   Reaction to Police Cars - borasport

same here, going home in a black late model skoda, if I've been on site and am still wearing hi-viz... or on one occasion, coming back from a funeral, 2 up, white shirt & black ties..... Reply to this message | Report message

New Mon 28 Oct 13 23:32   Reaction to Police Cars - Dutchie

Reaction to police cars? Every time I've been stopped by the boys in uniform it cost me money.Answer to your question not good. Reply to this message | Report message

New Mon 28 Oct 13 23:34   Reaction to Police Cars - legacylad

I often wear my hi viz in the car. Especially in the winter with the roof down on the 330. Nobody ever mistakes me for the BiB. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 29 Oct 13 08:22   Reaction to Police Cars - BiggerBadderDave

"Nobody ever mistakes me for the BiB." Happens to me though. Women always ask if I'm carrying a police truncheon down my jeans. Reply to this message | Report message       1

New Tue 29 Oct 13 11:06   Reaction to Police Cars - Robin O'Reliant

>> I often wear my hi viz in the car. Especially in the winter with the >> roof down on the 330. >> Nobody ever mistakes me for the BiB. >> That's because of the odd coloured front wing, the boom boom stereo and the back to front baseball cap. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 29 Oct 13 19:59   Reaction to Police Cars - legacylad

I will have you know young man that I have a choice of 'back to front' baseball caps. Placerville Brewery, Jack Russell Brewery & Ernie's Diner S Lake Tahoe. You'all have a nice day now. And the boom boom is either JJ Cale, The Stranglers or Tom Petyt. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 31 Oct 13 23:44   Reaction to Police Cars - BobbyG

Not sure of the legal powers of the HA down south but up here in Glasgow we have motorway patrols by the Amey guys who have the contract for the maintenance and this also deals with coning off breakdowns, accidents etc. However the Amey guys use big Hi Roof LWB Mercedes (I think) vans and I can't help they would, in many cases, be much more useful and practical than the LR Discoveries the HA use? Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 1 Nov 13 07:56   Reaction to Police Cars - Old Navy

>> However the Amey guys use big Hi Roof LWB Mercedes (I think) vans and I >> can't help they would, in many cases, be much more useful and practical than the >> LR Discoveries the HA use? >> There are similar "Incident support" vans in the East, I am not sure if they are Amey or Bear as Bear seem to be the common contractor in this area. Anyway they are an improvement on the HA pseudo Traffic cop 4x4s used in the South as they have huge fold down illuminated signs on their roofs which can be seen from way back and actually tell you what to do, (change lane for example) or what is going on, (accident or breakdown). tinyurl.com/nluv42l Last edited by: Old Navy on Fri 1 Nov 13 at 08:01 Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 1 Nov 13 08:56   Reaction to Police Cars - Duncan

>> There are similar "Incident support" vans in the East, I am not sure if they >> are Amey or Bear as Bear seem to be the common contractor in this area. >> Anyway they are an improvement on the HA pseudo Traffic cop 4x4s used in the >> South as they have huge fold down illuminated signs on their roofs which can be >> seen from way back and actually tell you what to do, (change lane for example) >> or what is going on, (accident or breakdown). >> >> tinyurl.com/nluv42l >> Quite a few pics of Amy Winehouse on that link? Why so - may I ask? Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 1 Nov 13 09:02   Reaction to Police Cars - Zero

>> Quite a few pics of Amy Winehouse on that link? Why so - may I >> ask? the clue is in the search box at the top..... Reply to this message | Report message       1

New Fri 1 Nov 13 09:58   Reaction to Police Cars - Duncan

>> >> >> Quite a few pics of Amy Winehouse on that link? Why so - may >> I >> >> ask? >> >> the clue is in the search box at the top..... >> Well done Z. I was waiting to see who would be the first to spot that. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 7 Nov 13 19:05   Reaction to Police Cars - borasport

M61 Ford transit connect in lane 2 doing 45 mph Orange lights on roof bar 'Crime scene investigation' emblazoned on the sides Driver in civvies And a queue of cars in lane 4 too scared to go past at more than 50mph I despair Reply to this message | Report message