Acceptable blue-light behaviour?
Discussion
I just came very, very close to having a head-on with a Police Astra, supposedly on a blue-light run. I was on a short straight section of road, between two right-hand bends, the second of which is over a crest. Much to my surprise (and horror!), the three cars that are emerging over the crest are joined by a Police Astra overtaking them all, going round what for him is the outside of a left-hand bend (i.e. zero visibility of the road ahead). A brief panic, and lots of braking on my part gave him room to finish chugging past the remainder of the three cars. Out of curiosity, I turned round and went back to see what his view of the road would have been - close to zero. The spot I chose to do my second u-turn just happened to be where the Astra had stopped (coincidence, not deliberate on my part). Anyway, the Police man waves at me to stop, so I do, thinking it's only curteous to give him a chance to apologise. Only he has a go at me for going too fast!
Him: "You must have been doing well over 30"
Me: "Yes, I was doing 50, but it is a 60 zone"
His justification, that he repeatedly fell back on, was that he was on a blue light run, so anything goes.
I was considering making some sort of formal complaint, but instead decided to have a bit of a rant on here, and hope for a bit of sympathy, as it'll probably be less hassle in the long run.
C.
Him: "You must have been doing well over 30"
Me: "Yes, I was doing 50, but it is a 60 zone"
His justification, that he repeatedly fell back on, was that he was on a blue light run, so anything goes.
I was considering making some sort of formal complaint, but instead decided to have a bit of a rant on here, and hope for a bit of sympathy, as it'll probably be less hassle in the long run.
C.
Yeah, but flying over a blind crest on the wrong side of the road... ???
ChrisJL was well within the speed limit, on the correct side of the road, and presumbaly the copper wasn't using his siren either - seems to me like the copper just got it wrong on that occasion... we all make mistakes..
If it was a numpty that the copper met head-on, the result could have been very different...
But for the copper to then have a pop at him was rather out of order, dontcha think?
ChrisJL was well within the speed limit, on the correct side of the road, and presumbaly the copper wasn't using his siren either - seems to me like the copper just got it wrong on that occasion... we all make mistakes..
If it was a numpty that the copper met head-on, the result could have been very different...
But for the copper to then have a pop at him was rather out of order, dontcha think?
Well what do you expect from a policeman? From some of the posts I've read, their training actually lets them see around corners, as well as endowing them with superhuman skills of observation, which are beyond explanation to us normal mortals. 
I think they must also devote a special part of the course to the art of being patronising. I was once cut up by an aggressive police driver (in an unmarked car). When I got ahead of him by picking the best lane in slow moving traffic (because I knew the area well), he pulled me over at the next opportunity and tried to nick me for undertaking!
Actions like these sour my opinions of the entire force, and despite some very nice people here (eg XPLOD), I find it difficult to hold them in any high regard, due to my poor experience at the hands of a few ar*eh*les like these.
No offence to anyone here. I just like moaning.
>> Edited by MEMSDesign on Friday 5th April 16:48
I think they must also devote a special part of the course to the art of being patronising. I was once cut up by an aggressive police driver (in an unmarked car). When I got ahead of him by picking the best lane in slow moving traffic (because I knew the area well), he pulled me over at the next opportunity and tried to nick me for undertaking!
Actions like these sour my opinions of the entire force, and despite some very nice people here (eg XPLOD), I find it difficult to hold them in any high regard, due to my poor experience at the hands of a few ar*eh*les like these.
No offence to anyone here. I just like moaning.
>> Edited by MEMSDesign on Friday 5th April 16:48
my friend and I were once cut up by an off duty policeman who when my friend flashed his lights, swerved across in front of us, pulled my mate out of the car and began screaming into his radio for urgent assistance! He tried to do us for something, couldnt come up with anything and got back into his fiesta (ha ha) and drove off.
quote:
I was considering making some sort of formal complaint, but instead decided to have a bit of a rant on here, and hope for a bit of sympathy, as it'll probably be less hassle in the long run.
C.
The channels are there to complain, if you feel (and it sounds dodgy)that his driving was dangerous a word in his supervisors ear may help to re-assess his driving and slow him down. Call it constructive criticism…
>> Edited by relaxitscool on Friday 5th April 16:37
Dan - He did have his blue-lights going, but no siren.
I too was impressed at his ability to resolve the emergency situation in little more than 60s
I have my suspicions that he was probably just late for his mid-afternoon tea and biscuits, and was just trying to blame me for the incident to avoid getting found out.
I too was impressed at his ability to resolve the emergency situation in little more than 60s
I have my suspicions that he was probably just late for his mid-afternoon tea and biscuits, and was just trying to blame me for the incident to avoid getting found out.
quote:
Well what do you expect from a policeman? From some of the posts I've read, their training actually lets them see around corners, as well as endowing them with superhuman skills of observation, which are beyond explanation to us normal mortals.
I think they must also devote a special part of the course to the art of being patronising. I was once cut up by an aggressive police driver (in an unmarked car). When I got ahead of him by picking the best lane in slow moving traffic (because I knew the area well), he pulled me over at the next opportunity and tried to nick me for undertaking!
Actions like these sour my opinions of the entire force, and despite some very nice people here (eg XPLOD), I find it difficult to hold them in any high regard, due to my poor experience at the hands of a few ar*eh*les like these.
No offence to anyone here. I just like moaning.
I take it this post is referring to my reply to class 1 training. As I said there it was not meant to sound patronising and I apologise if it was. I'll take on board what you've said and try to word future posts appropriately.
No offence intented to you relax. I think you're a top bloke. I just hate to pass up the opportunity to take the piss/moan.
Sorry if I upset you. I did find what you had to say about police training interesting (not patronising), but you have left yourself open for many wind up comments
>> Edited by MEMSDesign on Friday 5th April 16:47
Sorry if I upset you. I did find what you had to say about police training interesting (not patronising), but you have left yourself open for many wind up comments
>> Edited by MEMSDesign on Friday 5th April 16:47
Matthew,
I did think about making a more formal complaint, but came to the conclusion that it probably wouldn't achieve anything, and would be a lot of hassle for me.
Judging by his less than apologetic response, I think a complaint would just make him even less pleasant towards his next victim. I'm hoping he shared the moment of fear and panic that I had, and that that will make him more cautious next time. Who knows?
C.
I did think about making a more formal complaint, but came to the conclusion that it probably wouldn't achieve anything, and would be a lot of hassle for me.
Judging by his less than apologetic response, I think a complaint would just make him even less pleasant towards his next victim. I'm hoping he shared the moment of fear and panic that I had, and that that will make him more cautious next time. Who knows?
C.
Yeah right! I think they call it nepotism don't they? The dictionary expalanation is:- The practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives or friends.
Total waste of time, and the end result would be! He was on a blue light run!! But whoa betide you if you were doing 65 in a sixty on a deserted road in perfect weather at 5am. Complaining to the police about the police is the same as compaining about a doctor to a medical board or a lawyer to the law society.
If you go to a Police station to make a formal complaint the duty Inspector has to document it. It’s then sent through to the complaints and discipline department. Trust me I know
If this had happened to me, I think I'd probably have spoken to somebody at that forces driver training school. These guys are all enthusiasts and would have taken this guys driving personally. They may have even got him in for a re test. Its got to be worth a try...whenever there are Police drivers setting examples such as this people will loose any respect they may have had left. Plus, it makes anything I post on here harder to justify..
quote:
..whenever there are Police drivers setting examples such as this people will loose any respect they may have had left. Plus, it makes anything I post on here harder to justify..
To be honest I don't think many people have much respect for the Police nowadays full stop.
Some of it is caused by the Govt Targets and the easy revenue that is the motorist.
Some police drivers are s***e. Then they have the audacity to lecture us ?? I've seen 'em turn on the blue lights, get past a jam, then switch 'em back off too many times for it to be an emergency call that has been cancelled.
Other things include a copper who strolls into someones garden with the guard dog there, and despite being told to wait there continues towards the dog and gets bitten.. 7 armed cops to arrest the dog two days later.. Not tough shite you idiot plod for acting aggressively towards a 10stone dog.
The poor copper that was beaten up on a train platform last week was probably left to himself not becuase people wanted to see him get a kicking but because if someone hurt one of his attackers, they could be assured of an arrest and probable jail sentence themselves. (I know the law of self defence and reasonable force well, but I can assure you that the Wicked Witch and her Guarian pr***s would be there defending the poor little lambs who were only having a little fun attacking plod when mercilessly set upon by a band of commuters)
The police are only human and do a good job in the face of adversity, but quite often seem to make far too many mistakes and in this PC crap country we are all suffering as a result.
PS I would complain to the cop shop. They are not above the law (unless they are speeding of course)
>> Edited by Jason F on Saturday 6th April 12:11
I complained about a police driver last june , 1 week before i was going along a nice clear by passand was caught by speed gun whilst overtaking another car (95 over 404m) anyway i apologised and they gave me the usuall lecture on how to drive safeley breath test the works , one week later doing 75-80 a copper in an unmarked omega estate W*** LAB comes past doing about 90-100 no lights siren nothing so i did what i thought was best sat up his arse at 90 and got his reg and went to complain and so far have heard nothing back , got a feeling i was the one that done me too B*stard
quote:
To be honest I don't think many people have much respect for the Police nowadays full stop.
Some of it is caused by the Govt Targets and the easy revenue that is the motorist.
Some police drivers are s***e. Then they have the audacity to lecture us ?? I've seen 'em turn on the blue lights, get past a jam, then switch 'em back off too many times for it to be an emergency call that has been cancelled.
Other things include a copper who strolls into someones garden with the guard dog there, and despite being told to wait there continues towards the dog and gets bitten.. 7 armed cops to arrest the dog two days later.. Not tough shite you idiot plod for acting aggressively towards a 10stone dog.
The poor copper that was beaten up on a train platform last week was probably left to himself not becuase people wanted to see him get a kicking but because if someone hurt one of his attackers, they could be assured of an arrest and probable jail sentence themselves. (I know the law of self defence and reasonable force well, but I can assure you that the Wicked Witch and her Guarian pr***s would be there defending the poor little lambs who were only having a little fun attacking plod when mercilessly set upon by a band of commuters)
The police are only human and do a good job in the face of adversity, but quite often seem to make far too many mistakes and in this PC crap country we are all suffering as a result.
PS I would complain to the cop shop. They are not above the law (unless they are speeding of course)
>> Edited by Jason F on Saturday 6th April 12:11
I find the biggest problem is that you only hear about stuff the Police do when they've done something wrong, either when through the press, or by something a person has perceived in their eyes to do wrong.
There are thousands of incidents a day, some mistakes are made but the majority are dealt with efficiently and quickly(hard to believe I know
). Yet, nobody reports this or praises the officer that dealt with it. Don't believe all you read in the papers, don't assume something when the full facts aren't known. We have the best and most accountable Police Service in the world, obviously I know this first hand and of course I am biased. As I've said before, if you want an insight and a better understanding of what really happens call your local traffic department and ask for a ride along. Get a taste of what we deal with and the attitudes we meet and have to overcome everyday. Apart from anything, you will have great fun
>> Edited by relaxitscool on Saturday 6th April 16:04
IMO Chris you should definately complain because this guy is obviously in need of a slight attitude modification.
With respect to most of the other stuff about respect to the police. In my experience they are normally fairly reasonable and in the case of the public providing assistance they are usaully gratefull. Years ago I dropped a guy who was running from the police. Two officers restraining 2 other guys. I was lying on top of this guy and told him to lie still. He continued wriggling until plod put his size 10 in the guys face, commenting "he told you to lie still". I gave name and address and never heard another thing except a phone call to say thanks. No assault charge and no agro.
The real problem with the police is they are being used by bent politicians to persecute the motorist. time to get rid of the political trash.
With respect to most of the other stuff about respect to the police. In my experience they are normally fairly reasonable and in the case of the public providing assistance they are usaully gratefull. Years ago I dropped a guy who was running from the police. Two officers restraining 2 other guys. I was lying on top of this guy and told him to lie still. He continued wriggling until plod put his size 10 in the guys face, commenting "he told you to lie still". I gave name and address and never heard another thing except a phone call to say thanks. No assault charge and no agro.
The real problem with the police is they are being used by bent politicians to persecute the motorist. time to get rid of the political trash.
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