[Closed] Annoyed by unmarked police car driving...

Wonder where the knobber got his police board from.

Call & Report?

It may be he was trying to blend into the whole Silver BMW thing as to be properly undercover.

he wanted to get home to watch top gear, obviously.

On the M62 tonight - indicated and pulled out into a [b]tight but manageable space[/b]

Were you in a big rush ?

And we're off....

one of two things, he was following someone or your driving wasn't approved of

Squeezing into a tight but manageable space is a perfectly valid driving technique as long as it's done properly with plenty notice.

Squeezing into a tight but manageable space is a perfectly valid driving technique as long as it's done properly with plenty notice.

^no its not^

I'm always squeezing into tight, but manageable spaces.

...as for driving. Sorry, no idea.

Two drivers in driving like knobs shocker!

It really boiled my piss.

Sound painful, hereabouts on the 62 ? Lancs or Yorks ??

Has someone got surfmatt's number?

How does that stack up with maintaining stopping distances, a generally unknown concept on the M62 (both parties guilty)

To do the manoeuvre properly you go into the gap smoothly with an early indicator then once your settled in the gap you gently decrease your speed to take the gap back to a safe one.

I wouldnt expect folk who just did driving lessons then a standard car test to know about that manoeuvre though.

Lancs just outside Manchester.

If everyone only pulled out into gaps that maintained stopping distance it would be almost impossible to ever pull out.

And even if my driving wasn't perfect, does it excuse aggressive driving, speeding and illegal use of blue lights?

https://www.gov.uk/using-the-road-159-to-203/overtaking-162-to-169

167: DO NOT overtake where you might come into conflict with other road users. For example

...
when you would force another road user to swerve or slow down

You could curtsey and doff your cap 10 minutes before undertaking the manoeuvre but if you end up forcing the following car to slow down, you are driving against the highway code.

And specifically Motorway HC 267:

267

Do not overtake unless you are sure it is safe and legal to do so. Overtake only on the right. You should

check your mirrors
take time to judge the speeds correctly
make sure that the lane you will be joining is sufficiently clear ahead and behind

If the car in the overtaking lane in front of which you've pulled out has to vary their speed then that lane was obviously not sufficiently clear behind

glupton1976 - Member
How does that stack up with maintaining stopping distances, a generally unknown concept on the M62 (both parties guilty)
To do the manoeuvre properly you go into the gap smoothly with an early indicator then once your settled in the gap you gently decrease your speed to take the gap back to a safe one.

Works fine until the lane you move into slows suddenly.
As a young lad I did this and hit the car in front, all my fault for trying to get into a small gap. Having commuted the Lancs half of the Pennine carpark and M60 it has some of the worst driving behaviour I've seen morning & night.

M62, Lancs? You sure ?

As I said, it's an advanced technique that I wouldnt expect the vast majority of drivers to know about or be able to perform safely. Doesnt stop it being valid and safe though - which was my initial comment.

Another manoeuvre I wouldn't expect folk to know about would be the lane three on a motorway to slip road being safe and valid. Same goes for straightlining roundabouts, not needing indicators etc etc etc.

Youd need a hell of a brass neck to try that line on a traffic cop when he pulls you over for driving like stirling moss.

I sideways all roundabouts 😉

There's not driving like Stirling Moss involved. It's all perfectly controlled, smooth, deliberate, business like and legal.

It's stuff I was taught and stuff I used to teach.

I'm always squeezing into tight, but manageable spaces.

So was Jimmy Saville.

Clearly the copper had more important things to do otherwise he would have nicked you.

A mate was driving back and I was a passenger. It was dark and two bikes flew past well over the limit.
My mate moves to over take the car in front only for a car to flash his headlights in the rearview mirror. My mate doesn't move, the car behind then puts mainbeam on and illuminates our car. My mate gives the guy the finger and then gets blue lit. Mate moves over, copper proceeds and I'm pissing myself

So the OP gets flashed by a car behind as its dangerously close. No shit Sherlock. You continue your manoeuvre despite a warning, you say its dangerous and yet you still move across. Its in both your interests to drive defensively.

sir, you drive like a **** and i hope I never meet you on the road as it clearly sounds like you are an accident waiting to happen

As I said, it's an advanced technique that I wouldnt expect the vast majority of drivers to know about or be able to perform safely. Doesnt stop it being valid and safe though - which was my initial comment

Pulling crap like that and "lane three to slip road" on a busy motorway means that it's as safe as the worst driver (who may well overreact to what you do and cause problems for others), not the deities like yourself

Nobody goes away empty-handed here though, you can have a 🙄 for condescension

glupton1976 - Member

As I said, it's an advanced technique that I wouldnt expect the vast majority of drivers to know about or be able to perform safely. Doesnt stop it being valid and safe though - which was my initial comment.

What's your "advanced" training?

Clearly the copper had more important things to do otherwise he would have nicked you.

And can I make it clear - I didn't pull into that tight a gap that he was immediately right up my back end - he accelerated to that point then started to flash me.

lane three on a motorway to slip road being safe and valid.

I hold my hand up to doing similar on the turning from the A75 onto the A711 near my home town, only if the road is completely clear that is (and you can clearly see it is clear for all the PC crowd on here), swing out into the opposite lane from the slip road as you approach the junction and tun in, hit the apex perfectly to set you up for the next two open corners and carry all your speed into a perfect transition without unsettling the car or touching the brakes at all.

Same goes for straightlining roundabouts,

Yep, enjoy this as well on the two roundabouts i know well with clear views on entry and exit points that allows this.

Dring is fun at legal speeds if you use all of the road when it's safe to do so.

Perfectly safe and enjoyable fun at legal speeds.

You need to use the term 'making progress' so you sound like a complete knobber.
You pulled out into a space that was probably a little too small and this time it was a copper and not the rep that it usually is. Manhood dented, get over it and move on.

Edit: I'll get lynched.

So you tried forcing your way out into a gap that wasn't really there, and got annoyed when the driver behind didn't want to give up his safety margin. The fact that it turned out to be an unmarked police car just rubbed salt into the wound...

And why would you need to cut across from lane 3 to the slip road, when the exits are signposted at least a mile in advance? If you can't plan that far ahead you shouldn't be on the motorway.

And even if my driving wasn't perfect, does it excuse aggressive driving, speeding and illegal use of blue lights?

Nobody here was there so can't judge which of you was more aggressive in your driving, but clearly some of the responses here suggest others think your driving might have been a bit aggressive too. The police officer however might have a legitimate reason for trying to make progress (possibly aggressively) to keep up with someone he was following.

Police vehicles can exceed the speed limit when on police business and necessary. I assume you have no way of knowing if it was necessary for the task they were undertaking?

What makes you believe the use of blue lights was illegal?

I'm also sure it will be on their on board camera system if you want to go and discuss it further with them......

So was Jimmy Saville.

*frowny face*

So, as soon as you pulled back in, he was able to "shoot off" at 85/90mph? Sounds like he might have been trying to follow the car in front and you were in his way.

The flashing of the rear blue lights and matrix sign might have been him explaining why he was in such hurry, rather than a threat.

...it's an advanced technique that I wouldnt expect the vast majority of drivers to know about or be able to perform safely

[b]FERRIS BUELLER YOU'RE MY HERO ! [/b]

[img] [/img]

Well - I was a driving instructor, driving instructor trainer, fleet trainer, and had every shade of advanced driving ticket for civilians. I think I know better than most on here. 😀

Well - I was a driving instructor, driving instructor trainer, fleet trainer, and had every shade of advanced driving ticket for civilians. I think I know better than most on here.

That doesn't mean that you're neither wrong nor appearing to be an arrogant, condescending prat.
Congratulations. You managing to appear as both.

For what it's worth I hold driving licenses not available to civilians. When driving I keep in the back of my mind that just because I have the training to drive in a given way, it does not automatically mean that I have the right to drive in that manner.

Well - I was a driving instructor, driving instructor trainer, fleet trainer, and had every shade of advanced driving ticket for civilians. I think I know better than most on here.

I've met lots of people who are very qualified to do lots of things, doesn't make them right or safe 100% of the time.

When driving I keep in the back of my mind that just because I have the training to drive in a given way, it does not automatically mean that I have the right to drive in that manner.

Better standpoint., Most of the driver training I did was mostly how to avoid the other idiots on the road by anticipation and not getting into bad situations.

Whatever...

Whatever...

Touché!

*frowny face*

Too dark?

It's less the police you have to worry about on the roads.

...more the military:

[img] [/img]

I think Glupton's correct, but expressing himself poorly. What he's describing are good techniques [i]in the right circumstances[/i].

For example: Straight-lining a two lane roundabout in traffic - immensely dangerous. Doing it when there's no-one else to be seen in any direction - why wouldn't you?

I honestly can't tell if Glupton's trolling...

glupton1976 - Member

To do the manoeuvre properly you go into the gap smoothly with an early indicator then once your settled in the gap you gently decrease your speed to take the gap back to a safe one.

So, the gap's not safe ("take the gap back to a safe one") and to make it safe you're relying on forcing another driver to slow down and create space, which besides being specifically against the Highway Code is downright inconsiderate to other road users, and dependant on other drivers reacting how you expect them to... And you're doing this because...

That's not a maneuvre that most drivers "don't know about", it's a maneuvre that most people just choose not to use.

While it's perfectly legal to drop into a gap just about big enough it's not exactly the best driving technique for safety on the M62 in traffic.

Glupton is right, it is taught at an advanced level and no doubt if the police man wasn't too busy most likely following someone (hence no blue lights to the front and only to the rear) then he may have pulled the OP over to remind him of some more advanced driving principles. In fact plod may well be bored in the next 24 hours and pop round to have a chat... You never know.

A mate was driving back and I was a passenger. It was dark and two bikes flew past well over the limit.
My mate moves to over take the car in front only for a car to flash his headlights in the rearview mirror. My mate doesn't move, the car behind then puts mainbeam on and illuminates our car.

So the policeman aggressively tried to force his way past, despite the fact that he has blue lights and sirens to make people get out of the way if there is a valid reason for the copper to make progress.

I think most people would try to get out of the way of an official vehicle responding to an emergency. A rep in a beemer (which is what someone coming up and flashing you looks like) is much less likely to achieve that.

So the policeman aggressively tried to force his way past, despite the fact that he has blue lights and sirens to make people get out of the way if there is a valid reason for the copper to make progress.

Probably so that the car in front that he was following didn't know he was a policeman, hence the unmarked car.

It's bad enough trying to drive on the M62, my sympathies go out to those trying to police it, they would probably run out of tickets if they tried to stop everyone doing something wrong.

Probably so that the car in front that he was following didn't know he was a policeman, hence the unmarked car.

But the policeman did eventually put the blues on.

It's bad enough trying to drive on the M62, my sympathies go out to those trying to police it, they would probably run out of tickets if they tried to stop everyone doing something wrong.

Well, given what's been posted on here, they might do that before they've even left their own car park.

Only the back lights according to the OP.

Accelerating hard and fast up behind a vehicle is a recognised technique for getting it to move out of the way when the circumstances dictate that lights and sirens aren't appropriate.

Aggressive, yes it will appear very aggressive, but also usually effective. Its not just done for shits and giggles, there'll be a reason for it, just not necessarily an obvious one.

Accelerating hard and fast up behind a vehicle is a recognised technique for getting it to move out of the way

It's usually employed by Reps in Beemers and Audis though - and aggressive driving might be a good thing for a copper to be worrying about dealing with, rather than emulating

Couldn't the Polis have a scrolling lights type thing saying "Sorry mate, Bizzies be Bizzyin' " followed by a smiley emoticon or something? It would calm down folk like the OP down no end. I think the OP was right to be a bit peeved at the behaviour of the Car-Polis but after the excitement of being involved in a chase wore off, he should have reached a level that didn't require an angry post on STW. Nobody died eh?

Indeed it might zokes, perhaps at those times when they haven't got something more urgent to do that necessitates them getting through traffic quickly and discreetly.

So, as soon as you pulled back in, he was able to "shoot off" at 85/90mph? Sounds like he might have been trying to follow the car in front and you were in his way.
The flashing of the rear blue lights and matrix sign might have been him explaining why he was in such hurry, rather than a threat.

johndoh, I told you that last night...

On balance that sounds a likely explanation - I did see him a few miles along having pulled over someone.

Wow.

So you actually saw that he had pulled someone over a few minutes after

and you didn't come to that conclusion straight away ? 😐

There you go OP. Two "told-you-sos". Let that be a lesson to you.

I was on a motorway (can't remember where, near Carlisle I think) and I pulled out to overtake a middle lane hogger. I then noticed the blue flashing lights a couple of hundred yards behind me so I pulled back in behind the middle lane **** and waited for the police car to pass.

As they were passing a Thank You sign flashed in the rear window. Gave me a warm fuzzy feeling which I don't normally get from the police.

johndoh - Member
On balance that sounds a likely explanation - I did see him a few miles along having pulled over someone.

Gotta love the way little snippets of vital information keep dribbling out of the OP as the thread goes on.

I call Troll.

Oh and I suspect the quick flash of the police sign was the police driver's equivalent of a clip round the ear and "oi! Don't do it again"

I wouldnt expect folk who just did driving lessons then a standard car test to know about that manoeuvre though.

Truly a thing of beauty.

Well - I was a driving instructor, driving instructor trainer, fleet trainer, and had every shade of advanced driving ticket for civilians. I think I know better than most on here.

You might be the World Best Top King of Champions, but if you delivered any of that training in the manner you posted, I'm amazed there was a fleet left.

deadlydarcy - Member

There you go OP. Two "told-you-sos". Let that be a lesson to you.

Obvious conclusion to draw though wasnt it, have to echo nealglover sentiments, very odd op considering later admission

I dread to think how many unmarked cop cars I've pissed off over the years. If an rep-mobile comes screaming up and tailgates me, putting the full beam on, I tend to match speed with whatever I'm overtaking for at least another mile... 😳

There you go OP. Two "told-you-sos".

Only one actually.

Mine wasn't a "told-you-so" at all.

Because I didn't "tell-him-so"

And the reason I didn't, was that he didn't mention the second half of the story where he saw the Unmarked Car a few minutes later after they had pulled over the car they were obviously following.

Just seems like that was fairly important information really.

And makes the whole situation easily explained.

You might be the World Best Top King of Champions, but if you delivered any of that training in the manner you posted, I'm amazed there was a fleet left.

What - to the point, no waffle, not really caring too much about who I upset as long as they learn something and realise they dont know everything? Yes that's the way I taught and I make no apologies for it.

Too right, the world is full of folk who get all chippy when contradicted though, though. 🙂

What - to the point, no waffle, not really caring too much about who I upset as long as they learn something and realise they dont know everything? Yes that's the way I taught and I make no apologies for it.

Well I realised [i]you[/i] don't know everything.

Not sure if that helps. ?

And the reason I didn't, was that he didn't mention the second half of the story where he saw the Unmarked Car a few minutes later after they had pulled over the car they were obviously following.

Just seems like that was fairly important information really.

And makes the whole situation easily explained.

But still, driving like that was out of order - there really was no need to drive that closely or intimidate me like he did. IMO.

What - to the point, no waffle, not really caring too much about who I upset as long as they learn something and realise they dont know everything? Yes that's the way I taught and I make no apologies for it.

[img] http://www.arrse.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=86366&d=1345193994 [/img]

That doesn't mean that you're neither wrong nor appearing to be an arrogant, condescending prat.
Congratulations. You managing to appear as both.

One thing that I've been told many times in my life is "i hate it when you're correct". I dont have a problem with that.

no-one likes a cleverclogs

Two sides to that though Yunki - nobody likes being told they are wrong.

nobody likes being told they are wrong.

ahh.. I don't have any personal experience of how that feels

I thought I was wrong once. Turns out I was mistaken.

I'd love to watch you make your professionally trained 'expertz wid rad skillz only' lane 3 to sliproad manouvre on the M25 at rush hour, cracking viewing!

You are coming across as significantly more of a cock than the OP, so he should be thankful to you!

But still, driving like that was out of order - there really was no need to drive that closely or intimidate me like he did. IMO.

Well. It might be that he needed to catch that bloke but didn't want to have the big blue lights and siren on to tip him off. You know, like you said 😉

It might be that he needed to catch that bloke

Why did you not just ease of the throttle or prod the brake pedal?