Our Wonderful Police...cough cough

Busman747 · 23-01-2005, 23:16

The other day near Gatwick, a Mother was killed in a car crash and her 12 year old son was badly injured. A tragic event but we all know the risks of course as soon as we drive out onto the highways..........

What makes this item of news threadworthy despite it happening over 250 miles away is the fact that her car was hit by a Mitsubishi Shogun which was being driven by the Sussex police and witnesses claim it "jumped" the red traffic lights despite not having any blue flashing lights showing or sirens on...............The police car could not have been responding to an emergency as it contained an arrested prisoner!

As a footnote in the national press, it was added that in 1997, there were 8 deaths from Police pursuit but by 2003, the figures had rocketed to 31.

Last week, I walked past a Police van parked illegally (yellow lines and wheels on pavement) outside a chippy in Accy town centre. The driver, in uniform came out the chippy, put his chips on the dashboard and drove off with a sausage in his mouth!

Again, only last week, while travelling behind an M.P.V. with Police markings In Accy, I noticed that a brake light was "out" These things happen of course, and it is common knowledge that Police vehicles have a roadside check every morning so I was rather taken aback two days later to find myself behind that same vehicle with the same light not working...

Just before this last weekend, I was travelling up Omerod Street and reached the mini roundabout at the junction of Willows Lane at the same time as a Police car which was on my right. We both stopped on the line and to my surprise, he waved me on to cross in front of him. He had the right of way but would not budge so forcing me to make an illegal manouvre. I noticed that behind him? was another Police van and I hope that the driver had the opportunity later to have words with the first driver as he was in a perfect position to witness Highway Code ignorance...

The next day, travelling DOWN Omerod Street, I approached a mini roundabout and coming towards me was a large black Police van. The driver indicated left, turned...and then must have realised that he had gone the wrong way. We have all done it, you swear under your breath, carry on and look for a suitable place to turn round...not this copper! despite being in a large van, he stops, reverses back onto the roundabout and then does a 5 point turn in the middle of the junction to continue his way in the opposite direction!

I have been brought up to believe that the safest drivers on the road are our own police force, we are constantly being told of the strenuous training they receive before sitting behind the wheel of a vehicle. They are the ones that issue tickets to us for faulty lights, they reprimand us for driving without due care and attention, so I seriously wonder what is happening at the moment within the Police force? Is it lack of funds to adequately train officers or maybe modern day officers feel that they are above the law??

WillowTheWhisp · 23-01-2005, 23:39

There's a certain police person of my aquaintance who thought nothing of parking a police car in the bus stop in Willows Lane when visiting family.

removal-man · 23-01-2005, 23:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busman747

The other day near Gatwick, a Mother was killed in a car crash and her 12 year old son was badly injured. A tragic event but we all know the risks of course as soon as we drive out onto the highways..........

What makes this item of news threadworthy despite it happening over 250 miles away is the fact that her car was hit by a Mitsubishi Shogun which was being driven by the Sussex police and witnesses claim it "jumped" the red traffic lights despite not having any blue flashing lights showing or sirens on...............The police car could not have been responding to an emergency as it contained an arrested prisoner!

As a footnote in the national press, it was added that in 1997, there were 8 deaths from Police pursuit but by 2003, the figures had rocketed to 31.

Last week, I walked past a Police van parked illegally (yellow lines and wheels on pavement) outside a chippy in Accy town centre. The driver, in uniform came out the chippy, put his chips on the dashboard and drove off with a sausage in his mouth!

Again, only last week, while travelling behind an M.P.V. with Police markings In Accy, I noticed that a brake light was "out" These things happen of course, and it is common knowledge that Police vehicles have a roadside check every morning so I was rather taken aback two days later to find myself behind that same vehicle with the same light not working...

Just before this last weekend, I was travelling up Omorod Street and reached the mini roundabout at the junction of Willows Lane at the same time as a Police car which was on my right. We both stopped on the line and to my surprise, he waved me on to cross in front of him. He had the right of way but would not budge so forcing me to make an illegal manouvre. I noticed that behind him? was another Police van and I hope that the driver had the opportunity later to have words with the first driver as he was in a perfect position to witness Highway Code ignorance...

The next day, travelling DOWN Omorod Street, I approached a mini roundabout and coming towards me was a large black Police van. The driver indicated left, turned...and then must have realised that he had gone the wrong way. We have all done it, you swear under your breath, carry on and look for a suitable place to turn round...not this copper! despite being in a large van, he stops, reverses back onto the roundabout and then does a 5 point turn in the middle of the junction to continue his way in the opposite direction!

I have been brought up to believe that the safest drivers on the road are our own police force, we are constantly being told of the strenuous training they receive before sitting behind the wheel of a vehicle. They are the ones that issue tickets to us for faulty lights, they reprimand us for driving without due care and attention, so I seriously wonder what is happening at the moment within the Police force? Is it lack of funds to adequately train officers or maybe modern day officers feel that they are above the law??

well, as long as they arnt annoying me, they can do what they want.

Busman747 · 23-01-2005, 23:55

"well, as long as they arnt annoying me, they can do what they want"

Until you get caught driving through a bus lane in the centre of Accy Removal man

Darby · 24-01-2005, 06:01

Who polices the Police??..................and who polices them???

fireman · 24-01-2005, 08:12

are they exempt from wearing seat belts as they never seem too.

lettie · 24-01-2005, 08:26

They are not exempt from weraing seatbelts. The only exemption that I know of is when they are attending an emergency and will have to exit the car quickly. In this case they should be displaying their blue lights and rear red lights. I'm not even sure if the emergency situation is a legal exemption or one that has become acceptable within the force.

entwisi · 24-01-2005, 08:44

Before now I have reported a Police van for Dangerous Driving(I was sat at lights he pulled up next to me and cut across to turn left as soon as the lights changed) and another for sending a text message whilst driving at 70 on the M62. Both times I reprted it without mentioning it was a police vehicle, just giving the reg number. Both times I got 'Oh, thats one of ours, isn't it!' type responses.

If you see them breaking the law you have every right to report them to their superiors. Try asking for the Traffic Super.

vorlon24 · 24-01-2005, 09:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by removal-man

well, as long as they arnt annoying me, they can do what they want.

Quote:

Originally Posted by busman

The other day near Gatwick, a Mother was killed in a car crash and her 12 year old son was badly injured.

Would you feel the same if it was your mother? I don't think so.

I remember seeing that on our local news

removal-man · 24-01-2005, 21:13

well, what can you do?

WillowTheWhisp · 24-01-2005, 22:26

Perhaps simply being more aware of these things and voicing our concern is the first thing we can do. Popular opinion and complaints do carry some weight.

There has been a report in the Daily Mail today.

fireman · 24-01-2005, 22:30

I'm sure , but you can also get yourself tagged as a moaner or a trouble maker.

WillowTheWhisp · 24-01-2005, 22:35

As an individual yes, but if it's a majority opinion and expressed in the newspapers it's not really the same as one person having an individual moan. People may be encouraged to add their own comments when they realise they aren't the only ones with cause for complaint.

Why should the police get away with behaviour which they would "book" someone else for? They ought to be setting an example, not a case of "do as I say, not as I do".

fireman · 24-01-2005, 22:44

I agree as an ex myself (but dont tell anyone) we used to work on the principle that you are there to set an example to other drivers and piont out their slip ups. Lets face it though we all have our moments of weakness and we all make mistakes, the answer then was blue lights and disappear. These days though it seems to be do as I say not as I do. I dont think the level of driver training is as strict now as it was in days gone by.

park381 · 24-01-2005, 23:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by fireman

I agree as an ex myself (but dont tell anyone) we used to work on the principle that you are there to set an example to other drivers and piont out their slip ups. Lets face it though we all have our moments of weakness and we all make mistakes, the answer then was blue lights and disappear. These days though it seems to be do as I say not as I do. I dont think the level of driver training is as strict now as it was in days gone by.

You can say that again, WOW, what happened to the "beat bobby" that WALKED down the street.