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Speed Awareness course or 3 points?

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    #61
    Originally posted by Burns View Post
    Also, the police driver is far more qualified on the road than most drivers, I'd feel fairly safe assuming that he has had more training from experts on how to drive safely than you have.
    So why can't we all be offered special courses to allow us to drive like Police Drivers do? That way if you pass you can speed and drive on the wrong side of the road if it's safe to do so. If you don't pass, it's the slow lane for you and you have to obey all the signs.

    Imagine how useful that would be if you wanted to get somewhere really quickly or if your takeaway was going cold.

    Comment


      #62
      Originally posted by Burns View Post
      Have to respectfully disagree with this one. There's any number of things that could happen if you were going over the speed limit, it's not just about your distance to the car in front.

      You know the speed limit, you either accept that you're breaking the law by going over this limit and accept the punishment when you're caught or you can argue about it and blame other people and their dangerous driving.

      Also, the police driver is far more qualified on the road than most drivers, I'd feel fairly safe assuming that he has had more training from experts on how to drive safely than you have.
      If as described he was alone on the motorway he was only a danger to himself.

      The Police driver was driving aggressively and therefore endangering others who weren't as trained as the Police officer and likely to make a mistake with a Police car up their butt.

      What the Police officer should have done was radioed ahead so a colleague could catch the speeder if safe. It should be possible to note a registration and ask other officers to watch for it driving dangerously at other times.

      While I'm keen on prosecuting speeding drivers we shouldn't put people in unnecessary Danger when doing it.
      Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.

      Comment


        #63
        Originally posted by Burns View Post
        Have to respectfully disagree with this one. There's any number of things that could happen if you were going over the speed limit, it's not just about your distance to the car in front.

        You know the speed limit, you either accept that you're breaking the law by going over this limit and accept the punishment when you're caught or you can argue about it and blame other people and their dangerous driving.

        Also, the police driver is far more qualified on the road than most drivers, I'd feel fairly safe assuming that he has had more training from experts on how to drive safely than you have.
        I disagree with you there. He was speeding so breaking the law, but speeding does not equal careless or dangerous driving.

        In fact I remember speeding in a driving lesson on an A road to get out of danger, and was told that it was a good thing to do due to the situation.

        Also police officers have been investigated and have retired/resigned to avoid disciplinary action for driving like that and putting others in danger.
        "You’re just a bad memory who doesn’t know when to go away" JR

        Comment


          #64
          Originally posted by Burns View Post
          Also, the police driver is far more qualified on the road than most drivers, I'd feel fairly safe assuming that he has had more training from experts on how to drive safely than you have.
          Respectfully I have to disagree. A police driver is equally able to be an aggressive cock as anyone else. Remember that footage where they chased a car and once stopped, the copper jumped on the bonnet and kicked in the windscreen?

          And here's another one, not far from me. Was it worth all this to chase a a suspected stolen car?
          Three police officers injured and suspect in hospital after police chase ends in crash on A1M at Peterborough - Peterborough Telegraph

          Comment


            #65
            Originally posted by vetran View Post
            If as described he was alone on the motorway he was only a danger to himself.

            The Police driver was driving aggressively and therefore endangering others who weren't as trained as the Police officer and likely to make a mistake with a Police car up their butt.

            What the Police officer should have done was radioed ahead so a colleague could catch the speeder if safe. It should be possible to note a registration and ask other officers to watch for it driving dangerously at other times.

            While I'm keen on prosecuting speeding drivers we shouldn't put people in unnecessary Danger when doing it.
            ^ This

            I Always admitted that I was speeding. in fact it was a bit embarrassing watching the BMW footage try to catch me. But what worried me was the effort and danger he put others in just to prove the point. I agree he should have radio'd ahead and if I was still being a dick they could have thrown the book at me and I would have accepted the charge because they would be right.

            It might shock Burns but the police make quite a few mistakes on the road thats despite their training. To make it worse they don't get the best tools any more I can remember them having a lotus carlton pursuit vehicle for the m11 at one point today the guy was lucky not to be chasing me in a Kia. Oh and next time you walk past a police car take a look at the tyre brand on it. It won't be a premium performance tyre.

            I am very pro police and have worked with them in the past. They have a hard time and little resources but I don't think bad behaviour should stand. I may have a chat next time I am near their office if only to note the issue.

            Comment


              #66
              Originally posted by SueEllen View Post
              I disagree with you there. He was speeding so breaking the law, but speeding does not equal careless or dangerous driving.

              In fact I remember speeding in a driving lesson on an A road to get out of danger, and was told that it was a good thing to do due to the situation.

              Also police officers have been investigated and have retired/resigned to avoid disciplinary action for driving like that and putting others in danger.
              Also if they had no lights or siren on its doubtful his driving would be considered acceptable in court
              Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.

              Comment


                #67
                Originally posted by stek View Post
                So why can't we all be offered special courses to allow us to drive like Police Drivers do? That way if you pass you can speed and drive on the wrong side of the road if it's safe to do so. If you don't pass, it's the slow lane for you and you have to obey all the signs.

                Imagine how useful that would be if you wanted to get somewhere really quickly or if your takeaway was going cold.
                You definitely can do one yourself if you want, the law would still apply however.

                Look, I'm not defending the police here but look at this from another angle (bearing in mind we've only heard one side of this story and have seen no evidence, we're taking someone's word for this);

                Copper sees a Merc come down the slip road and boot it to get in front of some vehicles travelling down the main carriageway. He then proceeds to appear to break the speed limit. The copper's going to want to catch up to see if this person is, in fact, breaking the law but is hindered by traffic. He can't put the blues on as he'll alert the car that he's spotted to his presence so he goes ahead and makes the fastest progress he can to get there.

                If the video is as described then the copper was definitely in the wrong for getting so close to other cars, I'm not trying to defend that. But I'd have to see that video to make my own decision.

                Also, I highly doubt the motorway was totally clear in front of this bunch of traffic. There were no cars in front at all? Not even the odd one?

                Comment


                  #68
                  Originally posted by Burns View Post
                  You definitely can do one yourself if you want, the law would still apply however.

                  Look, I'm not defending the police here but look at this from another angle (bearing in mind we've only heard one side of this story and have seen no evidence, we're taking someone's word for this);

                  Copper sees a Merc come down the slip road and boot it to get in front of some vehicles travelling down the main carriageway. He then proceeds to appear to break the speed limit. The copper's going to want to catch up to see if this person is, in fact, breaking the law but is hindered by traffic. He can't put the blues on as he'll alert the car that he's spotted to his presence so he goes ahead and makes the fastest progress he can to get there.

                  If the video is as described then the copper was definitely in the wrong for getting so close to other cars, I'm not trying to defend that. But I'd have to see that video to make my own decision.

                  Also, I highly doubt the motorway was totally clear in front of this bunch of traffic. There were no cars in front at all? Not even the odd one?
                  Just seems odd to me, things like 'you can't drive at 100mph, but you can if you're a police driver' or, and I heard this on Police Interceptors from a police driver 'You need to be a trained driver to drive at 100mph' so why can I drive at 200kph on the Autobahn without being trained?

                  You can't kill people but you can if you are an armed policemen or soldier. Or a hangman.

                  I know i'm being argumentative but it is a case of you can't do 'x' but you can if you are 'y'.

                  I'm pro-police too I support what they have to do but I sometimes can't get my head around this Raskolnikovian schism.

                  Comment


                    #69
                    Originally posted by Burns View Post
                    You definitely can do one yourself if you want, the law would still apply however.

                    Look, I'm not defending the police here but look at this from another angle (bearing in mind we've only heard one side of this story and have seen no evidence, we're taking someone's word for this);

                    Copper sees a Merc come down the slip road and boot it to get in front of some vehicles travelling down the main carriageway. He then proceeds to appear to break the speed limit. The copper's going to want to catch up to see if this person is, in fact, breaking the law but is hindered by traffic. He can't put the blues on as he'll alert the car that he's spotted to his presence so he goes ahead and makes the fastest progress he can to get there.

                    If the video is as described then the copper was definitely in the wrong for getting so close to other cars, I'm not trying to defend that. But I'd have to see that video to make my own decision.
                    On the M4 randomly there is a police landrover that sits on the verge. The police officer in the car doesn't have a camera but he knows his presence gets people going over 80mph slow down to under 80 mph. (I know he's there so know roughly when to slow down but I'm not telling you guys.)

                    Point I'm making is the police officer was careless and even dangerous in his pursuit of the OP hence it's why I agree with vetran


                    Originally posted by Burns View Post

                    Also, I highly doubt the motorway was totally clear in front of this bunch of traffic. There were no cars in front at all? Not even the odd one?
                    Surprisingly on the M4 and M3 it randomly is even in the day. Sections of the M25 are also like this at night.

                    Loads of people get off at some random junction but don't join. So you find the only other traffic on the road with you is maybe a couple of HGVs and as you can drive much faster than them without breaking the speed limit you soon can find yourself on your own.
                    "You’re just a bad memory who doesn’t know when to go away" JR

                    Comment


                      #70
                      Originally posted by Burns View Post
                      You definitely can do one yourself if you want, the law would still apply however.

                      Look, I'm not defending the police here but look at this from another angle (bearing in mind we've only heard one side of this story and have seen no evidence, we're taking someone's word for this);

                      Copper sees a Merc come down the slip road and boot it to get in front of some vehicles travelling down the main carriageway. He then proceeds to appear to break the speed limit. The copper's going to want to catch up to see if this person is, in fact, breaking the law but is hindered by traffic. He can't put the blues on as he'll alert the car that he's spotted to his presence so he goes ahead and makes the fastest progress he can to get there.

                      If the video is as described then the copper was definitely in the wrong for getting so close to other cars, I'm not trying to defend that. But I'd have to see that video to make my own decision.

                      Also, I highly doubt the motorway was totally clear in front of this bunch of traffic. There were no cars in front at all? Not even the odd one?
                      The M4 flows in patches of traffic preceded by large empty gaps. It has always struck me as bloody dangerous as to why so many people choose to clump together at 80 mph but thats the oddity of the speed laws of this country. My gap was in front of the clump of drivers headed by a bunch of trucks.

                      There was probably a car or two in the long distance but the way my auto cruise works is that as soon as I get near any cars within my safety bubble the MB cruise control systems slow me down to their speed and ironically would have saved me the points. It would also have also slowed me down enough to ensure I maintained a safe gap behind them so that I didn't look like an aggressive dick tail-gating them in a Mercedes.

                      Here is a great explanation.

                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0FgFUcS4n0
                      Last edited by bobspud; 12 August 2016, 13:14.

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