i'm lovin'... the Fuzz!

J4MES · 28-10-2003, 07:45 PM

so, i was tanking along the M4 due east, hood down, late afternoon, needle bouncing around 100mph...

looks in the rear view mirror, sees large black saloon (Lexus) keeping it's distance but following at same speed...

thinks to myself 'nice one, it's not an un-marked car (no second rear view mirror <- uh-oh... ) and he'll back off if there's any jam-sandwiches piling up the fast lane'. SPOT THE ERROR I MADE

anyhoo.. about 10 miles later, still in convoy with this car, i see blue lights. flashing. from behind it's grill....

aghhhhh slow down 75 middle lane careful bugger here come some more points can't afford a fine too early in the month aghhhhh

so Mr Polis pull along side (fairly swiflty) and... drivers partner (and i'm proud to say his lover) looks over... and mouths...

"S l o w d o w n"

AND THEN ROARS OFF!!!!

needless to say, i drove back home at 75 all the way...

so if you see a black Lexus on the M4 (between Bristol and Swindon)... don't push your luck

XTR · 28-10-2003, 09:07 PM

They are just making sure they don’t end up having a bad hair day.... imagine upsetting a hair dresser...... waaaaaaahhhh!!!

I’ve heard of this Police behaviour before. Just save’s them a lot of paper work!

Theo · 28-10-2003, 09:18 PM

I hate to say it chap, but I wish that the police had stopped and fined you. Unless the laws have changed since I stopped driving a month ago - there are speed limits. Whether a car is an unmarked police car or not, you should stay within the speed limits - empty road or not.

Of course, I'm sure you're a good driver, and I have nothing personally against you. So I apologise if you're offended, but you deserve a ticket. TBH.

Vimeous · 29-10-2003, 03:38 AM

It's not unusual behaviour but I suspect a rarity. I, like you, would count my blessings.

Theo I agree with this form of Policing as in this circumstance the officers concerned had plenty of time to judge the road conditions, both weather and traffic levels, as well as our fortunate friends attentiveness to the road around him.

To your normal motorist any warning from the Police will often result in an immediate guilt react and extreme relief. Both likely to slow the offender down and it's unlikely to leave the mind of the person concerned for some time.
Paranoia of the Police and in particular points on licences has been dropping quickly as 1 in 6 people now have points for speeding handed out by speed cameras (see Autocar in the last 2 weeks). Your average person now accepts this as a fact of life and carries on their daily work effectively devaluing the seriousness of the points system. Any attempt to reenforce the paranoia, such as sudden warning, has to be welcomed because without it we'll stop thinking about speed all together and the resulting lazyiness can only lead to more road deaths.

Rant over...almost

The fact it was the M4 probably also helped as usually there is a 95mph+ train crusing the outside lane during busy weekdays. In this context there a far more dangerous driving problems for the Police to face than a single motorist driving carefully in relatively little traffic, good weather and in the same direction as everyone else.

Single carriageways are a different matter ofc.

TeePee · 29-10-2003, 07:36 AM

I had a similar experience once. 6am on an almost deserted 40mph dual carriageway. I'm doing 70 in lane 1, and theres another vehicle in lane 3 at about the same speed (gotta love lane disipline), an another car travelling faster than both of us in lane 2. He pulls ahead and 'POLICE - SLOW DOWN' flashes up on one of those scrolling LED thingies in the rear window. Crappy-Lane-Guy and I both brake and police keep going.

J4MES · 29-10-2003, 08:23 PM

Originally posted by Theo
... Whether a car is an unmarked police car or not, you should stay within the speed limits - empty road or not...

drive on the motorway much? at an indicated 65mph i hope then, given the inherent error in your speedo?

5lab · 29-10-2003, 08:31 PM

drive on the motorway much? at an indicated 65mph i hope then, given the inherent error in your speedo?

yes actually, or more typically 60 cos it saves money

Theo · 29-10-2003, 10:39 PM

Originally posted by horsegunner
drive on the motorway much? at an indicated 65mph i hope then, given the inherent error in your speedo?

Not in the last 6 weeks, but considering that I have only been driving two and a half years, I have had plenty of motorway experience. Yes, I do keep within the limit. The national speed limits are FAST ENOUGH for the roads - if I don't want to be late, I'll set off earlier or call ahead to say "I'll be late". If I fancy driving at 100mph, I'll take my car where it belongs - off the roads.