mmmiddy

I'm sure some of the boys in blue post on here, so perhaps they can answer this question.

Why do police motorway patrols drive at 60-65mph on the motorway?

Nearly involved in a couple of accidents last night, caused by cars

a. refusing to pass the police car
b. overtaking cars suddenly seeing the police car and slamming their brakes on

Whilst I'm in rant mode, they won't be reading this, but thanks to the guy in the Fiesta last night who insisted on driving the 120 miles or so, from jct 21 to Carlisle, where I turned off, IN THE OUTSIDE LANE, WITH YOUR FOG LIGHTS ON! Granted there was thick fog in parts, but not all the way!

Everytime I got close enough to get past, and plenty of cars did undertake, you sped up again.

aaaarrrrrgggghhhhh!

Rant over.

Avi

Because if they drove at 70.. no one would be legally allowed to pass.. and they don't like to admit it but it would cause congestion as the cars a few miles behind approach at a more average motorway speed of 80 ish

Hanslow

Because :

a) They can and
b) It's a limit, not a target

richs2891

You mean you actually saw a police car on the motorway, I thought they had all being disbanded in favour of our metal scameras !

Maybe we should have a new section "Motorway Police spotted"

Richard

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

How about just "Police Car Spotted!" or "Cop on foot Spotted!"

Was it you Policeman walking the beat? etc etc

SJ_Skyline

Wurzel,

This doesn't work if you pass through any of London's main railway stations on a daily basis as they are positively inundated with cops these days.

+Doc+

I saw two bobbies walking the beat on my Housing Estate, quite reasurring, just hope they do it at night as well.

Stainy

Erm, no. But they have been disbanded in favour of the highways agency doing the job...Not long before there wont be any 'motorway police'

Nicci

60-65 is the most economical speed to drive at.

Maybe the police are just thinking about the fuel bill.
(remember those petrol prices are sky high)

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

Which is exactly what happened on the M6 the other day. I came across lots of slow moving traffic and after a few miles realised that a Police minibus was sat in the middle lane doing 70mph. No other drivers would over take it so it was causing a big tailback. Eventually the guy in the Audi in front of me crept past and I thought "sod it" and did the same According to my speedo I was doing 75 but Tom Tom said 71 so I stuck with that. After I'd passed a lorry and put it between myself and the police bus I put my foot down and got away, the motorway was lovely and clear for a couple of miles

Scooby Snacks 23

What's with all the new Highways Agency cars around (Range Rovers and Toyota Land Cruisers) on the M25? they look like cop cars from a distance, but have yellow emergency lights and seem to stop for anyone whose broken down?

IanW

They are known as Traffic Officers - Taken from the Highways Agency Site -

Main Responsibilities:

To provide the on-road resource to support the development of the Highways Agency’s Network Operator Role.

To reduce incident related congestion by:

· Managing collisions
· Removing damaged/broken down and abandoned vehicles
· Clearing debris/ animals on carriageway

To improve road safety for all road users by:

· Undertaking high visibility patrols
· Providing mobile/temporary road closures
· Escorting or accompanying high risk, abnormal loads and other vehicles

To improve journey time reliability by:

· Monitoring infrastructure and road works

For more information about these roles, the project itself and how to apply, including the person specification and eligibility criteria, please visit www.betterhighways.co.uk

StickyMicky

ive got the foglights thing sorted

slow down, let them past then stick the p1 driving lights on behind them

jobs a goodun

mmmiddy

Unfortunately, it was his rear fog lights!

For 2 hours, can still see them now!

jzr

i volvo traffic car passed me last night on a shout an as it went past it made a very loud sucking noise an then he took off like a rocket he was gone. What the hell have they got on them to make that noise an do that speed. it sounded like a jet was going passed

Abdabz

As someone else posted but worthy of reiteration... 70 is the limit not the target...

Simple really...

Abdabz

I applied for one of these roles based at junction 23 of the M6. Would have the interview today had I have not been offered a job on much more money
One of my roles (which I would have relished) was reporting irresponsible driving to the police so they could nick eeeejits ooo such power
1/2 day assessment: role play,interview, test, and a run the chav off the road competition....17k a year plus 20% shift allowance and overtime though - 24hours... ah well...
P

Vegescoob

Exactly, far less training and lower wages than traffic police.

mattvortex

. whilst everyone else is always too scared to overtake the police, i always drive past at 80-85 mph and never been stopped for it- comeon people-they know you dont drive at 69.999 mph all the time so drive on by-you wont be locked up and from my experience if your doing under 85mph and pass safely they wont give a ****!

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

2nd that

Although I generally wimp out @ 79 (APCO 10% +2)

However

Police vans & non traffic cars are on a hiding to nothing as their speedos are very unlikely to be calibrated. Plus those of another area in your stretch of road = paperwork city

[Disclaimer]

The above is based on my personal experience & proclivities & if you get nicked its naff all to do with my advice - capeesh?

[/Disclaimer]

a1oku

i agree.have overtaken loadsa cop cars,above the limit an never been pulled.be sensible tho,,,not doin a ton or anything.always careful with proper motorway cars though,as said above.they got the electronics to nail you,if they want.!!!vans,minibuses and local fiestas etc dont usually pull cars...although if youre goin like a real plank suppose they could contact a proper motorway patrol

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

A motoway patrol...a rare species indeed (unless there is an accident).

Usually found doing 55mph hiding in a truckers blindspot whilst they debate if the truck infront is either: Overwieght, Over Hours, Insecure Load, Carrying Immigrants, Using Red Diesel, Unroadworthy or has a dodgy operators license...that is until an BMW M3 who hasn't seen them blasts past them at 120mph

Best one is the Motorway Maintenance vans at night (or even daylight for some people). You are happily doing 80mph with a few overtaking...when you see everyone ahead all slam on the brakes in a mad panic and I end up inadvertently undertaking the fast lane panic braking numpties. Why? There's a Range Rover up ahead with fancy bright stripes on the back...must be the Police, is it hell, just motorway maintenance

Anger

iTrader: (4)

At least you can spot them, ive seen 5 different unmarked old bill cars lately pulling people over around my way, from scooby's and evo's, to an old mercede's estate

scoob_dood

I was surprised to learn that Derbyshire Constabulary have an X plate Vauxhall Omega doing the rounds fully kitted out for catching motorists, surprised because I always though that they would be forced to use newer cars due to mileage, wear & tear etc. I wasn't surprised to learn that most people pulled over said something along the lines of "that's cheating" ...

- Jon

SCOsazOBY

Our police had a unmarked car trying to encourage the cities chavs to a race, so of course the chavs upheld the challenge and then got pulled. Didnt stand up in court because the police had antaginised them into it

I hear they are now prefering to use the Octavias instead of the scoobs because they are better at performing etc

MikeCardiff

iTrader: (2)

Those motorway police volvos are seriously modded ( V70 ??? ) - a mate of mine bought an ex police one a couple of years ago and even though they took out all the police hardware, everything else was left in - engine work, brakes, suspension...

Talking about copper spotting, there are a couple around me who ride mountain bikes, and a really fit blonde one who rides a horse ( female !!! the copper, not sure what sex the horse is, but didnt want to look like I was looking ;0) -