Safe Speed Forums

Driving down the A34 towards Southampton earlier today, when just before a steep hill traffic grinds to a near halt, it normally slows down there but this is excessively slow. Up ahead I can see flashing blue lights in L1 and everyone trying to get into L2, this would be the cause of the slowdown as the trucks have no hope of getting their speed back.

So as I pass the obstruction, I have plenty of time to see whats going on without actually making thins worse, since the truck of me wont be out of the way anytime soon.

So I see a small newish diesel car that appears to be in perfect working order, no damage, no evidence of there having been any kind of incident, neatly positioned at the left hand edge of L1, no hazard lights or anything, cop car behind it with the blues going. In the drivers seat is this really old guy, and I mean really really old, the copper is stood alongside the old guys car gesticulating wildly.

Literally 20 yards further on there was a layby!


My guess is that the police tried to pull this guy over for something, possibly something silly like a blown bulb, and the guy has just decided to stop right there in L1.

Can someone come up with a kinder explanation and maybe help restore my faith in humanity?

He put petrol in the deisel? total electrical failure?

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Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code

If it was a breakdown, wouldn't the copper have been giving the car a push or a tow rather than yelling at the guy to move?

You sure the old boy hadn't simply expired?

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

And the poor copper is shouting: "wake up, wake up, you can't sleep here", until the dreadful truth emerges... Ouch.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Hmmn!

How far can you continue to drive after having been flashed to, in your own opinion, find somewhere safe to pull over before you risk being charged with "Failing to stop"

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"The road to a police state is paved with public safety legislation"

Without knowing the facts you can't really draw any conclusions on what has happened here. And, if the driver had been signalled to pull over by the police, and there had been no lay-by available, he would have had to stop in Lane 1 anyway. If there was a police car behind you flashing its lights, plenty of drivers would simply panic, slam on the anchors and fail to spot a lay-by ahead. It's hardly the height of stupidity.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Personally, I would continue to drive until I found somewhere that I felt safe to stop (being alone in the car and travelling on quiet, secluded roads quite a bit). I would make an attempt to signal to the police officer that I inteded to stop when safe and would explain this when I DID stop.

As far as I understand it, they cannot request you to stop somewhere unsafe.

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

I've had that scenario before, and a quick toggle of the hazard switch and an acknowledgement wave while looking in the rear view mirror has always been enough to convey the message that I am aware they want me to stop, and that I will do so as soon as an appropiate place become available.

I don't think any police officer in their right mind would even consider a failing to stop charge unless you blatantly floored it after being signalled to pull over though.

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What makes you think I'm drunk officer, have I got a fat bird with me?

now then surtely they'd want you to stop as soon as possible
therefore floor it till you find a layby

Years ago, I ended up in exactly that situation. Copper put the blue lights on somewhere I felt was completely inappropriate and I carried on for a few hundred yards until I found somewhere I thought was "safe" to stop. When I did finally stop I got a right roasting for not looking in my mirror! When I tried to remonstrate about not feeling it a safe place to stop I got the "don't get smart with me sonny" speech too! It was so long ago that I'd completely forgotten about it until this thread and I can't honestly remember what the original "pull" was for now! I'm pretty certain I didn't get any fine or points though so maybe he felt guilty...!

Like wise Mole - I was flashed in Blackpool while on my motorcycle in the early hours, while on a T-junction controlled by traffic lights on the Prom.
I continued through the lights, and pulled up just beyond the islands so as not to form and obstruction, and got a right ear bending, and was breathalysed - presumably so I was forced to wait while a kit was sent out from the Station, as a punishment for daring to suggest that the middle of the junction was not the best place to stop, even at 3.00 am!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!