Dangerous police driver and what to do now?

[Kris]

I witnessed some police driving today that actually left me feeling quite sick and in in a state of bewilderment. It's the first time I've actually considered following the officers to their destination and confronting them.

A police liveried Vauxhall Astra ( Pretty sure it was a Met car) overtook myself going up Shooters Hill Rd towards the A2 junction, where there are two lanes curving up the hill and one lane down seperated by two solid lines. The traffic going up the hill was solid, with the usual moving traffic coming down. I see them in my mirrors and move over as they pass on the wrong side of the road with blues and twos on. Fair enough, matey seems in a big hurry.

A lot of other cars further up the hill have nowhere to go due to an inconvenient traffic island and the merging of lanes into one. Matey goes round the island, making an oncoming car dive into a bus-stop. Bit dodgy but nothing major- usual London fare IMO.

Anyway, I follow the Astra, making sure I keep within the solid lines and go round islands on the corrects side etc. Eventually we get to the top of the hill at the blind crest and corner and he forces traffic to the kerb, oncoming traffic has to dive into the kerb and allow him to continue. Again slightly dodgy driving, a bit aggressive really but nothing like what he got up to a bit later..

Fast forward to the A2 itself and by the time I arrive to join the coastbound carriageway I've already lost him at some lights and I think he's taken a different route. So I forget about him and carry on.

So I filter through the 20-30mph rolling traffic as per normal and eventually see the very same police Astra up ahead with it's lights on but no sirens forcing it's way between the fast and middle lane of standing / sub 5mph traffic. It's a slighty chaotic scene with two bikes being held up and cars diving every which way as they try to let the Astra pass. I catch up behind the bikes just after the underpass (for those that know it) heading down the next hill towards the missing speed camera. By now the road is a three lane dual-carriageway with a closed left hand lane up ahead, coned off to allow replacement of a crash barrier. Due to the early warning signs most traffic has moved over to the other lanes, so the Astra dives into the left hand lane and speeds up considerably , slamming his brakes on as he reaches the cones and carving up a white transit in the process of diving back in the centre lane. By now us bikes have backed off a bit kinds expecting him to cut back in but the severity of it was a bit much IMO.

Next we head down another hill and the traffic has sped up to approx 50mph, with all three lanes available. Traffic always begins to thin here and the Astra weaves between the fast and middle lanes at 55ish. The cars have no more than a car and a half gap between them, which leaves me thinking an accident will happen at any second. I roll off slightly, staying a few cars back. Remember, still no sirens on. Just

Anyway a green Peugeot 206 in the middle lane doing 45mph holds up the Astra for a split second so he dives into the slow lane- just as the Peugeot slowly moves into this lane to get out of the way. Police Astra then decides to undertake this car on teh hard shoulder between the crash barrier on the left and the Peugeot half-in and half-out of the slow lane. (Bear in mind the hard shoulder here is less than the width of a large car; feck knows what would have happened if the woman in the Pug carried on moving over.)

I can't adequately describe the feeling I got that this guy was going to cause an accident, his constant weaving between cars with sudden, jerking movements definately didn't make me think he was safe. I can think of two specific incidents in which members of Joe Public actually prevented an accident on his behalf.

So, to conclude he continued up on the A2 past the Orpington turnoff and past the M25 junction (normally the Met stops here and leaves it to Kent police? A Met car here is just plain wrong.) and starts doing 65, moves into the middle lane and turns his lights off. Eh? So as I pass him and look in the car to see the PC bloke driving, a dark haired thin WPC next to him (both uniformed) and a woman in the back in civvies.

They continue like this for a while so I carry on my merry way and don't see them again.

Bleugh, not sure what I should do, if anything really. I got the plate (LX05 DWF) and time (approx 5.40pm) so can trace the driver.

Any ideas?
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[thegubner]

[TheDonUK]

Sounds well dodgey, maybe complain?

I nearly got taken out by one of the rapid response ambulance cars today on Richmond Bridge, For those who dont know its a humpback-esque two lane bridge, the middle is a blind crest, I have just crested on my side and theres this ambulance car screaming up my lane going to overtake a bus on a blind summit, Gave me quite a scare, i just managed to get over to the kerb in time...

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Panda cars very rarely if ever join the A2 for any legitimate reason. I've never seen them going past the Dartford heath junction either, thats Kent police. I live in Eltham so know the exact route you said.

I'd make a written complaint as I dont like Police and see what happens. There any chance he went past the Bexleyheath camera at 60mph+, if so then give the exact time and somehow find out if he was caught on that.

I had an incident at a jkunction where a van had its lights on but no sirens at 5pm on a friday. Almost caused me to crash and the car in front to hit him as he came round the island, I would have made him stop and taken his details if he hadnt of squeezed through.

Edit: WTF would any copper bother with the A2 anyway, they know it would be absoloutely solid, would of been quicker going through Welling high street. He was pissing about most likely, report him.

[Rowey]

I've nearly been T-boned by a police car, no lights or siren, while doing my DAS no less. No cars in front of me, two bikes behind me, all three of us wearing high vis jackets.

And he had the audacity to stare at me after I'd beeped and drove round the front of his car, at a paltry 15mph from 40, fair to say I shouted an obscenity.
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ZX6R C6F.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.

[G]

Can do it online these days...
https://www.ipcc.gov.uk/index/complaints/forms/form_complaint.htm

I'd also send the same details in a letter to some one high up in the police area they'll have come from.

[rumppole]

Yeah complain...

Eventually we could see all emergancy services banned from blue light responding because the public complained that they didn't like seeing them weaving.

Then joe public can lay dying on the roadside after an RTC, content in the knowledge that the enroute emergency response driver is not causing any disruption to other road users.

/sigh
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[Graham88]

[G]

[colin1]

Its your duty to complain. Its not just about the principle or complaining in a restaurant if the food is cold.

He could seriously injure or kill someone.

I know someone in the police, and he knows of a few incidents in which police cars have crashed due to bad driving by the police.

One of which resulted in a civilian getting a broken back. The policeman got kicked out of the force, but no charges were pressed although it was clearly dangerous driving not an accident.

The police do need some violent thug type idiots to keep the bad boys in check, but unfortunately, there isnt always a senior officer around to supervise their behaviour.

Its possible that in your situation, it was a stolen car, or the police officer got a bit too enthusiastic at getting to a serious incident quickly due to the nature of the incident, but they have strict rules to follow and from your description, he may have broken a few.

If his behaviour becomes a pattern that senior officers become aware of, rather a one off incident, he may get some kind of reprimand.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Pickle]

[TechJinx]

definately complain - even if you just use the online form. Causing another accident aint going to help no one.

And but no siren is one of my pet hates
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[pa_broon74]

Yup complain.

Sounds like a couple of uniforms transporting a senior officer or VIP trying to beat rush hour traffic.


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Didn't catch anything.

[UnknownStuntm...]

Personally, I think you should complain.

I see so many police cars and ambulances with just their lights on going through junctions, lights, roundabouts and it's just plain dangerous. I got some negative comments last time I mentioned it on here, people saying it would be too noisy (I ask you...!) if they had them on all the time when they're on 'a shout'.

But FFS it makes sense. If you've got to drive in a manner that may cause people to have to change course or speed, the least you can do it provide all the warning you can.

ALL blue light runs should be accompanied by sirens. IMHO even those between 11.30pm and 7am.

[zephyrgirl]

Could have been a 'training run' for a newbie driver.

If he was under assessment he would have a right bollocking from the examiner for his 'roadcraft'.



Most likely wanted to get back in time for Bedtime Hour on Cbeebies.
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I bloody wish.

[map]

[scanny]

blues and twos do not give them right of way with or without the siren. they still have a responsibility to drive with reasonable care and without putting other road users in danger. they should be setting an example too unlike the one i witnessed the other night running a red light. he wasnt even in a police car!

i do like the police but they have standards to maintain and expectations to live up to. how can they criticise someone elses driving (and indeed prosecute) if they themselves are dangerous?

[Scouse]

It was in our local paper today that the popo have been told by the council to slow/calm down when driving through built up areas. Apparently they've been spotted going to fast and driving erratic too many times

[Nixon]

it sounds like from what you are saying with 2 uniformed officers and a civvy in the back they are likely to be running a training excercise.

also from what you explained i fail to see the immediate danger imposed to any road users from the actions of the police driver

[thegubner]

[TechJinx]

[thegubner]

[TechJinx]

[Nixon]

if you want to make a descision based purely on the credibilty of the author and not take into acount a different angle or opinion from another author then do so.

I am just offering people an alternative view of the situation that has not yet been expressed.

what exactly is your problem with that?

[iooi]