Police Misusing Their Authority Whilst Driving

[Georgek]

I was stopped at the traffic lights parallel to a police vehicle who had overstepped the stop line. When the lights changed to green my vehicle had got in front leaving the police car (no blue light) to stay behind me..

The police car then accelerated behind me at 40 mph (speed limit) leaving inches of tailgating room. After a few minutes I felt uncomfortable. As there was no emergency I treated this similar to any car.

It would have been difficult for me to pull into the side as the road was too narrow and there were cars behind me.

Instead I switched my hazard lights on as to give signs of possible danger if I needed to pull up quickly. For example if someone pulled up in front of me, the police car would hit into me from behind. When this failed I dabbed my brake to slow down to a safer 30 mph and to allow the police car to pass me.

It pulled me up with blue lights flashing and accused me of 'Brake Testing' a criminal offence that can gets someone a penalty of imprisonment.
I objected proclaiming my innocence saying that this was recorded and I had done nothing wrong.

Was then told:
"Do you not check your rear view mirror when braking?"

Personally, I wold like to know what happens if anyone is driving downhill from let us say 40 mph and the speed limit alters to 30 mph. You have to use your brake peddle otherwise your speed would increase and you could get a speeding ticket. What do you do if someone is tailgating you and there are two white lines in the middle of the road?

I find all this concerning.

Also when a police car pulls up to you when stopped at a red light and expects you to shoot the lights as its blue lights and sirens are waling. I understand that red means stop and no one except for emergency services can go through a red light. Okay...let us say if we do go through a red light, how do we get around getting a red light ticket when the law clearly states not to go through a red traffic light?

The law is an ass and it annoys me how those who are meant to be controlling safety are breaking these laws .

Regards

George

[des8]

Brake checking is classed as dangerous driving and can earn a driver up to two years in prison, so not a wise move on a police car.
If you are in that position just slow down by removing foot from loud pedal and if necessary change down a gear.
They'll then pull you up for not having any brake lights, and look suitably chasten when you demonstrate them working and tell plod you were taught to drive as if you didn't have brakes.
Been there

Regarding your red light query drivers of emergency vehicles are meant to turn their siren off at junctions where the traffic light is red. This is to avoid prompting other drivers to run a red light, which is illegal under any circumstances.

[Georgek]

Yes.....agreed it does carry a two year prison sentence on careless driving which is frightening.
It is dangerous to me because I need my brakes to slow down .
In fact they say that you are not allowed to slow down which defeats the point of having brakes at all. Drastic deceleration can cause engine damage. Sometimes if you need to slow down quickly this could cause another mishap by not initiating your brake lights.

It is frightening in many ways because when you are being tailgated it is difficult to avoid hitting something in front you and you have to slow down as to reduce any impact that may occur.
If we take your analogy one step further we find that it does not work. For example you are driving downhill on a single carriageway with two double lines in the middle of the road and the speed limit alters from 50 mph to 40 mph in the distance. Taking your foot of the gas pedal only increases your speed. You cannot use your gearbox because you are told not to by driving instructors. If you carry on at that increased speed, there is a speed camera up ahead and you will get a fine.
The car behind you happens not to be a police car but is tailgating to make you drive faster. This does happen in modern driving. The car behind may think that you are doing 35mph and feel it is their right to drive faster perhaps making out that you are not keeping up with the traffic which is another offence that never existed years ago,

Even if you use your gears, you will find that your engine is near to spitting cogs out at trying to decrease in revs and still your speed increases.

I fail to understand except to fear a law which is corrupt.

What will happen in years to come...will the brake pedal become obsolete?????
Another thing what I do not understand, is that in order to be of danger to the vehicle behind you, that tailgating is against the law. Hence meaning that the police car had knowingly violated the law to impose a danger to you in the first place by admittance that it must have been too near your rear end. I also understood that if a vehicle hits you from behind that it is a clear cut case of driving without due care and attention esp with insurance companies.



I had been taught many years ago that a brake pedal is there to slow you down. Taking a left or right turn if need be rather than driving at a snail pace towards your exit.

Crazy...absolutely crazy.

[des8]

That old chestnut that using the gears to reduce speed will harm the engine is a load of old cobblers.

Why on steep hills are there signs saying "low gear"?
It is because if you depend on brakes alone the friction can overheat the drums and cause them to expand away from the brake pads.
OK your car might have discs all round, but not all do.
It is because a driver using the engine to control speed has more control over the car.
I wonder how many new drivers know how to bring their car to a stop in the event of a brake failure if they are not taught how to decelerate throgu the gears.

https://www.holtsauto.com/redex/news...harm-your-car/

[Manxman]

Whenever I'm being tailgated I just drive gradually slower, and, if necessary, slower...

I never touch the brakes - I just drive progressively slower...

They either understand the message and give you more room or they overtake you

If you're being tailgated never touch your brakes unless you have to in order to avoid hitting something in front of you.

(I never cease to be amazed at the number of people who drive quicker and quicker because they are "forced" to do so by those behind. I prefer to "force" those behind who are too close to me to drive slower )