I was in a situation today where if I'd been caught by a speed camera, I'd have been looking at points and fine, but as an actual police man in a car was involved, I was instead thanked. My point is, a Gatso can't use discretion as to whether you're actually putting your own life and others' at risk.
Here's the pitch:
I was on my way to a cat show with my other half in Banbury (we live near Doncaster, so it's quite a schlep) and was going along the relatively unfamiliar A46 in quite wet conditions. 70 limit, 2 lane section, most cars doing about 50 on the inside lane, but bunched together far too close for the conditions. I was doing 55 or so in the outside lane nothing ahead for miles and a police car behind.
I see the police Rav4 (or similar) which has been behind me a while put his blues on, seemingly answering a shout. I indicated to pull in to let him past, but no-one would let me in, so, as the rain had eased off and the road was much drier, I instead booted it up to 90 on the straight (leaving the indicator on) and pulled in when I passed the string of traffic.
If this had been a situation with an ambulance and I'd tripped a camera, hello SP30 or worse. In this case, the police car goes past, the plod in the passenger seat waves to us, and get this, the LED display on top of the car comes on. It doesn't display "Stop" or "pull over" instead it says "Thank you!"
Myself and the other half couldn't believe this. Most polite police in the world ever!!! Maybe this is a default phrase programmed into the unit, but I thought it was a really nice touch.
I suppose I could have just poddled along at 55 hoping someone would let me in and delayed him getting to (presumably) an accident, but the fact he actually thanked us for getting out of his road, I just can't get over it!
Has anyone else ever had a "Thank you!" from the variable LED displays on top of motorway patrol units?
Here's the pitch:
I was on my way to a cat show with my other half in Banbury (we live near Doncaster, so it's quite a schlep) and was going along the relatively unfamiliar A46 in quite wet conditions. 70 limit, 2 lane section, most cars doing about 50 on the inside lane, but bunched together far too close for the conditions. I was doing 55 or so in the outside lane nothing ahead for miles and a police car behind.
I see the police Rav4 (or similar) which has been behind me a while put his blues on, seemingly answering a shout. I indicated to pull in to let him past, but no-one would let me in, so, as the rain had eased off and the road was much drier, I instead booted it up to 90 on the straight (leaving the indicator on) and pulled in when I passed the string of traffic.
If this had been a situation with an ambulance and I'd tripped a camera, hello SP30 or worse. In this case, the police car goes past, the plod in the passenger seat waves to us, and get this, the LED display on top of the car comes on. It doesn't display "Stop" or "pull over" instead it says "Thank you!"
Myself and the other half couldn't believe this. Most polite police in the world ever!!! Maybe this is a default phrase programmed into the unit, but I thought it was a really nice touch.
I suppose I could have just poddled along at 55 hoping someone would let me in and delayed him getting to (presumably) an accident, but the fact he actually thanked us for getting out of his road, I just can't get over it!
Has anyone else ever had a "Thank you!" from the variable LED displays on top of motorway patrol units?
brave to boot it to 90 with a plod behind tho!
