Unrealistic expectations?

[vifferman]

I was communtering to work this morning, and came up behind a line of cars, stopped behind some who were waiting for a green light so they could turn right. I indicated and moved into the (empty) left lane. Luckily I'm fairly careful and observant, because the last car in the queue suddenly veered into the left lane, around the cars in front of it, and back into the right lane, without indicating.
I was pissed off, but in no particular danger, as I braked and swerved left and easily avoided a collision.
I dont know if the driver saw me, or even looked, but the car was covered in dew and the windows were all pretty much obscured. I was SO tempted to give the driver a blast, or follow the car to its destination and give him/her an earful, but in the end decided it would make no difference, as the chances are he/she was unaware of what had nearly happened.

Should we expect a higher standard of behaviour/driving from the police than from your general brain-dead motorist?

[Banditbandit]

I was communtering to work this morning, and came up behind a line of cars, stopped behind some who were waiting for a green light so they could turn right. I indicated and moved into the (empty) left lane. Luckily I'm fairly careful and observant, because the last car in the queue suddenly veered into the left lane, around the cars in front of it, and back into the right lane, without indicating.
I was pissed off, but in no particular danger, as I braked and swerved left and easily avoided a collision.
I dont know if the driver saw me, or even looked, but the car was covered in dew and the windows were all pretty much obscured. I was SO tempted to give the driver a blast, or follow the car to its destination and give him/her an earful, but in the end decided it would make no difference, as the chances are he/she was unaware of what had nearly happened.

Should we expect a higher standard of behaviour/driving from the police than from your general brain-dead motorist?

You're assuming that our police are not as brain-dead as the average motorist ...

[CookMySock]

Sorry, I re-read three times, but this was a police car?

[yod]

Should we expect a higher standard of behaviour/driving from the police than from your general brain-dead motorist?

well, yes, we should

but don't hold your breath or anything

[marie_speeds]

Sorry, I re-read three times, but this was a police car?

Ditto....

But having said that some police officers are the worst and most ignorant dicks I see on the road. Many drive with an attitude that I am special and have special privileges because I am in a police car....
The sirens and lights through intersections just because they can't be bothered waiting for a green light can be disruptive for the intersection, and then as soon as they are through it off goes the lights and sirens and they proceed merrily on their way at usual pace...:angry:

[Spearfish]

at least 10 characters.

[CookMySock]

Fit a camera, start filming and capture the events.<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BHjjF55M8JQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Full length version here ;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7PC9cZEWCQ

[YellowDog]

Sorry to hear of this incident. It seems to be about PAR for the commuting course.

Well done for staying cool, but your horn could have at least let the driver know that he or she may have done something wrong.

[avgas]

Meh................ easy thing would be to remove the speed limit and clean out the rider/driver gene pool.

[mattian]

I was following an unmarked police car on the motorway one day. Watched them change lanes without indicating and then noticed that one of their brake lights wasn't working, maybe the indicators weren't working either...... lol

[jazfender]

Probably best not to expect anything of other motorists.

[Camshaft]

Probably best not to expect anything of other motorists.

best response yet

the onli thing to expect is there gonna kill you

[Banditbandit]

Meh................ easy thing would be to remove the speed limit and clean out the rider/driver gene pool.

Naaa .. good idea in theory - but idiots would take us all out ...

[buellbabe]

I reckon use your horn at every opportunity!
The other morning on MY way to work a car on my left started to move into the space I was already occupying and I blasted my horn.
Not only did he hear it and jerk back into his lane but so did the car in front of me cos that one also did a little jerky dance, obviously thinking they were about to hit something.

Thats what your horn is for.

Its not gonna save you in every circumstance but around town it sure gets attention.

Oh and BTW, as I continued past the car that hadn't seen me (didn't look) I gave him a thumbs up to say thanks for pulling back into your own lane.

Even if he had ignored my horn I was still safe cos I was completely aware he was there and was half expecting him to do what he did...

I try and have REALISTIC expectations, I expect other road users to behave like idiots and I am very rarely disappointed.

[The Stranger]

I was communtering to work this morning, and came up behind a line of cars, stopped behind some who were waiting for a green light so they could turn right. I indicated and moved into the (empty) left lane. Luckily I'm fairly careful and observant, because the last car in the queue suddenly veered into the left lane, around the cars in front of it, and back into the right lane, without indicating.
I was pissed off, but in no particular danger, as I braked and swerved left and easily avoided a collision.
I dont know if the driver saw me, or even looked, but the car was covered in dew and the windows were all pretty much obscured. I was SO tempted to give the driver a blast, or follow the car to its destination and give him/her an earful, but in the end decided it would make no difference, as the chances are he/she was unaware of what had nearly happened.

Should we expect a higher standard of behaviour/driving from the police than from your general brain-dead motorist?

Could have been worse, he could have pulled a u turn in front of you.

[avgas]

I reckon use your horn at every opportunity!
I do - its great. But you don't have one??????

Oh wait you mean the one on the bike........nah that thing is way to vulgar. Never use it at all.

[vifferman]

I couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if I hadn't been a lurt and had smacked into the miscreant police oroficer...
No doubt, I would've been given a ticket for failing to stop within half the visible distance or somesuch.
As for
"The sirens and lights through intersections just because they can't be bothered waiting for a green light can be disruptive for the intersection, and then as soon as they are through it off goes the lights and sirens and they proceed merrily on their way at usual pace..."
Well, a couple of years back, there was so much widespread abuse of sirens and lights for things such as getting home for lunch, there was a suspension for a while of the use of sirens except for absolute emergencies.

[blackdog]

I was following an unmarked police car on the motorway one day. Watched them change lanes without indicating and then noticed that one of their brake lights wasn't working, maybe the indicators weren't working either...... lol

It is more than common down this way for patrol cars to have teh r/h headlight disconnected. (stealth mode i assume)

WOF standards are different for police vehicles apparently.

[DrunkenMistake]

I was following an unmarked police car on the motorway one day. Watched them change lanes without indicating and then noticed that one of their brake lights wasn't working, maybe the indicators weren't working either...... lol

Iv been cut off by a marked police car who didnt indicate then stoped suddenly cauing me to swerve to avoid him and then I was pulled over by him and accused of dangerous driving... he let me away after a 15 min fuck around, but shit.. what a kick in the pants.

[toycollector10]

I've seen that cop with the gun video on other bike forums. It gets worse, because the guy who on the bike was facing 10-15 inside or some such for filming as it's illegal in some states.