Road safety incident

[KATWYN]

Hi, because I have had a few comments regarding
an incident last week that I thought was funny at the time - others
hearing it have expressed more of a concern .

I'm driving down the southern motorway. In the fast lane.

Doing 90kmph (apparently)

to cut a long story short, a detective in jeans and t-shirt driving a marked
patrol car pulls me over, ( theres also hardly any room to pull over too) flips out his badge and proceeds to tell me off

In the meantime lorrie trucks are zooming past and shaking my car etc

He said he could ticket me for doing 90 in a 100 lane, get into left lane etc etc

I laughed and said "How embarressing to be pulled over for driving to slow in a Holden SS !" he laughed and said he won't ticket me (but it would have been $150.00 - more than a speeding fine!)

Then he had to hatch a strategic plan for both of us, for us to pull out safely back onto the motorway without either of us getting taken out.....of which I very nearly did...even tho I floored the accelerator to get back into the traffic!! :gob:

What really was the danger here? Who put who at risk?

Me not watching my speedo and going that "extra" 10kmph or his actions?

[vifferman]

What really was the danger here? Who put who at risk?

Me not watching my speedo and going that "extra" 10kmph or his actions?
But that's often the way.
Both the tickets I've had in the last few years have been of that ilk; both were fair enough (I was well over the limit) but both involved more disruption to other traffic than my speeding caused.
First was a momentary burst in a passing lane to pass a 4WD behemoth that I'd been following for 10-15 minutes. Once past, I slowed again. The cop had to race after me for about 10km or more to apprehend me.
The second, there was no traffic going my way (except behind me), and the cop was going the other way. To catch me, he had to do a u-turn in traffic, then exceed by a goodly amount the speed I was doing to catch up to me.

While I don't condone my actions, it seems that even though the traffic laws being enforced have their basis in making the roads safer, the enforcement itself is often anything but safe, having lost sight of the goals and principles.


I'd say in your case it had nothing to do with rules, laws, safety, etc. - he was just pissed off because you were holding him up (i.e., he was being an impatient prick!)

[Dave Lobster]

Oh yes.. we all know one..

[Drum]

Traffic studies show that the 90th percentile speed on the southern motorway is 90 km/h, so he has a lot of ticketing to do.

[The Stranger]

I must confess I hate slow people in the fast lane and must applaud any attempt to rectify this situation. However one really has to wonder if it had more to do with your sex and your hair colour.

[Grahameeboy]

That's bloody daft...100kph is a maximum speed and are there not signs on the motorway say 'Drive to the Conditions' so if it is busy then 100kph is probably to fast......if you get what I am trying to say.

Well he did not give you a ticket but for once have to say that the cop was just being a plonker.............

[Swoop]

Good on the copper.

I hope he also targets those people who drive at 80kph on the open road when clear and dry.

[Nasty]

The speed limit is just that a limit .. you do not have to drive at 100 kms just cos the limit is that ... yes driving slowly is wrong .. but driving according to the conditions at 90 is more than legal ... take note off the campaigns on now .. 100 is not a target .. etc ... they are proving their own stuff crap. Don't go too slow ... but go safely as close to the limit as possible ... is more than one lane there ?? so people going faster can pass? oh well .. I think the guy should get his head read and read his own campaigns.

[KATWYN]

it seems that even though the traffic laws being enforced have their basis in making the roads safer, the enforcement itself is often anything but safe, having lost sight of the goals and principles.


Yea thats it - the last bit about losing sight of the goals and principles.


I must confess I hate slow people in the fast lane and must applaud any attempt to rectify this situation. However one really has to wonder if it had more to do with your sex and your hair colour.

No, at least I hope not,I would expect a bit more professionalism than that. He seemed pretty intent on getting his point across about road safety, even if there was a slight double standard.


Good on the copper.
I hope he also targets those people who drive at 80kph on the open road when clear and dry.

Thats what this thread is all about. Other peoples opinions. I want to see both sides here

[Mom]

Agreeing with all your post so far guys, but wonder if the question is being asked asked about the safety of pulling someone of the motorway when there is no safe way to get back into the traffic flow. What is a plain clothed dectective doing on road duties anyway?.........were you wearing your "I am looking really cute clothes"?

And a bit of a lesson here, dont impede other traffic by travelling under the speed limit, yes .........to the conditions.........but one of the things I hate most is inconsiderate people that are not aware of what is going on around them.

[KATWYN]

and what about rubber neckers?? a potential disaster

[KATWYN]

Try driving within a 10 kmph limit either side of 100 kmph in a V8. It is almost impossible -unless you put it in cruise control

[Mom]

Try driving within a 10 kmph limit either side of 100 kmph in a V8. It is almost impossible -unless you put it in cruise control

I set my cruise control for about 109 on the open road/and motorway when it is flowing freely......just watch the old mirrors and if there is someone wanting to go a bit faster than that I will pull left and let them go, mind you I am often the one that has to "undertake" on the motorway to get round someone, or get up to serious demerit point speeds on the open road at overtaking opportunities because the arseholes speed up then!..........LOL

[Manxman]

While I don't condone my actions..

...for some weird reason, this comment is really funny...

ok back on topic.

[RT527]

I would have continued on until there was a safe place to pull over , or off the motorway, if in doubt dial *555 and tell the dispatcher that this is what you are doing...or if they dont answer dial 111 ask for police , tell them theres some prat trying to make you pull over in an unsafe place.

[Shadows]

Hi, because I have had a few comments regarding
an incident last week that I thought was funny at the time - others
hearing it have expressed more of a concern .

I'm driving down the southern motorway. In the fast lane.

Doing 90kmph (apparently)

to cut a long story short, a detective in jeans and t-shirt driving a marked
patrol car pulls me over, ( theres also hardly any room to pull over too) flips out his badge and proceeds to tell me off

In the meantime lorrie trucks are zooming past and shaking my car etc

He said he could ticket me for doing 90 in a 100 lane, get into left lane etc etc

I laughed and said "How embarressing to be pulled over for driving to slow in a Holden SS !" he laughed and said he won't ticket me (but it would have been $150.00 - more than a speeding fine!)

Then he had to hatch a strategic plan for both of us, for us to pull out safely back onto the motorway without either of us getting taken out.....of which I very nearly did...even tho I floored the accelerator to get back into the traffic!! :gob:

What really was the danger here? Who put who at risk?

Me not watching my speedo and going that "extra" 10kmph or his actions?

Were you overtaking? If you weren't, then I'm sorry but he should have given you a ticket. The rules state you must keep left unless overtaking.

Actually, come to think of it I'm not sorry at all. That really annoys me. I would have given you a ticket and smiled when I gave it to you. Only they won't allow me in the Police force.

[Scouse]

Well he did not give you a ticket but for once have to say that the cop was just being a plonker.............He must have been taking a leaf out of your book....... and before you ask AGAIN yes it is

[Edbear]

Basically agree with Vifferman and Mom here. I confess to finding it very frustrating when people drive well under the limit in the fast lane in good conditions, though I am aware of and tolerant of driving to the conditions if traffic is very heavy or weather is bad.

Try not to hold up faster traffic if possible, but I wonder what the PC could have given you a ticket for? Personally, if I had come up behind you I would have either passed on the left or flashed my lights if the conditions were such that 90km/h was too slow.

In Europe, for example, flashing one's headlights is a normal and accepted practice to indicate a desire to pass and drivers there take no offence at it. Kiwi drivers seem to consider it the height of rudeness and impatience!

[merv]

Shadows has the real point above. Were you overtaking at the time? If not WTF were you doing driving in the RH lane? The road code is clear on the requirement to keep left if not overtaking and also on not going slow holding up other traffic.

If you are innocent on these two counts for whatever reason, then sure he just wanted to look you over. I haven't met you so I don't know, but if that is you in your profile pic I can see why he was interested.

p.s. hey its not just coz you're blonde, I like brunettes, redheads and black hair too you know.

[Skyryder]

Hi, because I have had a few comments regarding
an incident last week that I thought was funny at the time - others
hearing it have expressed more of a concern .

I'm driving down the southern motorway. In the fast lane.

Doing 90kmph (apparently)

to cut a long story short, a detective in jeans and t-shirt driving a marked
patrol car pulls me over, ( theres also hardly any room to pull over too) flips out his badge and proceeds to tell me off

In the meantime lorrie trucks are zooming past and shaking my car etc

He said he could ticket me for doing 90 in a 100 lane, get into left lane etc etc

I laughed and said "How embarressing to be pulled over for driving to slow in a Holden SS !" he laughed and said he won't ticket me (but it would have been $150.00 - more than a speeding fine!)

Then he had to hatch a strategic plan for both of us, for us to pull out safely back onto the motorway without either of us getting taken out.....of which I very nearly did...even tho I floored the accelerator to get back into the traffic!! :gob:

What really was the danger here? Who put who at risk?

Me not watching my speedo and going that "extra" 10kmph or his actions?

He not only put you at risk but himself also. If he was not wearing his fluro vest he is in breach of the OSH regulations. Fucking Cowboy.

Skyryder

[Winter]

I've been pulled over on the mway before, for going to slow and "clowning around in your vehicle".

My mate was driving, probably doing about 90k, and I was fucking dancing around like some crackpot, can't remember why.

No ticket, but we had a great laugh at the cops expense.

"Stop CLOWNING around in your VEEhiicle!"

just the way he said it. Still laugh about it today sometimes.

[KATWYN]

I would have continued on until there was a safe place to pull over , or off the motorway, if in doubt dial *555 and tell the dispatcher that this is what you are doing...or if they dont answer dial 111 ask for police , tell them theres some prat trying to make you pull over in an unsafe place.

Ok thanks for that. I carried on for a bit and pulled over where there was a slight cut in off the road (was still questionable). He parked behind me where there was still stuff all room for him.

I have to admit I thought if I carry on, he will probably book me for not pulling over soon enough

[KATWYN]

Were you overtaking? If you weren't, then I'm sorry but he should have given you a ticket. The rules state you must keep left unless overtaking.

Actually, come to think of it I'm not sorry at all. That really annoys me. I would have given you a ticket and smiled when I gave it to you. Only they won't allow me in the Police force.


But 90kmph? I can understand nana speed etc but 90? 10 blimin km? a snail
probably crawls along faster than 10kmph

and when you think about it, he put his lights on.....I pulled over to the left
.....shouldn't he have just left it at that? at this point I am in the left lane
like he told me to be.

But no, he carries on and pulls up beside me on my right pointing aggressively to the left side of the road indicating to me he wanted to ticket me!

Endangering you me and him

[KATWYN]

and Merv, yes it is. although it was two years ago

and no I wasn't innocent on both those counts by the looks of things

[Maha]

But 90kmph? I can understand nana speed etc but 90?


90 = Nana on the Motorway.....Jeez KATWYN, think of all cars you had behind you...:shit:

Seriously tho'....was in a line of about 20 vehicals a few months back and at the front...6mt camper bus doing 70kph...on the Ngatea straights. No point in passing couldnt go anywhere, but as luck would have it, a cop was about 4th in line and pulled the bus over, lights on, get the old bastard off the road. By the time we had got to Bus/Cop, they were having a good old chinwag about road speed and courtesy.

[Colapop]

You were at fault KAT (and the copper to a lesser degree) not for driving slowly (ya Nana!) but for pulling over to an unsafe place. The copper should have got you to pull over to a safe place then berated you.

[KATWYN]

90 = Nana on the Motorway.....Jeez KATWYN, think of all cars you had behind you...:shit:

.


Well, have you ever tried driving on the motorway while drinking a coffee,flicking through all the radio stations and talking on your cellphone .....it wasn't easy, I will make sure i'm in the far left lane next time :laugh:

[Colapop]

you forgot putting on lippy, brushing your hair and trying to get the guy in the car next to you to write his phone number on the window....

I do it all the time...

[merv]

Well, have you ever tried driving on the motorway while drinking a coffee,flicking through all the radio stations and talking on your cellphone .....it wasn't easy, I will make sure i'm in the far left lane next time :laugh:


Hitcher will tell you women can do that - remember the story about the Jaguar driver - quite capable of multitasking.