Speeding cops

[mashman]

I often want to ride in front of fire engines or ambulances flashing my lights, beeping my horn etc... to get the lazy fuckers out of the way. The fact that there are guidelines for speed for the emergency services upsets me. Potentially there's a life on the line, why wouldn't you want them to get there as quickly as possible...

There was a spate of arson attacks a few years ago and our rental was right above one of them. The big fir tree, 10 feet from the wooden clad house, burst into flames, orange glowing needles blowing off all over the place. When the boys in the big red truck arrived they had to put one of the windows in on a car because he was parked over the hydrant access... Their own fault, and luckily they arrived in time for me not to be homeless... I despise anyone who doesn't show due consideration when the emergency services are off to a potentially lethal job. Their lives can be on the line... it's not just ours...

a HUUUUUUGE thanks to all that stopped the house we were renting from burning down, shame it was because some fuckwit thought lighting fires was a good idea... and in general a HUUUUUUUGE thanks for what you ALL do... i'll never hold you up... and if i can, and I see you're coming up behind me, i'll try to make a hole in the traffic for ya! fuck 'em if they get pissed at me!

[Mudfart]

people that dont move out the way of emergency services coz they are playing their sounds too loud, should be given a "gentle" reminder up the backside.
I know some police that have resigned their jobs because of all the statutes in place that tell them how to conduct their routines.
Its a pc world gone mad.

[mashman]

people that dont move out the way of emergency services coz they are playing their sounds too loud, should be given a "gentle" reminder up the backside.
I know some police that have resigned their jobs because of all the statutes in place that tell them how to conduct their routines.
Its a pc world gone mad.

That's no excuse for not using them reflective surfaces that adorn the windscreen and side of the car though... Perhaps take the number plates and pass them on to the revenue generating crowd for undue care and attention.

[Ronin]

I don't dispute that they guidelines/policies/procedures etc and as Insanity_rules says severe consequence if they do breach any condition. But NighthawkNZ claims it is against the law for them to do so.

As I remember it. Yes it is illegal, however assuming that it is justified and safe for conditions then there is no ticket. For instance, lights on going to job as requested will void a speed camera ticket. Speeding on way to donut shop means they pay.

Don't get me wrong. I have noooo problem with them speeding to jobs what so ever.

[Toot Toot]

As I remember it. Yes it is illegal, however assuming that it is justified and safe for conditions then there is no ticket.

It is ok for ANYONE to break the speed limit if it it can be proved in court that it was to save life or limb, so long as it is on reasonable grounds and justifiable.

[Ronin]

Good question. No idea. I have seen cases in the media where speeding prospective fathers have been pulled up then given an escort to the hospital.

[Virago]

...I can't think of one good reason why cops are entitled to speed. Yet the bastards do, then have the effrontery to tell me I'm a bad person when I copy what they do.

...Given I was just bumbling along at about 120Ks the stoppie was not an issue...

Your utterly egotistical hypocrasy is quite stunning. Apparently you believe that it's okay for you to speed, but not emergency services...?

[dpex]

Okay, so I gave it a few days just to see what the responses would be.

So let me describe the scene again. It's a blind corner with a dozen or so drives issuing onto the road around this corner.

Around the corner comes the cop doing 80ish. Mercifully, no child or adult or vehicle just happened to be in the way. But has such been the cop could not have stopped in time.

So now let's get to the cause. Remember, I mentioned a whole raft of probables.

What I purposefully failed to mention was that I found a space and did a Uey and followed the cop, having felt more than mildly outraged at the speed at which he was traveling.

They were attending a simple, minor damage, nose-to-tail just two clicks further on. No bad men with guns. No fleeing child-molesters or rapists, elderly beaters, or other such heinous hoons. A simple nose-to-tail.

Now tell me they were justified to drive at such crazy speeds, in a built-up area, around a blind corner, just to get to such a minor accident in such a hurry.

[red mermaid]

Did they have lights and siren on?

Do you know the circumstances of the crash, as reported to Police?

[The Everlasting]

They may not have been sure what to expect,so treated it as an emergency.

[huff3r]

They may not have been sure what to expect,so treated it as an emergency.

When i rang in my crash, a simple nose-to-tail as well, i was completely unsure as to what damage there was to any of the other cars or drivers. They got there damned quick and i was damned grateful. As it happened i was blocking one lane on a bridge in Hamilton, so it was pretty bloody important for them to get there quick to handle the traffic situation at the time. Did they know this before they arrived? Fuck no, i wasnt in any state to give them any better information.

If someone is in the middle of the road when they hear sirens coming they must be retarded. Get out the way when you hear the sirens and the cops will not hit you, its that simple. Oh, and i bet they can stop a damn-sight quicker than you expect too, modern ABS brakes are pretty farken good, and with an experienced driver who spends many hours training on a skidpan, even better! (BTW their training is great fun to watch, the police college was just down from my school )

[The Everlasting]

^Yeah,exactly,so when you see a speeding cop,he/she is doing so for good reason,so get outta the way!!


So the OP of the thread is clearly on another planet!!!

[oldrider]

I know you were talking about Tootoot, but I know why. Multi-quoting with this new format is a real bitch.

Fair enough, good point, I didn't think about that!

[JohnR]

The driver of any emergency vehicle can be charged with any offence against the driving regulations, whether driving with "lights and sirens" or not. The law says however, that they have a defence for a a charge if they can prove that the vehicle was fitted with lights and siren and being used on urgent business, or words to that effect.
In essence the only "concessions" are with regard to speed and controlled intersections. (AFAIK all services have their own policies, which are usually well within what the law allows)

There is NO defence for dangerous driving, e.g. overtaking on yellow lines, overtaking on pedestrian crossing etc.

This is what is taught in the Ambulance Driving Course, along with Hazard Action Plans, Fatigue management and many advanced driving techniques. I know cos I teach it...

Response priority is decided by the Communication Centre, not the crew.

[swbarnett]

Obviously, the officers are attending upon an emergency. But then I asked, what nature of emergency has it to be to enable a cop car driver to drive as such an insane speed?

Think of it another way. The "speed kills" message is a complete load of bollox. Cops prove it every day by this sort of action.