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Original poster

Failed to stop for police - why am I such an idiot?!

284 replies

ilovelamp2 · 21/02/2022 15:52

Having an absolute melt down over here - hope someone can talk me down and/or make me feel better by telling me silly things you have done when driving ..... Basically, I was on a narrow road, one lane each way, fairly chunky verge. Blue lights behind, panicked and drove few 100 metres to next roundabout to get out of way. Totally, totally know now I should have just stopped on side but I panicked. So embarrassed. Police pointed to wind my window down when they got alongside me. They were understandably irrate. I have a lot of respect for our police force and am mortified that I have made their job even more difficult than it already is. Literally cannot stop sobbing!

OP posts:
InsanityRocks · 21/02/2022 16:18

Many years ago, I was driving late at night. I was on a dual carriageway, coming up to an Island in the right hand lane ready (too early) to turn right when a police car came up behind me, sirens on and flashing its headlights at me. Instead of pulling over to the completely empty left lane I did an emergency stop in the right hand lane so not only did I hamper the police, they had to slam their brakes on not to go into the back of me. Luckily (for me) they were in such a hurry, they nipped into the left hand lane and drove past shaking their heads in disbelief. I still cringe now when I think about it Blush

Original poster
ilovelamp2 · 21/02/2022 16:18

Knock not knick! Although perhaps nick!

OP posts:
GeneLovesJezebel · 21/02/2022 16:19

I cry when I get any form of telling off now, it’s pathetic. I blame my hormones.

Original poster
ilovelamp2 · 21/02/2022 16:20

@GeneLovesJezebel

I cry when I get any form of telling off now, it’s pathetic. I blame my hormones.
Me too!
OP posts:
NutCheeseBag · 21/02/2022 16:20

When my husband was taken to hospital I was in a separate ambulance. They put on the blues and twos and the van in front of us completely ignored it. We drove behind for about four or five miles until it just turned into a driveway. The paramedic told me it happens all the time.

cheeseismydownfall · 21/02/2022 16:21

OP, don't beat yourself up. It is often difficult to know what to do for the best in these situations and actually I think it is something that should be better taught.

I remember a time when I was driving up a steep, blind hill (60mph limit in theory, I was probably doing around 50mph). Single carriageway, heavy traffic in coming the other direction. A fire engine came right up behind me, lights flashing.

There was a high verge; I knew if I stopped I wouldn't be able to fully pull off the road, especially not at any kind of speed. Which would leave the fire truck stuck behind me, waiting for a gap in the oncoming traffic, having to do a pretty much standing start on a hill.

I knew I would be able to safety pull in to a side road at the top of the hill, probably about 200m away. So instead I sped up, so that I could get clear as soon as possible. I could see the fuckers in the fire truck behind swearing and gesticulating, and they put the sirens on. It was so bloody aggressive and actually quite dangerous. There is no doubt in my mind that the decision I made was the least-worst in terms of not slowing them down.

superdupertruper · 21/02/2022 16:22

The problem is this. They are assigned to a call that necessitates a blue light. All they then see is a vehicle that is now failing to stop or move. This then becomes the call they have to deal with. Are they drink driving? Is it stolen? Are they trying to discard drugs? Is there a firearm in the vehicle.
Also the call they are blue lighting to could be the one that kils them whilst trying to save you or someone else's life so not necessarily bellends at all.

Thoosa · 21/02/2022 16:24

Don’t give yourself such a hard time.

user1471538283 · 21/02/2022 16:25

You did your best. It was very harsh of them to berate you. Try and go shopping or have tea out.

Original poster
ilovelamp2 · 21/02/2022 16:25

@superdupertruper

The problem is this. They are assigned to a call that necessitates a blue light. All they then see is a vehicle that is now failing to stop or move. This then becomes the call they have to deal with. Are they drink driving? Is it stolen? Are they trying to discard drugs? Is there a firearm in the vehicle. Also the call they are blue lighting to could be the one that kils them whilst trying to save you or someone else's life so not necessarily bellends at all.
Totally agree. They don't know who is driving that car that isn't doing what it should. Must be so stressful. Sure they were at least a little relieved to see that it was a middle aged woman with (mortified) child.
OP posts:
TheChippendenSpook · 21/02/2022 16:28

I really wouldn't worry about it. Sometimes people can't move out of the way safely straight away. Quite often when people do stop straight away, they're not in a safe place and can make things more difficult.

They probably just took their bad mood out on you.

ikeepseeingit · 21/02/2022 16:29

Hey OP, I think next time pop your indicators on just to let the police know you're aware they are there and will stop when it's safe. You did nothing wrong though so don't beat yourself up! I get jittery on the road too sometimes, my heart rate always spikes when any emergency vehicle is coming up to me. A good cup of tea, then maybe go out to the shops tomorrow to bring your confidence back up x

Original poster
ilovelamp2 · 21/02/2022 16:30

That sounds very stressful cheeseismydownfall!

OP posts:
LondonQueen · 21/02/2022 16:31

Those police officers sound like twats, you should have reminded them that you should only pull over if it's safe to do so.

Original poster
ilovelamp2 · 21/02/2022 16:31

@ikeepseeingit

Hey OP, I think next time pop your indicators on just to let the police know you're aware they are there and will stop when it's safe. You did nothing wrong though so don't beat yourself up! I get jittery on the road too sometimes, my heart rate always spikes when any emergency vehicle is coming up to me. A good cup of tea, then maybe go out to the shops tomorrow to bring your confidence back up x
Ah yes! That is a brilliant idea about indicators. I will remember that. And yes, wine tonight, shops tomorrow. 👍
OP posts:
gamerchick · 21/02/2022 16:32

Sometimes it's tricky. you still have to stop safely and your brain can freeze in the moment.

I especially like it when one starts their sirens when right on top of my car, making me jump out of my skin. It's fun.

Original poster
ilovelamp2 · 21/02/2022 16:33

@NutCheeseBag

When my husband was taken to hospital I was in a separate ambulance. They put on the blues and twos and the van in front of us completely ignored it. We drove behind for about four or five miles until it just turned into a driveway. The paramedic told me it happens all the time.
That must have been very frustrating for everyone. Hope your husband is OK?
OP posts:
Itsalmostanaccessory · 21/02/2022 16:34

You're not as bad as the guy behind me the other day.

Just the two of us on a 50 road. Pouring down with rain so I was going 50 on the straight section but he was still tailgating me. Police lights started flashing a few hundred yards behind and as they got closer I signalled and slowed, pulled over slightly (country road with no sides so not really pulling over, more like just stopping). Car behind me not paying any attention and must have thought I was stopping to let him pass so he started to pull round me but the police were already pulled out onto the other side of the road to pass both of us so this guy just pulled into their path.

waterlego · 21/02/2022 16:34

Oh OP Flowers It is down to the driver to decide where is a safe (and helpful!) place to stop and that isn’t always easy to do when you’re under stress and feeling pressured to make a decision. A narrow lane with a grass verge is tricky. If you’re in an SUV, you can easily pull onto a grassy verge; in a smaller car not so much. I’m not sure I’d have made that manoeuvre in my small car for fear of becoming stuck on the verge. As others have said, they found the time to tell you off so can’t have been too badly hampered by the decision you made.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 21/02/2022 16:34

It's a judgement call in each situation. I live in an area full of lanes,with thr odd A road which is single lane with no verges. You have to choose whether to just boot it to the nearest wider part or pull over. It's probably 50/50 as to whether it's the right thing to do.

superdupertruper · 21/02/2022 16:35

@waterlego

Oh OP Flowers It is down to the driver to decide where is a safe (and helpful!) place to stop and that isn’t always easy to do when you’re under stress and feeling pressured to make a decision. A narrow lane with a grass verge is tricky. If you’re in an SUV, you can easily pull onto a grassy verge; in a smaller car not so much. I’m not sure I’d have made that manoeuvre in my small car for fear of becoming stuck on the verge. As others have said, they found the time to tell you off so can’t have been too badly hampered by the decision you made.
Simply not true.
BlingLoving · 21/02/2022 16:36

If I'm understanding correctly, you could have just lightly pulled over and slowed down enough for them to overtake safely? I agree with other posters not to beat yourself up about it.... but I would also say take this as a lesson because you should absolutely a) be aware of police vehicles (and lights and sirens mean that if you've got hearing aids it shouldn't mean you don't know they are there) and b) should be prepared to make a quick decision.

I do appreciate it's difficult. But when driving you do need to have these skills in order to drive safely.

Laiste · 21/02/2022 16:36

@Georgeskitchen

It can be quite scary when you have an emergency vehicle up your arse with lights flashing. I have panicked sometimes and wondered how to get out of the way. The police sound like knobs tbh, as you said, if they pulled you to tell you off it can't have been a life threatening emergency!!
I was going to say this! Lanes round here and sometimes your only option feels like doing 100mph with them up your bum all the way or throwing your car into a ditch Shock

I get about 10 inches taller eyes bulging until i can find a gateway or laybye. Don't worry OP. They'll have forgotten all about it by now so should you :)

Itsalmostanaccessory · 21/02/2022 16:37

Why are people saying she did nothing wrong?

You're meant to stop. You dont need to do any crazy driving to get out of their way and you sont need to squeeze up into bushes one country road. Just pull as far left as you can and stop and they will do the work to pass you. Especially if it is quite quiet then it is easy for them to pass if you stop.

She did do something wrong. She kept driving infront of them, holding them up. They may have radioed in that they were held up or there may be multiple cars on the way to the scene so they could take the time to tell her off.

She did do something wrong. Telling her she didnt is not helpful.

PseudoplasticFluid · 21/02/2022 16:37

You found somewhere safe to pull over as you are supposed to do. You haven't done anything wrong.

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