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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:
AlbertaAnnie · 21/02/2022 17:54

They sounds like dick tbh! A few years back I went to meet my grandma in town! We arranged to meet in our usual spot and time and after awhile I panicked as she didn’t show ( v elderly, could have had a fall ect) when I called she didn’t answer so panicked and saw a policeman walking by and informed him of the situation. He was v nice and took it seriously - gave description ( old - short white hair - like every granny round here 🤣) anyway after a long search and just before they kicked her door in she arrived home safe and sound from her friends! Turns out it was me that got the date wrong and we were not supposed to be meeting in town after all 😳 I felt so awful for wasting police time but they were all v nice about it but I’m still embarrassed thinking about it now 🤣🤣🤣🤣 - try not to stress the police will never think about it again so just forgot about it xx

formalineadeline · 21/02/2022 17:54

@FairyCakeWings

Those police behaved liked twats.

I thought they were supposed to be trying to create better public relations right now, not telling women with children off for not doing what they wanted quick enough.

It’s sad to hear the police can be like this. We should be able to feel that they are approachable and there because they want to help the public.

Exactly. It's sad too that some are keen to defend and excuse such abusive behaviour.

Abusing their power is abusive.

Elphame · 21/02/2022 17:56

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.

If you are around here you need to do exactly that! Many of the roads around here are 1 and a half big cars wide with hedges and little or nothing in the way or verges so if you were to just stop there is no way an emergency vehicle other than perhaps a police car could squeeze past.

Continuing to drive on until a farm gate, an intersection or to a spot where the road widens a bit is the only sensible thing to do. Luckily our local emergency services are well aware of this.

NeverEnoughCake2 · 21/02/2022 17:58

OP, one thing you could consider is doing an advanced driving course with IAM Roadsmart: www.iamroadsmart.com/ (formerly known as the Institute of Advanced Motorists)

DP did the motorcycle version, but many of the principles work across all vehicles. They spend a lot of time teaching you to be able to take more information from the road and road users around you, and how to work on staying calm in sticky situations. It might really give you a confidence boost after this.

Also, if you do the qualification, you can get really good discounts on your car insurance.

Gagagardener · 21/02/2022 17:58

Cheer up. On a wet day, I drove through (newly installed) traffic lights on red, didn't notice police car behind me till I parked at the local swimming pool. I was taking early teenage niece and her friend, who were staying with me, there as something to do on a wet day. 8ft high policeman appeared at my car door. As far as I knew, he'd materialised out if nowhere: he said he'd been following me from the lights. After he'd checked my driving licence, and that it was my car, I parlayed him into letting me take girls into pool, then had to sit in the car (mine, not his) for a looooong lecture. In the end, he went away. We agreed that the weather and the girls and the new lights had affected my concentration, but no further action needed to be taken.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 21/02/2022 18:01

same thing happened to me op.

Cherrysoup · 21/02/2022 18:02

Relax, they would have known you’d panicked. This happens to my DH all the time, drivers stop on the brow of a hill or on a corner when they see blue lights flashing. Please don’t beat yourself up, it’s a common panic response.

WutheringHeights66 · 21/02/2022 18:04

And they wonder why the police have such a poor reputation. I despair sometimes. Power trip.

I concur with others, if they were in such a massive hurry how did they find the time to stop and chastise you.

Obviously late for their tea break, personally I would have asked them and then pointed to your hearing aid and told them you have a hearing impairment.

Itsalmostanaccessory · 21/02/2022 18:05

@formalineadeline

No, I'm not.

You slow down to allow them to overtake safely or you stop if possible. The OP hasnt said it was dangerous to stop. Just that she panicked and didnt think to slow down or stop for them.

tigger1001 · 21/02/2022 18:05

@girlmom21

It's your responsibility to move over as soon as you can do so safely. You carried on driving until you felt you could safely move out of their way. They sound like scaremongering idiots.
I totally agree with this.

Could you stop safely before that?

MrsLargeEmbodied · 21/02/2022 18:07

i was waiting for a safe space for them to pass, they pulled up alongside me and berated me.
can't win

bigbluebus · 21/02/2022 18:09

OP I've been in the back of an ambulance on blues and twos far to many times to mention and I can assure you that for every driver who doesn't pull up straight away there'll be one who stops in a ridiculous place making it impossible for the ambulance to pass and in some instances causing it to have to slam the brakes on (DO NOT STOP OPPOSITE A CENTRAL REFUGE PEOPLE!)

Viviennemary · 21/02/2022 18:09

You wouldnt normally carry on a few hundred metres with a blue light flashing behind you. But nothing is going to happen to you so stop worrying.

Goldilocks99 · 21/02/2022 18:12

You did nothing wrong op. You moved out of the way when safe to do so. Job done.

When I first started driving a police car appeared out of nowhere when I was in the middle of a junction, I was trying to move out of the way as quick as possible and stalled. The police started honking and furiously gesturing.
For any coppers reading, not a good tactic. I stalled out of nervousness at least two more times. Held them up significantly.
I have never really had a stalling issue so it was purely their attitude that caused that.

There must be some good police out there. I personally know two.

However, my own personal experience of police, both as driver and victim of violent crime, leads me to believe they must have a asshole quota they need to fill when employing.

curlymom · 21/02/2022 18:15

You haven’t done anything wrong. The siren causes panic and we don’t know what is right in that split second. I had an ambulance behind me once and I panicked mad jumped the lights slightly. Worried for weeks about getting a fine. I didn’t but now I only move if it’s safe for everyone

Lineofconcepcion · 21/02/2022 18:16

@SunshineCake1

My only issue is the fact you only hear he sirens once they are right behind you.
How offensive are you . . .. Op has a hearing disability.
ZZTopGuitarSolo · 21/02/2022 18:19

We saw pretty much the opposite happen today OP. Driving along the freeway. A guy in the left hand lane (which is the overtaking lane here) shot past, then suddenly realised there was a police behind him with blue flashing lights on, so he slammed on his brakes and swerved over to the right, across 3 lanes, nearly taking out several cars.

I don't know how everyone managed to not crash into each other trying to avoid him.

I'm assuming he ended up getting a ticket for dangerous driving. You're not supposed to nearly kill other drivers in the process of pulling over...

SunshineCake1 · 21/02/2022 18:20

I'm not being offensive but if she can't hear sufficiently then she may need stronger hearing aids.

99point6 · 21/02/2022 18:23

The men's 100m sprint world record time is 9.58 seconds. if you drove for a few 100 metres at 40 mph what was that time wise realistically? Probably all of half a minute. But you didn't delay them by that amount of time because you were still proceeding. Bet they spent longer berating you and getting speed up again. Please take it easy and let it go.

Lookingoutside · 21/02/2022 18:28

‘However, my own personal experience of police, both as driver and victim of violent crime, leads me to believe they must have a asshole quota they need to fill when employing.’

Same here.

Simpering at power tripping policemen is unlikely to help them change their behaviour.

FindingMeno · 21/02/2022 18:29

@SunshineCake1

I'm not being offensive but if she can't hear sufficiently then she may need stronger hearing aids.
Do you understand the limitations of hearing aids?
curlymom · 21/02/2022 18:30

@SunshineCake1

I'm not being offensive but if she can't hear sufficiently then she may need stronger hearing aids.
People ,with disabilities are allowed to drive too. You are offensive
FindingMeno · 21/02/2022 18:31

@Lookingoutside

‘However, my own personal experience of police, both as driver and victim of violent crime, leads me to believe they must have a asshole quota they need to fill when employing.’

Same here.

Simpering at power tripping policemen is unlikely to help them change their behaviour.

Yes, and dealing with them as a suspect (innocent) is a real eye opener, I can assure you.
Dibbydoos · 21/02/2022 18:34

The requirement is to pull over safely.

I know loads of people who refuse to mount curbs to let emergency vehicles through. I have, but then I have a fat car, so I need to!

The police just being nearby have a way of making us all feel guilty, but everything is OK, you're OK. Your DC is OK, so give yourself a break x

DistrustfulDinosaur · 21/02/2022 18:36

Hope you're feeling a bit better now OP. I don't think you did anything wrong either, 100m is no distance at all. Even if you did pull onto the verge I doubt he would have got round you any quicker. Plus I wouldn't be pulling onto a (presumably after the recent stormy weather, waterlogged) verge and risking getting stuck if there was a safer place to pull in seconds away.

I'd highly recommend getting a dash cam for your own peace of mind when driving. I've had a policeman accuse me of running a red light before when I know for a fact I didn't. He was sat at a junction a short distance ahead of me. I watched him having an animated conversation with his colleague and paying no attention to the road ahead of him.

I was perfectly polite when he pulled me over, but the second I offered to review the dashcam footage with me, he quickly stopped his lecturing and let me continue with my journey. Double checked the footage when I got home and the light was on green when I went through it!

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