Driving when the Police are behind you in the traffic

[girlfriend44]

How do you feel when the police are behind you on the road?Even if your kit doing anything wrong does it make you feel uncomfortable?

My dad hates it, he has nothing to hide etc but has been known to turn off the road so they can go ahead lol?
Anyone else the same?

Yes it makes me nervous but then I get nervous of security guards in shops and the security people at airports even though I'm doing nothing wrong.

It doesn't bother me particularly, I certainly wouldn't turn off just to avoid them.

I had reason to get driven round a city centre on a police car recently (not under arrest or anything before anyone suggests it 😬) and, chatting to the policeman he said it was amazing how much better everyone’s driving was when he’s driving a police car then when he’s driving his own car! Can’t think why!

Whenever I see the police I become acutely aware of everything around me, almost in a spiderman sense. It doesn't change my conduct because I'm not doing anything wrong / illegal but I become incredibly aware of just about every sound, person, thing in my 360.

Only nervous if I'd been drinking the night before.

Doesn’t bother me at all. Why would it?

I am definitely nicer to police cars than non marked cars e.g. stop to give way to them if they're coming out of a side road

I definitely check my speed more too, not that I usually speed but still...

And double check my hand position.

Pre children I would have felt terribly nervous and guilty. (I am a very middle class eldest child - it goes with the territory.)

Post children I would be very excited and too busy going “Look! A police car! Yay! How does a police car go? Nee nah!”

Incidentally my children are now 12 and 9, are far beyond being interested in police cars and me saying that is unaffected by whether or not they are in the car!

I am one of the most law abiding people you will ever meet - absolutely one of those who will not walk on the grass if there is a sign up saying don't walk on the grass - and I panic when there's a police car behind me. No idea why, I've never even had a speeding ticket. I don't turn off though as that would look suspicious.

I don't drive, but I do have a little panic whenever I see police, like if they drive past when I'm out walking the dog, or they walk past me in town, etc.

I feel like I need to try hard to look 'not guilty' as they pass, even though I know I'm doing nothing wrong!

That’s great. It’s pretty obvious though that some people are more nervous than others in these types of situations.

Not sure anyone on mumsnet is the demographic to get pulled by the cops.

I don't feel nervous, but I would always let them ahead if I could - I just assume they are busy? So if I were pootling along doing 40 on a slow country road, I would tend to pull in so they could go ahead. Or if I were on a dual carriageway doing 70, I'd stick to the left so they could overtake if the wanted.

I definitely behave differently, and do my best driving! I currently seem to be setting off alarms in shops everywhere I go, and I now tense up and wince every time I leave a shop, in anticipation, even if nothing happens. I hate anything like that.

I hate a police car behind me even though doing nothing wrong! I remember the time I had to overtake another car with a police car behind me (the stupid idiot had dropped to 30 in a 60, presumably because they saw the police car) and I was paranoid they would pull me over! They overtook the slow car too though and it was all fine.

As a police officer

Let me reassure you - unless you're throwing an empty beer can out the window and burping I couldn't care less what you're doing !

I'm likely cursing you in the motorway if I'm behind you and you suddenly decide to drive at 50.....
And I'll equally raise one eyebrow if you decide to overtake me at 80....while I'm cruising along at 70 .

But generally - I'm not looking for anything. Just drive ! I'll only pull you over for some reason. Don't use your phone , don't be clearly pissed, don't go all weird and give me a reason to pnc the car , be insured , and I won't look twice at you i promise !

I get a bit panicky, then I curse myself for being stupid. There's nothing wrong with my driving, all discs are up to date. Every single time.

My husband was blocked in by 2 police cars with sirens blaring one night coming home from work. Got an awful fright, as you would. They were looking for a specific type of car which he drives, obviously wrong person. They shouted a quick apology and sped off.

Lol.

Was waiting for a police person to come on. Just a lighthearted thread.

Yep it was. Obviously some people feel the same.

I once pulled out onto a roundabout at the bottom of my road and straight into the middle of a police convoy. I had two cars in front and a couple behind me.

We do have a "sensitive" area in the next town and it's not unusual for blacked out cars and police to speed along in convoy.

They cut me off at the next roundabout and all got in front of me. Cheers chaps!

Most people speed at some point, so we're all in that demographic (assuming we drive)!

People who say they never ever break the speeding laws (or any other road laws) are deluded or lying.

Cool story.

when they scan your hand luggage at the airport I get all sweaty. I know there’s nothing in there to worry about! Same with if you have to get patted down. I’ve never stuck a knife in my bra why would I have done it on the way to the airport. Then I always feels like I’ve got away with something when they let me pass!

Yes! If the kids are in the car then the focus is on how exciting it is that there’s a police car!

This jokey definition from Douglas Adams has always stayed with me: hitchhikersguidetothegalaxy.tumblr.com/post/86454011263/lostinablog-grimbister-n-large-body-of