Police car driving in the middle lane on the M1

[louisv6]

Driving into London the other day, coming down the M1, round about junction 5, and the traffic slows down to 60mph.

I carry on at my usual 70 because there's no indication anything's wrong, only to discover everyone's creeping past a Police Vauxhall Ashtray doing 60ish IN THE MIDDLE LANE.

I'm one of the brave few who overtakes, knowing in my infinite wisdom that the presence of a police car in the world does not mean I need to slam my brakes on and drive at the same speed as them.

Eventually the police car speeds up to 70, but for the duration of my journey down the M1 (at least another 10 minutes or so), the police car stays in the middle lane - regardless of the fact that for at least 90% of the journey, there was nothing in the outside lane.

At the end of the M1 just as I'm entering Staples Corner, I notice in my rear view mirror that the police car in question finally pulls into the left hand lane in order to exit.

So my question is:

"Are all police-people trained to drive a car not-like-an-4r$e or is it only the 'Traffic cops' that get a proper training?"

I'm just trying to figure out if this one should have known better...

Rant over.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

He was probably texting his other half...

 

[bennesspipers]

Its only traffic cops that get pursuit training.

 

[louisv6]

Its only traffic cops that get pursuit training.

Pursuit training, sure - but learning not to drive in the middle lane for no reason?

 

[louisv6]

He was probably texting his other half...

Actually, it was a She. But I didn't want to appear all sexist and wotnot...

 

[moonloops]

I think "she" also has a VW beetle as a private car, saw a lady sat at 70mph in the outside lane of the M1 - with no other cars around for at least a mile in each direction

 

[johny5_uk]

Police cars dont bother me, I set cruise control on at 76mph which equates to about 74mph+ and tootle past them.
If I see its a town cop then I put my foot down (not by much more!) as they dont have calibrated speedo's

 

[Noodle-Pulp]

Was this her?

 

[Swiss Toni]

...as they dont have calibrated speedo's

With some forces, you are right (that anything other than a Traffic Car will not have a calibrated speedo) but not all (there are some who calibrate most marked vehicles) - and you need to understand the circumstances where a calibrated speedo isn't required....

 

[Swiss Toni]

Its only traffic cops that get pursuit training.

Force most forces, that isn't correct.

Dog Handlers will be part of the same training as Traffic Cops in most forces, as will Cops qualified to drive on blue lights, but to a different standard.

 

[s88]

Sit on his inside and embarress him/her.

Consider undertaking if it takes your fancy.

i just overtake!! But gently.

 

[Noodle-Pulp]

Why is it that some people see the traffic cop car doing around 60 and immediately slow to between 55 and 60?

Why-oh-why-oh-why-oh-why?

 

[flango]

Traffic cops and road crime units get top training including TPAC (Tactical Pursuit and containment) ARV, Dog Handlers etc who might need to respond quickly are trained to the same level as the traffic cops (class 1) without the TPAC.

Panda car drivers are just GPD (General Police Driver) which is a one day course which basically teaches them how to use the blues and twos without flattening the battery

Most forces are doing away with calibrated speedo's in anything other than traffic and road crime unit cars (with the exception of the MET). The car does not have to have a calibrated speedo for you to be prosecuted for speeding as long as their is corroborative evidence you can be nicked. Also very shortly it will become law that the GPS speed figure now shown on the new in car systems can be used in court. That is if ever you see a traffic cop these days

 

[R129mine]

i think it is the law that states that at any one time on the M1 someone should be driving in the middle lane at 60mph and stay in this lane for at least 15 minutes.

i have resorted to overtaking on the inside, i know it is dangerous but i do this because i know 100% certain that the driver will not move to the left lane and b) to make a point to the middle lane fan club driver

 

[louisv6]

It should be an offense for a police-person to be such a miserable driving failure. Not to mention the massive queue of traffic she generated and the potential pile-up she was brewing....

 

[rees_A]

Because she's waiting for someone to overtake(Undertake) on the inside to allow her to nick them...LOL

 

[JumboBeef]

Panda car drivers are just GPD (General Police Driver) which is a one day course which basically teaches them how to use the blues and twos without flattening the battery

I hope that one day course is just to show then where the switch is, and how to use blues when stationary to warn other drivers of a hazzard, and doesn't include actual blue light driving.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Unless of course there was an operation imminent on the road ahead or behind the OP and this was a deliberate tactic to slow traffic, possibly awaiting thecommand to turn on the blue lights to back up the traffic at the appropriate time.