Police Patrol Vehicles Only

[prprandall51]

I think the issue for most people is that their cars appear to be intentionally done up to resemble Police vehicles as closely as possible, which causes the 'rolling roadblock' effect already mentioned. The fact is that stupid people ARE reluctant to overtake a Police vehicle ... even when it's cruising at well below the NSL (just as they abruptly brake to 10 mph below the current speed limit for any Gatso they spot).

If the HATO vehicles had a distinctive high-vis colour scheme of their own then I think they would be far more appreciated for doing a worthwhile job.

I take your point but there is a flip side to this - one could argue that it is essential that the HATO cars are liveried in a fashion similar to that of the instantly recognisable Police cars. Following an incident (accident, debris on the road, breakdown, etc.) their vehicles act as an instantly identifiable indication that officials are present and that caution should be exercised.

Since we have already established that the majority of the population is too ill-informed (or stupid) to differentiate between Police and HATO vehicles (despite the fact that they are clearly liveried differently), it seems sensible to me that the HATO vehicles don't make themselves any more different to Police cars than at present since the last thing you want when you have a Highways Agency Officer recovering debris from the carriageway is someone storming along at 100mph thinking "I don't know what that funny coloured van on the hard shoulder is but, as it's clearly not a Police car, I will just plough on regardless".

 

[KillerAmg]

I always Fly past them! lol

 

[BTB 500]

Since we have already established that the majority of the population is too ill-informed (or stupid) to differentiate between Police and HATO vehicles (despite the fact that they are clearly liveried differently), it seems sensible to me that the HATO vehicles don't make themselves any more different to Police cars than at present since the last thing you want when you have a Highways Agency Officer recovering debris from the carriageway is someone storming along at 100mph thinking "I don't know what that funny coloured van on the hard shoulder is but, as it's clearly not a Police car, I will just plough on regardless".

Except ... in the above scenario the vehicle would presumably have strobes/beacons on, which - not being blue - would tell Mr 100 mph from a long way off that it wasn't Police.

Unlike when they are parked on a motorway bridge or 'Police patrol vehicles only' hump (the origin of this thread), or cruising at 60. I suspect that having 'TRAFFIC OFFICER' written on them further confuses the ignorant (intentionally or otherwise).

From a pure safety point of view there seem to be plenty of other high vis. schemes that work well (particularly in conjunction with amber strobes, when appropriate) without being remotely similar to Police markings. E.g. AA, RAC, Highway Maintenance, even Dyno-Rod!

 

[Bellow]

their vehicles act as an instantly identifiable indication that officials are present #

".

So all the public have to do is drive safely by.

And crucially, no need to fumble in their, glovebox, handbag, jacket pocket, crotch, etc, to find their mobile and call the emergency services who already know the incident is being taken care of...

Reading this thread though, a lot of you guys have zero comprehension of how the words of 2 others is enough to land you in court with a dangerous driving charge against you. Then it's your word against theirs and the judge is legally compelled to accept corroborating evidence.

Think about 'using excessive acceleration'. I've had that one laid on me as they pursued a dangerous driving charge against me.

 

[Mcnasty]

"A Traffic Officer cannot arrest you for speeding or dangerous driving (although they may report this to the police)."

Absolutely no difference from a report made by a member of the public.

 

[Bellow]

Absolutely no difference from a report made by a member of the public.

Try ex-cop and his intimidated wife....

 

[Mcnasty]

I get the impression they are very happy to mislead people into thinking they have some powers , pitching their speed at exactly the speed limit etc etc
I will now await the queue of "do gooders" who will undoubtably chastise me

So they are doing something wrong by keeping to the national speed limit? Come on! I am far from being a do gooder but the HA role is to provide the required safety for accidents and incidents, and does free up police traffic officers to get on with policing and not baby sitting lane clsoures or broken down vehicles.

Are they required? Well I would say yes, as there are a large amount of numpty drivers on our roads who are very capable of ploughing into stationary traffic, and vehicles broken down on hard shoulders. The death toll on our motorways backs this up.

But I do hold the perception that they appear to be acting as something they most certainly aren't, but they are out there doing the job they are paid to do though. And it is good fun passing them at 90mph, whilst other drivers sit there waiting for the blues and twos to go on as they pursue and pull me over, not! LOL

 

[Mcnasty]

Try ex-cop and his intimidated wife....

ex-cop and his intimidated wife = Members of the public

 

[poormansporsche]

This is all a bit pointless really, its not the HATO you need to worry about or even the Police really - its the poxy VOSA you have to worry about

 

[CRASH67]

What should this mean?

My rant? Lately I've noticed the Highways Agency 'Traffic Officer' vehicles using these 'Police Patrol Vehicle Only' spots / perches on the motorways, in particular along the M40 and M6.

I assume that they must have permission from the Police to do so?

It's starting to frustrate me, as I've seen it causes people to brake hard when they seen them parked up in that way as they assume that they've seen a Police vehicle.

If you know what you're looking for, you can fairly easily distinguish the Highways Agency vehicles from Police cars but not everyone can spot the subtle difference in livery / colour of the light beacons.

So can the Highways Agency (or anyone other than the Police) legally use these spots? Perhaps the signs are now a little misleading? Although having said that I know that the Highways Agency Traffic Officers didn't exist when those signs and spots were created!

as much as kind of agree surely if even one obeyed the speed limit as we all should the "hard breaking wouldnt be an issue" So surely your rant should be at all thoses happy to speed untill the spot any vechile they are worried that may punish them for the law that they are breaking???

 

[Burger]

Absolutely no difference from a report made by a member of the public.

Except that an HATO can report it almost instantly over their radios

 

[MOCAŠ]

Except that an HATO can report it almost instantly over their radios

And they may well be more inclined to do so, bearing in mind the job they have to do - especially if drivers are treating them with contempt.

 

[The mallard]

And it is good fun passing them at 90mph

And you are quite at liberty to do so...........but do not complain if you get a knock on the door from the Police and a summons.

Oh and saying they did not have a calibrated speedo doesn't work their speedo can be tested and used as a reference speed.

 

[markjay]

Just trying to get this right.... is the current discussion regarding whether one should continue speeding when passing by a HATO vehicle, or slow down?

 

[Mcnasty]

And you are quite at liberty to do so...........but do not complain if you get a knock on the door from the Police and a summons.

I think that is a given...

 

[Davo]

Impersonating a police officer is a serious offence, I've always wondered where the HA stand on this one.

I do know a serving traffic officer who has a very dim view of them indeed, but there's nothing he can do about it. To be fair to them round here they drive well under the limit, so its clear that you can pass them OK, if they were doing 70, even knowing their limited powers I would feel uneasy about passing, hence the 'rolling roadblock' effect.

 

[Burger]

Serving police officers have a dim view of anyone they perceive to be taking their jobs and they consider anyone in a uniform that has less power than they do to be a joke. I mix with enough of them to know this first hand.

Impersonating a police officer is an extremely complex law and not one that anyone in any official capacity, performing their jobs correctly, could ever fall victim to. Impersonation is about far more than simply looking like something, you also have to conduct yourself in their manner, declare you are such a person and carry out the actions of the person you're impersonating.

Many times on motorways I've driven past both HATO's and Police (once I can get to the front of the inevitable queue) and I've never been pulled over. Those on this thread who are suggesting you should 'play' with them or overtake at excessive speed are I strongly suspect displaying nothing more than internet bravado

The simple fact is that HATO's are not going to report you and the police will not pull you over if you're driving sensibly. Sensibly doesn't always equate to slap bang on the speed limit - there are sensible variances in given situations.

Regards,

 

[Bellow]

ex-cop and his intimidated wife = Members of the public

To use your own words

I think that is a given...

But some have more weight at the CPS than others.... 'Credible' witness - even though they are lying through their teeth.

 

[Bellow]

Those on this thread who are suggesting you should 'play' with them or overtake at excessive speed are I strongly suspect displaying nothing more than internet bravado

Hope that's all it is. I couldn't bear to hear the bleating if they do get done!

And if it's not the case, what's to be gained by antagonising those trying to earn a wage?