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Joined: Feb 07, 2006 Posts: 616 Location: Midlothian
Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 10:19 am Post subject:
GPS_fan wrote:
When our local paper ran this story a short while ago, it mentioned re-training for many drivers who 'escaped' prosecution.
Unfortunately, the national figures don't appear to reflect this and appear to indicate that a few drivers get prosecuted, whilst the rest don't receive any punishment or further action - ie, black and white
If our local journalists got their facts right for Hampshire, then there seem to be a few shades of grey missing from the national picture - ie disciplinary measures outwith the "ticket or no ticket" argument.
I think the item in the paper is very simplistic. It shows hom many camera activations versus how many prosecutions, but as you say there are more possiblities than that. If they ask the right questions they will get the right answers, but they purposely print the shock results they want to portray.
I never buy a newspaper. My local freebie is all I need to know what is hot locally, other than that, it'll be on the national news if it is worth hearing about. _________________ Tommo...
Joined: Feb 07, 2006 Posts: 581 Location: Medway Towns, Kent
Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 11:27 am Post subject:
Just to continue this discussion
About 18 months ago I was driving into London up the A2 and obviously I was being very sensible and keeping to the 50mph speed limit, as I approached a gatso I saw a police traffic car catching me up in the outside lane going a a fair old pace, as he approached the gatso his blue beacons came on the gatso flashed him then his blue lights went off again, I wasn't impressed
theripper
Joined: Feb 07, 2006 Posts: 616 Location: Midlothian
Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 12:47 pm Post subject:
I see your point, but you have to appreciate that there are circumstances which necessitate a quick response, which don't need blues and twos. If the driver was making progress to an incident, as a secondary response, perhaps where there was some history and a possibility of assistance being required, he may make good progress without needing blue lights. In these circumstances, I think you'll agree that it would be foolish for him to make progress only where there wasn't a camera.
I'm not trying to defend the driver (well I suppose I am) but it's not always as it appears.
I'm sure you have heard the old myth about a Police vehicle with blue lights and sirens, heading towards a Police Station, so the driver must be trying to get in before his fish and chips gets cold.
I'm sure there are occasions where blue lights are abused, but I don't believe it is as widespread as the papers suggest, for the reasons I have stated earlier. _________________ Tommo...
Joined: Jan 04, 2007 Posts: 2789 Location: Hampshire, UK
Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 2:21 pm Post subject:
...and then there's that old chestnut about people helping themselves to paperclips, stationery etc at the office - so if you're driving around all day in a car with blue lights, there must be a temptation at times to abuse them
After all, if we forgive ourselves for the pilfering in the office (which is theft), surely we must have a little sympathy for a few of these misdemeanors because we're all human at the end of the day.
Abusing the use of emergency vehicles shouldn't be allowed - but what if companies pressed charges on all those employees thieving stationery?
How many people moaning about the police here have acquired nic-nacs from the office?
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" or "Judge not lest ye be judged" _________________ Andy
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...and then there's that old chestnut about people helping themselves to paperclips, stationery etc at the office - so if you're driving around all day in a car with blue lights, there must be a temptation at times to abuse them...
_________________ Dom
HERE LIES PND May it rest in peace.
Navigon 7310/iPhone Navigon&Copilot
Joined: Jan 04, 2007 Posts: 2789 Location: Hampshire, UK
Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 4:34 pm Post subject:
999tommo wrote:
Here endeth the lesson....Amen
Well, everybody is happy enough to criticise the police, but how many members can honestly say that they have never abused the stationery cupboard.
...and if you'd said it, Tommo, the proverbial would have hit the fan - I'm ducking for cover _________________ Andy
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Joined: Feb 07, 2006 Posts: 616 Location: Midlothian
Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 8:01 pm Post subject:
GPS_fan wrote:
...and if you'd said it, Tommo, the proverbial would have hit the fan - I'm ducking for cover
Surely you're not suggesting that people would criticise the point of view of a Police officer, just because he was a Police officer. I never knew folk were so shallow _________________ Tommo...
Joined: Feb 07, 2006 Posts: 616 Location: Midlothian
Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 8:04 pm Post subject:
Perhaps I should be looking at this as a perk of my job. Folk who work in Tesco get staff discount, Police get to go through red lights. Only fair init ? _________________ Tommo...
Joined: Jan 04, 2007 Posts: 2789 Location: Hampshire, UK
Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 8:55 pm Post subject:
999tommo wrote:
Perhaps I should be looking at this as a perk of my job. Folk who work in Tesco get staff discount, Police get to go through red lights. Only fair init ?
I'd be careful there...which kind of red light are we talking about officer _________________ Andy
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Joined: Feb 07, 2006 Posts: 581 Location: Medway Towns, Kent
Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 10:49 pm Post subject:
999tommo wrote:
I see your point, but you have to appreciate that there are circumstances which necessitate a quick response, which don't need blues and twos. If the driver was making progress to an incident, as a secondary response, perhaps where there was some history and a possibility of assistance being required, he may make good progress without needing blue lights. In these circumstances, I think you'll agree that it would be foolish for him to make progress only where there wasn't a camera.
I'm not trying to defend the driver (well I suppose I am) but it's not always as it appears.
I'm sure you have heard the old myth about a Police vehicle with blue lights and sirens, heading towards a Police Station, so the driver must be trying to get in before his fish and chips gets cold.
I'm sure there are occasions where blue lights are abused, but I don't believe it is as widespread as the papers suggest, for the reasons I have stated earlier.
Good answer 999tommo but I think it has more to do with the general competance of emergency vehicle drivers(police in particular)
As a fire service driver with 23 years experience I have been disgusted by the driving of some Met police drivers, not so much traffic cars but usually vans, minibuses, and normal local cars who do not even touch their brakes before going through red lights at full pelt. As I was taught when I learned to drive fire engines its better to get there later than not at all!!.
theripper
Joined: Feb 07, 2006 Posts: 616 Location: Midlothian
Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 11:33 pm Post subject:
Rip
Unfortunately I can say the same for Fire Tender drivers in Edinburgh (some once more). They come flying into junctions against red with no possibility of stopping should the need arise. I was on a Royal escort just a few weeks back and nearly got wiped out by one. Luckily I am a class 1 advanced driver. Nearly another Princess wiped out ! _________________ Tommo...
Joined: Jan 04, 2007 Posts: 2789 Location: Hampshire, UK
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:40 am Post subject:
999tommo wrote:
I was on a Royal escort just a few weeks back and nearly got wiped out by one.
Are you saying that the Royals are getting rough these days? I've seen a few photos of Royals outside nightclubs, but only recall John Prescott being in the press for throwing a punch
999tommo wrote:
Luckily I am a class 1 advanced driver. Nearly another Princess wiped out !
It must be a difficult job at the best of times, but when the adrenaline is pumping and everything you must really need to have your wits about you.
I saw a programme a few years ago, which was talking about fire engines...I think they said 0-60mph in about 28 seconds (with a full tank of water!), but I don't recall any mention of stopping distances _________________ Andy
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Joined: Feb 07, 2006 Posts: 616 Location: Midlothian
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:45 am Post subject:
GPS_fan wrote:
999tommo wrote:
I was on a Royal escort just a few weeks back and nearly got wiped out by one.
Are you saying that the Royals are getting rough these days? I've seen a few photos of Royals outside nightclubs, but only recall John Prescott being in the press for throwing a punch
Perhaps I wasn't clear. The Royal was in my car. It was the Fire Tender that nearly wiped us out. _________________ Tommo...
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Here endeth the lesson....Amen 
