Police Car Flashing Rear Red Lights..

[Fangi0]

Just for member info and/or comment...

I came up behind a stationary cop car today with its red roof lights flashing. I wasn't quite sure whether to stop behind it as red flashing lights at a level crossing from left to right mean STOP. I am supposed to know about this stuff as a driving instructor but common sense told me to slow down and pass with caution. Looked it up this pm and there is some confusing stuff on the web about this but the extract from the highway Code says this...

Incidents

281

Warning signs or flashing lights. If you see or hear emergency or incident support vehicles in the distance, be aware there may be an incident ahead (see Rule 219). Police Officers and Highways Agency Traffic Officers may be required to work in the carriageway, for example dealing with debris, collisions or conducting rolling road blocks. Police officers will use rear-facing flashing red and blue lights and HA Traffic Officers will use rear-facing flashing red and amber lights in these situations. Watch out for such signals, slow down and be prepared to stop. You MUST follow any directions given by Police officers or Traffic officers as to whether you can safely pass the incident or blockage.

In fact this officer only seemed to have the reds flashing but I could be mistaken and since he didn't give chase I imagine he was happy.

[robo1968]

Hi from a another ADI! Nice to know there are other Westie owning ADI's out there!

[Norman Verona]

If you see or hear emergency or incident support vehicles in the distance, be aware there may be an incident ahead

Really !

[Simeon]

Now I had a bit of a conundrum once in my tin top. Came to some red traffic lights and stopped, a police car pulled up behind me followed by an ambulance. Whilst waiting for the lights to change the ambulance put on his blues and twos. What do you do? the junction was clear. I jumped the red light and pulled over into a layby on the other side of the junction. The police officer drove past not interested. Phewwww!!!

[RayM]

• Their chips were getting cold ..... LOL
  

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

You are not obliged to break traffic laws simply because an emergency vehicle is sounding off behind you AFAIK. In fact you could be prosecuted if you did.

I read somewhere that the adoption of red lights in addition to the long-customary blue is not a desperate attempt to emulate our American cousins, but it is to reduce rubbernecking at incidents. Red lights seem not to excite onlookers quite like blues.

[pistonbroke]

One of my pet hates when proceeding down the motorway at night is being almost blinded by what must be 10 billion candella power blue strobes flashing in the darkness and blocking everything in sight , then to find its PC plod and co on the hard shoulder attending to some wayard motorist

[Simeon]

"when proceeding down the motorway at night"

Your'e begining to sound like PC Plod!

[Fangi0]

You did pretty much the right thing. Emergency services are not supposed to intimidate motorists with sirens, it's their job to avoid getting blocked. But we are allowed to move over the stop line to let them through provided we don't go right through the junction, that would be an offence. Got that from senior examiner first hand.

Now I had a bit of a conundrum once in my tin top. Came to some red traffic lights and stopped, a police car pulled up behind me followed by an ambulance. Whilst waiting for the lights to change the ambulance put on his blues and twos. What do you do? the junction was clear. I jumped the red light and pulled over into a layby on the other side of the junction. The police officer drove past not interested. Phewwww!!!

[jonclancy]

TBH, it would be a bum call to pull someone for moving through a Red to let an emergency vehicle through.

I'd do it every time. RT rules in mind, but common sense first, surely?

[Blatman]

Now I had a bit of a conundrum once in my tin top. Came to some red traffic lights and stopped, a police car pulled up behind me followed by an ambulance. Whilst waiting for the lights to change the ambulance put on his blues and twos. What do you do? the junction was clear. I jumped the red light and pulled over into a layby on the other side of the junction. The police officer drove past not interested. Phewwww!!!

Done this lots 'cos in London there is often little option if you want to try to get out of the way. I've even continued through the junction to get out of the way in a few cases. Never had an issue.

What grinds my gristle more is 99% or motorists, on hearing a siren, simply pull over and stop rather than looking around and stopping in a CLEAR area so that they don't CREATE a blockage that slows the approaching vehicle down. We've all seen it...

Why is it that folk think the brake pedal is the only option on hearing a siren or to try to prevent an incident? Quite often, the loud pedal is a better answer...

[Norman Verona]

I always use the little pedal to get out of the way.

[FILFAN]

If you can see the lights behind you then your not driving fast enough

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

Done this lots 'cos in London there is often little option if you want to try to get out of the way. I've even continued through the junction to get out of the way in a few cases. Never had an issue.

What grinds my gristle more is 99% or motorists, on hearing a siren, simply pull over and stop rather than looking around and stopping in a CLEAR area so that they don't CREATE a blockage that slows the approaching vehicle down. We've all seen it...

Why is it that folk think the brake pedal is the only option on hearing a siren or to try to prevent an incident? Quite often, the loud pedal is a better answer...

Quite right! I saw a bloke stop between a traffic island and the kerb where the remainder of the road ahead was wide and clear. He almost had several tons of fire appliance up his jacksie but for the quick reactions of the driver of the fire engine.