A brush with the law......

[Jelster]

On my way to meet some mates to head of to Alton, I got a tug on the A4. At first I was really angry about it and the coppers attitude, but after having time to reflect on the incident, I'm feeling OK about it now.

A4 at Hounslow, just turned off of the 312 and heading for the petrol station at the A30 junction. A guy in a Nissan Primera decides he wants the inside lane, but I'm already there. I hit my horn - no response, I bounce it off the limiter - no response, he just keeps coming, by which time I'm getting rather close the the 4 inch kerb...

By this time my right knee is touching his passenger door, so I result in giving his mirror a whack, which wakes him up and has the desired effect. He quickly moves back over to the right. I'm obviously gesticulating at him quite a bit at this point....

I then hear a a two tone, look in my mirror and I have an unmarked car up my backside telling me to pull over. I signal that I'll pull into the garage up the road (where it's safe) and he follows me in.

"What was the point of that ?" (referring to me knocking the mirror back)

"I had to get the guy to stop some how.... And it worked" was my response.

He then asked to see my documents etc. I hit the roof, he let the bloke in the car drive off and pulled me in !! We discuss the finer points of my attitude for a few minutes, when he says:

"I wanted to stop you and get you away from the other vehicle, it was obvious you were wound up and I thought you'd be safer after you had time to calm down."

"What about the **** in the car ?"

"Don't worry, we have it all on video......" "We've done a check and we'll pay the owner a visit now, he doesn't live far away."

At first I was still upset, but after thinking about it over night, he probably did the best thing. So while I may have been peeved at the time, I have to say he actually dealt with it in the best way.

My only worry was that the bloke may have caused another accident, but I guess if he only lived down the road, then the copper was happy that he was going home.

.

[600+]

I wish we had more coppers behaving like this!

Glad you saw the positive side of things and nothing happened to you! I would have been praising the copper all day long if I was in your sits

[Warthog]

Yeah, I think I would have been well miffed too, but it does seem like they had your best interests in mind. I think the key thing here is that when they pull you over, it seems at first like they are punishing you; you had no idea that they had it on video and would be pursuing the car driver afterwards. But then again, if they would have pulled the car instead of you, your attitude would have presumably calmed down a lot instantly and a feeling of smugness and justice would have prevailed.

[MiniMatt]

Eeep! I know I'd feel the same way, but yeah, reading with hindsight or as a third party it does make sense. Doubtless he could have handled it a bit better but I know that sometimes I get so wound up that the safest thing anyone could do would be to drag me off the bike and get me to sit down with a fag for a bit.

Lucky escape anyway (I mean narrowly avoiding death, not escape from teh Law).

[Jelster]

Yeah, I think I would have been well miffed too, but it does seem like they had your best interests in mind. I think the key thing here is that when they pull you over, it seems at first like they are punishing you; you had no idea that they had it on video and would be pursuing the car driver afterwards. But then again, if they would have pulled the car instead of you, your attitude would have presumably calmed down a lot instantly and a feeling of smugness and justice would have prevailed.

Well, I did ask "why didn't you pull us both"

"What, so you could give him a whack too ?" was the reply (he was smiling though....)

He was concentrating on keeping us apart, it's true, I may well have given him a Glasgow kiss with my lid on :)

[Shellywoozle]

The copper acted correctly but what if the driver of the car wasn't the owner ? Me personally would have like to see the offending car stopped. It's all very well saying it's on video, what he if was drunk - he'd got home and could have said he'r drank it after the incident.

I see where the copper was coming from but I think he stopped the wrong vehicle.

p.s hope you damaged the wingmirror LOL

[petevtwin650]

Hope the guy gets a good talking to about his observation:smt068

But what worries me is the fact that you didn't pull out of the game of chicken and let him in front. It seems you had plenty of time to slow down. What if he hadn't swerved away?

I am in no way condoning his driving, it's just that in a contest between a bike and a car the car will always usually win.

[Ceri JC]

I see exactly where you're coming from. Initally, my attitude would be "why the hell did he pull me over?", but the copper's explanation was sound IMO. So long as they followed it up and had a strong word with the driver in question, I'd be happy with the result.

[husky03]

If the driver of the car wasn't the owner-the police have powers to require the owner/reg keeper to identify who was driving the vehicle at that particular time,failure to do so is an offence in itself and can lead to prosecution.
the cop done the right thing-heat of the moment and all that-i've saw many a normal person become a raving lunatic when the've been involved in a road rage type incident:smt068 -remove them from the scene and a few mins later all is calm:smt025 .Least your ok and no damge to your bike:)

husky:)

[gettin2dizzy]

nissan + bad observations = old person!

[Daimo]

Understand you being angry at the time, anyone would be after nearly being rammed off.

But it sounds like a good copper, one that actually understands what to do opposed to just blaming the innocent party.

:beer: for the old bill for a change :)

[Jelster]

I guess I could have got out of it earlier, but on bright sunny day, on a bright red bike with a short stubby can I didn't really expect him not to see (or hear) me.

I did have enough time (we were only doing 35'ish) to hit the brakes and get out of it if I really needed too. The reason that my leg was brushing the car was because I was holding some space to my left, just in case.... But it's a big kerb along that bit of road, hitting it would have damaged the wheel and had me off of the bike.

And no, he wasn't old. But he was in a battered old Nissan and from Hounslow...

.

[chazzyb]

Roadcraft, of which I'm sure we've all got a copy on the bookshelf ;) , makes a Big Thing about keeping a tight lid on 'red mist'. I'm not immune from it when threatened by carelessness/stupidity of others (it's not always cars/trucks) on the road.

[Pedro68]

Chaz, I agree ... I just had to do a National Driver Improvment Scheme course and they really banged on about the types of things that affect our ability to perform to our optimum whilst in control of a vehicle.

One of the key messages was this OAPR (Observation, Anticipation, Planning and RESTRAINT).

With regards to the restraint it was aimed at 2 levels really, restraint in so much as you don't try and drive/ride beyond yours or your vehicles means, but also and probably more pertinent, in trying NOT to get drawn into the games that people play on the road ...

Playing games with other road users is NOT a good idea when you're on a bike because you're more likely to lose. I'd rather lose face than my life, my livelihood, or my licence ;-)

Pete

[Mr Toad]

Gives a lie to the old saying then - not all coppers are b******s :grin:

Between the pair of you, you probably did the right thing

[Jelster]

Playing games with other road users is NOT a good idea when you're on a bike because you're more likely to lose.

I wasn't "playing" with him!

The guy just came into my lane. I could of braked and just got out of the way, but I hoped once he realised I was there he'd sort himself out.

Just as an update on this, I did take said coppers contact details, during that "red mist" moment in the garage when he asked for my licence, I also asked for his name, number & station, which he gave to me quite freely.

I called the station at lunch time and spoke to him. After leaving me, they actually caught up with the guy parked on double yellows about 200 metres from his house. All he would confirm is that the issues (notice plural) were dealt with on the spot. I guess this means they gave him tickets for offences, one for his parking maybe.

Although not a traffic cop, he obviously doesn't like witnessing careless/reckless driving. At the time, his buddy said nothing at all, but was on the radio, so maybe doing a check on the driver details against PNC.

Anyway, after him have the courtesy of taking my call and speaking with me I'm happy.

BTW, they were in a black 56 plate 530 Beamer saloon, lights behind the grille and in the rear parcel shelf. No antennas at all.....

[Warthog]

Sounds like a good result!

[Pedro68]

Sorry Steve, not the wisest choice of words ;-)

You weren’t “playing” with him, but as you said yourself, you did have time to brake and get out of his way and IMHO that would have been the “safer” option.

Good news that copper did actually take further action against the car driver though J

Pete

[plowsie]

Top bloke that copper!

[arc123]

If you had time to sound the horn, and bounce it off the rev limiter, didn't you have time to either accelerate or brake to get out of his way??

[Jelster]

If you had time to sound the horn, and bounce it off the rev limiter, didn't you have time to either accelerate or brake to get out of his way??

Well I did say.....
The guy just came into my lane. I could of braked and just got out of the way, but I hoped once he realised I was there he'd sort himself out.

[arc123]

Well I did say.....

fair enough. healthy sense of self-preservation you have there then.

[Biker Biggles]

I think the copper did the right thing.Dealt with the situation first,made sure it didn't end in tears and went on to have a word with muppet later.
We have all had a bit of a red mist moment I am sure,and looked back on it and thought it less of a good idea later,I know I have.
As for the "total t****r" comment,I think that was quite uncalled for and perhaps a mod might have a look at that?

[Jelster]

fair enough. healthy sense of self-preservation you have there then.


Yes yes yes... Please read in context..

I also said (in the same post)
I did have enough time (we were only doing 35'ish) to hit the brakes and get out of it if I really needed too. The reason that my leg was brushing the car was because I was holding some space to my left, just in case....

I'm confident that I had time to escape if he had kept coming... I can see your point of view, but if you continually move out of the way for people like that they'll just keep doing it.

Maybe he'll think about it in the future, especially if he gets some points for his antics...

[Jelster]

IAs for the "total t***r" comment,I think that was quite uncalled for and perhaps a mod might have a look at that?

Ignore him and he may crawl back to where he came from.

[arc123]

by which time I'm getting rather close the the 4 inch kerb...

not been critical, just what I read. Anyways, I'm fully aware that decisions are made in a split second, and may well be different every time such an event happens.

[RhythmJunkie]

i've saw many a normal person become a raving lunatic when the've been involved in a road rage type incident

I guess thats because you are in a life threatening situation so your fight or flight response is at its peak. Not many things in your life put you in the same danger category! Ok possibly crossing Tottenham Court Road at 5pm!! ;) :)

[the_lone_wolf]

poor obs;)

should have braked and left it...




then you could have overtaken him and bagged his offside mirror:p

[Tiger 55]

I may well have given him a Glasgow kiss with my lid on :)
Um, Kirkby kiss surely? ;)

And no, he wasn't old. But he was in a battered old Nissan and from Hounslow...
Steady lad. I'm sure neio79 knows what you're getting at there but I hope you don't think it's relevant at all.

[Jelster]

Steady lad. I'm sure neio79 knows what you're getting at there but I hope you don't think it's relevant at all.

Not at all, just representative of the local population, and a typical means of transport of that area.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if it was an unlicensed minicab, we suffer with that a great deal in the Heathrow, and the car is stereotypical of those that are used for that purpose.

[petevtwin650]

Very good result I would say.:smt041

Also even though you had a stubby on, it appears the cop wasn't interested in hassling you. Wish there were more like him out there.