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True story . . .
- Marlon
- Lifer
- Posts: 10899
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:13 am
- Location: Lancs.
- Contact:
True story . . .
So picture this:
Me, a driver of another car and a police officer all being breathalysed at the roadside by a second police officer. Well, that’s what happened this morning!
Bit of background – I was caught on a mobile speed camera a few weeks back doing 59 in a 50 (Without going into great detail it was on a section of dual carriageway I was unfamiliar with in Samlesbury, I was travelling east on the A59 and thought the limit was 60 – it wasn’t).
A week later I received the dreaded letter. My licence is clean and I was given the option of 3 points and £100 fine or no points and attendance on an £85 Speed Awareness Course. No brainer.
I booked and paid for a course that was running locally. So this morning was the date of the course, which started at 8am. Anyone who has been on one knows you have to arrive promptly: registration is 20 minutes before the start of the course - if you miss the registration you fail the course and so you’re £85 down, plus you get the 3 points and the £100 fine on top.
So back to this morning; I set off for the course giving myself 20 minutes for what is no more than a 5 minute drive.
I’m at my first junction and waiting to turn right onto Garstang road, the light changes to green and I indicate right and set off. Then I hear sirens and see to my left a police van rapidly approaching the junction, so I break and the car behind hits me.
The police van races through the junction (and the red light) but then pulls over a little further down the road so I pull over behind him and the guy who hit me parks up behind me. He’s driving a newish BMW 5 series.
First thought is what’s the damage A quick inspection and to my huge relief I can’t see so much as a scratch. The police office and his partner are out of the van and the other driver is there too. It’s all very congenial, I’m just relieved that there's no damage to my ZED. Nor is there any damage to the front of the 5 series.
The officer strongly advises us to exchange names addresses etc. and also takes our details and checks our insurance, then tells us that we now have to wait for a police incident unit to arrive. So I’m looking at my watch and its now ten to eight and I’m panicking about missing the registration. I don’t feel that it’s prudent to tell the coppers that I’m going to be late for my Speed Awareness Course, but time is ticking on
Fortunately, the traffic incident car arrives within minutes, but then that officer informs us its standard procedure in any RTA (no matter how minor) to breathalyse all involved – including the copper who was driving the police van!
So there we all are being breathalysed – he tested the officer first, which I’m sure puzzled the passing motorists. Minutes later, we have all passed the test and its now five to eight and I’m seriously sweating but trying to appear calm.
Eventually it’s all over and the officer who was driving the van apologises to me, I’m guessing because he stopped he was probably under instruction or on a training exercise.
I’m back in my car and desperately trying not to break the speed limit getting to the registration. Fortunately all the lights are with me and I get there and sign in on the dot of 8.
Back home afterwards I gave the rear of the Zed another thorough once over, no dents or scratches and the bumper hasn’t come loose so I feel sort of lucky. As one of the coppers said: BMW’s are solid cars.
Me, a driver of another car and a police officer all being breathalysed at the roadside by a second police officer. Well, that’s what happened this morning!
Bit of background – I was caught on a mobile speed camera a few weeks back doing 59 in a 50 (Without going into great detail it was on a section of dual carriageway I was unfamiliar with in Samlesbury, I was travelling east on the A59 and thought the limit was 60 – it wasn’t).
A week later I received the dreaded letter. My licence is clean and I was given the option of 3 points and £100 fine or no points and attendance on an £85 Speed Awareness Course. No brainer.
I booked and paid for a course that was running locally. So this morning was the date of the course, which started at 8am. Anyone who has been on one knows you have to arrive promptly: registration is 20 minutes before the start of the course - if you miss the registration you fail the course and so you’re £85 down, plus you get the 3 points and the £100 fine on top.
So back to this morning; I set off for the course giving myself 20 minutes for what is no more than a 5 minute drive.
I’m at my first junction and waiting to turn right onto Garstang road, the light changes to green and I indicate right and set off. Then I hear sirens and see to my left a police van rapidly approaching the junction, so I break and the car behind hits me.
The police van races through the junction (and the red light) but then pulls over a little further down the road so I pull over behind him and the guy who hit me parks up behind me. He’s driving a newish BMW 5 series.
First thought is what’s the damage A quick inspection and to my huge relief I can’t see so much as a scratch. The police office and his partner are out of the van and the other driver is there too. It’s all very congenial, I’m just relieved that there's no damage to my ZED. Nor is there any damage to the front of the 5 series.
The officer strongly advises us to exchange names addresses etc. and also takes our details and checks our insurance, then tells us that we now have to wait for a police incident unit to arrive. So I’m looking at my watch and its now ten to eight and I’m panicking about missing the registration. I don’t feel that it’s prudent to tell the coppers that I’m going to be late for my Speed Awareness Course, but time is ticking on
Fortunately, the traffic incident car arrives within minutes, but then that officer informs us its standard procedure in any RTA (no matter how minor) to breathalyse all involved – including the copper who was driving the police van!
So there we all are being breathalysed – he tested the officer first, which I’m sure puzzled the passing motorists. Minutes later, we have all passed the test and its now five to eight and I’m seriously sweating but trying to appear calm.
Eventually it’s all over and the officer who was driving the van apologises to me, I’m guessing because he stopped he was probably under instruction or on a training exercise.
I’m back in my car and desperately trying not to break the speed limit getting to the registration. Fortunately all the lights are with me and I get there and sign in on the dot of 8.
Back home afterwards I gave the rear of the Zed another thorough once over, no dents or scratches and the bumper hasn’t come loose so I feel sort of lucky. As one of the coppers said: BMW’s are solid cars.
Gone: 3.0si 2008 E85
911 997 Carrera S
- Ducklakeview
- Lifer
- Posts: 6362
- Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2016 4:08 pm
- Location: Merseyside
True story . . .
At least your car is ok!
I had similar about 5 years ago - Was travelling though a set of light at a crossroads, turning right. At this particular junction, there is a sharp right hand blind bend which I was turning into, hence the traffic lights. As I was mid turn, I heard sirens and a plod car came racing through the red lights on the bend and t-boned me
Area Inspector and FOUR traffic cars were on the scene within minutes. I was asked to do a breathalyser, which I did. I then asked if they were going to breathalyse the police driver. Initially they weren't, but when I said "well how do you know if he didn't have six pints last night after finishing work?" they breathalysed him - Mine was zero, HIS wasn't!!! I seem to remember he blew 19 or 20 and the limit is 35....
He was escorted away with the Inspector, never did find out what happened to him..
Mike
I had similar about 5 years ago - Was travelling though a set of light at a crossroads, turning right. At this particular junction, there is a sharp right hand blind bend which I was turning into, hence the traffic lights. As I was mid turn, I heard sirens and a plod car came racing through the red lights on the bend and t-boned me
Area Inspector and FOUR traffic cars were on the scene within minutes. I was asked to do a breathalyser, which I did. I then asked if they were going to breathalyse the police driver. Initially they weren't, but when I said "well how do you know if he didn't have six pints last night after finishing work?" they breathalysed him - Mine was zero, HIS wasn't!!! I seem to remember he blew 19 or 20 and the limit is 35....
He was escorted away with the Inspector, never did find out what happened to him..
Mike
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- Member
- Posts: 221
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 4:08 pm
True story . . .
I'd get your car inspected properly anyway. I was rear ended and superficially looked like no damage done. Turns out the sacrificial panel behind the bumper was crushed and the exhaust bent a long way up the car. Nothing obvious from the outside. I think it was £1,700 to put right - claimed on other guy's insurance.
- Chris_D
- Lifer
- Posts: 6615
- Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2016 11:41 pm
- Location: Mostly Holland. Sometimes UK.
True story . . .
5 minute drive Colin?? Get yerself a bike, lad!!
E85 3.0i roadie (03) 'Benny'. E93 320d M-Sport Cabrio (11) 'Bob'.
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.
- Swiftly
- Lifer
- Posts: 8817
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2011 10:43 pm
- Location: Edinburgh
True story . . .
Glad your zed was OK, you've been very lucky
- Grumpyowl
- Lifer
- Posts: 3438
- Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:00 pm
- Location: North East Derbyshire
True story . . .
Pleased you and the car ok.
I'm not well at the he moment had to cancel and reschedule a speed awareness course.
£44:50 to change dates
I'm not well at the he moment had to cancel and reschedule a speed awareness course.
£44:50 to change dates
- maxman
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2821
- Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 11:34 pm
- Location: Wrexham
True story . . .
That's a stressful start to the day,I bet your blood pressure was through the roof .You were lucky not to have any damage.
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OnlineNictrix
- Lifer
- Posts: 5452
- Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2014 9:59 pm
- Location: Paisley
True story . . .
If nobody was injured why did the police have to be involved at all?
I always thought that the police didnt want to know about rta's unless someone was injured as it just wasted time and the insurance companies dealt with the aftermath.
I always thought that the police didnt want to know about rta's unless someone was injured as it just wasted time and the insurance companies dealt with the aftermath.
E89 2014 35i M Sport Black with Black leather
- Marlon
- Lifer
- Posts: 10899
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:13 am
- Location: Lancs.
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True story . . .
Better not mention my commute to workChris_D wrote:5 minute drive Colin?? Get yerself a bike, lad!!
image.jpeg
Gone: 3.0si 2008 E85
911 997 Carrera S
- obewan
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1543
- Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2013 8:53 pm
- Location: End of A590 cul de sac (South Cumbria)
True story . . .
+1lordgrover wrote:I'd get your car inspected properly anyway. I was rear ended and superficially looked like no damage done. Turns out the sacrificial panel behind the bumper was crushed and the exhaust bent a long way up the car. Nothing obvious from the outside. I think it was £1,700 to put right - claimed on other guy's insurance.
I had a minor tap from behind in a traffic jam on the motorway years ago
Same thing with me, looked fine but on inspection at the garage, the shock absorbent behind the bumper was cracked
The garage said it would be OK to leave, but obviously weakened in the case of another hit from behind
Got it repaired
E89 2.0 SDrive MSport
Honda CB500F.
Gone but not forgotten E85 2.0 MSport
Honda CB500F.
Gone but not forgotten E85 2.0 MSport
- Marlon
- Lifer
- Posts: 10899
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:13 am
- Location: Lancs.
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True story . . .
Not sure about when the police get involved in RTAs, but in this case they were involved from the start - you could argue they were partly responsible.Nictrix wrote:If nobody was injured why did the police have to be involved at all?
I always thought that the police didnt want to know about rta's unless someone was injured as it just wasted time and the insurance companies dealt with the aftermath.
Gone: 3.0si 2008 E85
911 997 Carrera S
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- Member
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True story . . .
After a day like that Marlon have a drink and lie down in a dark room
- buzyg
- Legend
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- Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
- Location: Cornwall
True story . . .
Well you sure couldn't make that up.
Happy to here all is well with your good self and the Zed.
Happy to here all is well with your good self and the Zed.
- Chris_D
- Lifer
- Posts: 6615
- Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2016 11:41 pm
- Location: Mostly Holland. Sometimes UK.
True story . . .
Outraaaaageous!Marlon wrote:Better not mention my commute to workChris_D wrote:5 minute drive Colin?? Get yerself a bike, lad!!
image.jpeg
Just think of all the stress and trauma you could avoid and also the short drive damage you're doing to the zed.
Solid case for a bike there Colin ye lazy article!
E85 3.0i roadie (03) 'Benny'. E93 320d M-Sport Cabrio (11) 'Bob'.
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.
- Marlon
- Lifer
- Posts: 10899
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:13 am
- Location: Lancs.
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True story . . .
My Speed Awareness Course taught me you're more likely to become Brown Bread if you're on 2 wheels rather than 4Chris_D wrote:Outraaaaageous!Marlon wrote:Better not mention my commute to workChris_D wrote:5 minute drive Colin?? Get yerself a bike, lad!!
image.jpeg
Just think of all the stress and trauma you could avoid and also the short drive damage you're doing to the zed.
Solid case for a bike there Colin ye lazy article!
runs on fat.jpg
Gone: 3.0si 2008 E85
911 997 Carrera S