This morning was out and about in the usual morning "moving" traffic. The road has two lanes with the first being a bus lane (which was active at the time - so nobody using it).

I then noticed a police car with sirens on and flashing lights coming from behind me weaving in and out of traffic (including driving in the opposite lane). HOWEVER one thing that struck me was the police deliberately REFUSED to go into the bus lane to get past the traffic. The bus lane was perfectly clear at the time and anyone with even the slightest bit of sense would have used the bus lane to get past the traffic.

So as the police car gets closer and closer to me, i stand still assuming they would just use the bus lane to get past me and the many other cars in front of me. BUT NO, they drive right into my ass effectively forcing me and many others into the bus lane (thankfully there were no buses approaching at the time and i just missed the bus lane camera by about 2 metres (i hope!!). I couldnt do anything apart from simly shout **F---ING PIGS** to myself

So any guesses as to why the police didnt use the bus lane? Was it due to the fact that their sirens may have been on in a non-emergency, maybe their doughnuts were ready? Surely in a genuine emergency they can drive in the bus lane.

If i didnt have illegal tints i would have stood in my spot and refused to move. Nevertheless if i do get a fine for using the lane, that camera will be burnt down, I REPEAT.. will be burnt down

Edited 21 January, 200917 yr by colour_concept

Bollocks really... they were probably just trying to get through traffic quicker, and had they been picked up by the camera, they might not have been able themselves, they'd rather let other motorists run the risk.. just a guess anyway.

This morning was out and about in the usual morning "moving" traffic. The road has two lanes with the first being a bus lane (which was active at the time - so nobody using it).

I then noticed a police car with sirens on and flashing lights coming from behind me weaving in and out of traffic (including driving in the opposite lane). HOWEVER one thing that struck me was the police deliberately REFUSED to go into the bus lane to get past the traffic. The bus lane was perfectly clear at the time and anyone with even the slightest bit of sense would have used the bus lane to get past the traffic.

So as the police car gets closer and closer to me, i stand still assuming they would just use the bus lane to get past me and the many other cars in front of me. BUT NO, they drive right into my ass effectively forcing me and many others into the bus lane (thankfully there were no buses approaching at the time and i just missed the bus lane camera by about 2 metres (i hope!!). I couldnt do anything apart from simly shout **F---ING PIGS** to myself

So any guesses as to why the police didnt use the bus lane? Was it due to the fact that their sirens may have been on in a non-emergency, maybe their doughnuts were ready? Surely in a genuine emergency they can drive in the bus lane.

If i didnt have illegal tints i would have stood in my spot and refused to move. Nevertheless if i do get a fine for using the lane, that camera will be burnt down, I REPEAT.. will be burnt down

The police won't have used the bus lane because it's dangerous to undertake, especially on a blue light run where standard policy is to drive 20mph above the speed limit - and what if they reached the end of the bus lane and found that they were blocked in by a bus and a queue of traffic in the outside lane?

In the unlikely chance you do get a fine, you would have a legitimate defence to appeal it, so don't worry.

I'm sure the person who needed urgent assistance from the police was grateful that they came as quickly as they could, and I'm sure if you were being assaulted or robbed you'd want the police to get there as quickly and safely as they could. Very brave of you to shout "PIGS" from inside the comfort of your own car though!

The police won't have used the bus lane because it's dangerous to undertake, especially on a blue light run where standard policy is to drive 20mph above the speed limit - and what if they reached the end of the bus lane and found that they were blocked in by a bus and a queue of traffic in the outside lane?

In the unlikely chance you do get a fine, you would have a legitimate defence to appeal it, so don't worry.

I'm sure the person who needed urgent assistance from the police was grateful that they came as quickly as they could, and I'm sure if you were being assaulted or robbed you'd want the police to get there as quickly and safely as they could. Very brave of you to shout "PIGS" from inside the comfort of your own car though!

ahh good point. so that may explain it then. but bearing in mind they even went into the opposite lane meaning they were driving into oncoming cars. surely "undertaking" in a visibly clear bus lane is safer than going into the wrong lane and driving toward oncoming cars?

in regards to the appeal, i have read on this forum (or similar forum) that for example if you are in a queue of traffic at a red light (with camera) and lets say an ambulance comes from behind, the only way to let it pass would be to jump the redlight meaning you get flashed. Now i have read somewhere where this has happened to a few people and although they have appealed for it, they haven't been very successful. Whether or not the same rules apply I'm not aware of.

ofcourse - i hope it was a genuine emergency and i did roll my windows up before i shouted pigs (in case they heard me )

Edited 21 January, 200917 yr by colour_concept

I would have thought if undertaking is considered dangerous to blue light vehicles, they would have put the motorway hard shoulder next to the outside lane rather than the inside?

I would have thought the bus lane was the easiest way but it appears from a bit of reasearch they arent allowed to use it!

Who knows why?

was recently driving into london via the m4 and hammering down the bus lane were no less than 7 marked cars and 3 unmarked with a blacked out range rover in the middle of the line. seemed fine then!