Lat night, 1AM, on my way home down the a40....
At target roundabout I went round at a slightly faster speed than usual (roundabout clear all lights opened green - around 30mph probably).

As I took the exit I sped down to join a40, I see another pair of headlights around 500yrds behind me joining a40 too.

I continued driving at allowed 50mph when I notice the car behind me approaching me rapidly and then continuing driving almost bumper to bumper behind me. I was in the middle lane and there was virtually no other traffic on the road. I was just about to speed up a little to create some space between us when I notice "P-O-L-I..." on their bonnet!

Well, ok then mr police officer I think to myself, lets play stupid. I continued driving at exactly 51mph all the way down a40 in the middle lane, with this guy still behind me. He followed me for around 5 miles almost bumper to bumper, only me & him on the road. Every other car saw them a mile off and stayed well behind us. When we came to a 40mph zone i slowed down and they decided to move into 3rd lane and overtake.

What were they doing? Gauging my speed? Surely they could have done this whilst sitting 50 or 100 yards behind me with no other traffic on the road, or were they trying to coax me into speeding away from them?

Are you a shifty looking character?

lol, not really - although i do have a shifty looking car - mini GP. ;)

However I have been stopped and warned a few months back - tailgating in traffic in 3rd lane. The officer at the time said im only getting a warning but I have been logged in their system and hes got me on his car camera. I've been driving Miss Daisy since, especially on a40.

Hi ya

I have had similar but on my motor bike. You know when you get that feeling You are going to get pulled over. I used to look for somewhere safe and pull over. They hate that. First question always was why did you pull over.
I used to then inform them about stopping distances and only a fool brakes the two second rule. Bit cheeky but never been nicked. And I always used to say I did not realise it was the police I thought I was a total fool tail gatting me and they should know better, so best thing was to get out of the way. Always ask for there number they have to give it to you if you ask.
There is no reason why they had to sit on your bumper on a three land dual carriage way it's dangerous

Perhaps they wanted to see if you would pull into the inside lane, seeing as you say there was no other traffic - why would you block the middle lane, offering the police a reason to stop you?

Perhaps they wanted to see if you would pull into the inside lane, seeing as you say there was no other traffic - why would you block the middle lane, offering the police a reason to stop you?

I was wondering the same? ;)

That said, I've had the same happen twice, completely without reason, and both times by an unmarked police car. The first time I only realised when I put my foot down to get them off my arse, exceeding the speed limit momentarily... next thing I know, blue lights on, ticket written!

Probably not a bad trick for them, especially if they're having a quiet day!

Second time I just sat it out, and after a few miles, the car pulled round me with two road traffic officers in the front! I certainly won't fall for that trick twice. :D

One reasonable explanation would be that a similar car had been stolen, and they were running checks to make sure they weren't following the stolen vehicle. Obviously they'd want to keep as close as possible, otherwise you'd have some headway if you decided to make off...

C'mon now, both on motorways and 3 lane carriageways I am used to seeing drivers sitting in middle lane pottering along in late hours.

I never have a problem with this as long as they are not all the way out in the outside lane. I make a point of ALWAYS checking the road behind me as well as in front of me when I am driving. If I see someone coming up from behind me I always make way, ESPECIALLY in right hand lane. After driving in Europe quite a few times folks over there get royally vexed if you block them in this manner - something British road users still didn't quite come to grips with.

Considering that left-hand lane was blocked off and had roadworks for the first mile or so, I couldn't even move to the left when they started tailgating. As the left lane opened up I decided to stay in the middle lane because few miles down the road left lane splits off and goes elsewhere.

Surely if they had a problem with me being in the middle lane they should have pulled me over and told me, not tailgate?
That's what I used to do, until I got told off a few months back :)

I had the same sort of thing happen to me late at night on a city street once. The police car would come up tailgate me, drop back and then do it again. When we got to a stop light they came right up close behind me so I held up my arms in an exaggerated WTF gesture and they reversed, backed off and left me alone after that. I was driving a somewhat old, battered looking car in a "nice" town so my guess is they were trying to provoke me into doing something to give themselves an excuse to stop and question me.

Ive had this so I went a litte quicker and then they pulled me over and shouted at me for speeding! Damn them

As the left lane opened up I decided to stay in the middle lane because few miles down the road left lane splits off and goes elsewhere.

Fail.

The 'middle' lane is an 'overtaking' lane.

Middle lane is for overtaking.

I wondered who thought this was acceptable behaviour to sit in the middle lane.

Drives me nuts.

RBW.

at 1am they were just testing you, if you had anything to hide this is the best way to show it up quickly.

and you passed the test !!

Iain

"What were they doing?"
It's a fairly common tactic from what I've heard from friends. They were probably trying to provoke you into doing something stupid so they had an excuse to pull you over and make some money. The police seem to have more than their fair share of scumbags amongst them, in my (thankfully limited) experience of dealing with them over the years.

"However I have been stopped and warned a few months back - tailgating in traffic in 3rd lane."
Ah, then maybe it is karma! Tailgating is a very dangerous habit.

"Surely if they had a problem with me being in the middle lane they should have pulled me over and told me, not tailgate?"
I totally agree with you and so would most sane people. Strictly speaking, you should have moved into the left lane, but as you say they should have pulled you over if they had a problem with your driving. Instead they chose to set a very bad example and reinforce my opinion that they are scumbags.

they are ****ers they will tail you and run your details and egg you on to speed you up then switch there cameras on and film it and **** you up! lol

Middle lane is for overtaking.

I wondered who thought this was acceptable behaviour to sit in the middle lane.

Drives me nuts.

RBW.

Lol, I always use the middle lane (if there is another lane to my right). Im not driving my GP over those potholes and imprints left by trucks in the first lane. :p Why does it drive you nuts if you still have the 3rd lane to overtake and go on your merry way?

What drives me nuts is drivers blocking the overtaking lane so everyone has to sit behind them! I've seen this so many times. Cars upon cars all piling up behind them and the driver in front being totally oblivious. Argh!

Well, according to responses in this thread seems like this tailgating is common police practice...

It's common practice only amongst the particular scumbags who are unfit to serve in the police forces and should not have been recruited in the first place.

The only correct response (that I know of) if you are being tailgated is to leave a much longer stopping distance between your car and the one in front of you.

What drives me nuts is drivers blocking the overtaking lane so everyone has to sit behind them!
Often that's because they are all queuing up to overtake somebody blocking the middle lane who seems totally oblivious that the inside lane is empty and that they could free up the road by moving over.... :p

Often that's because they are all queuing up to overtake somebody blocking the middle lane who seems totally oblivious that the inside lane is empty and that they could free up the road by moving over.... :p

:D
I'm not going to get into the lane-hogging discussion, I will admit I would be happiest if anyone caught hogging any outside lane gets a ticket. It would make me enormously happy. :)

Ha you should have found a safe place to stop got out of your car, totally ignored them and closly examend your rear bumper to see what was so interesting? When they ask them what you are doing :puzzled:reply with "sorry i thought i must be missing out on something" LOL

I ve had this before normally as a young male driving a JCW and they want a excuse to pull me over.

Found ths thread very interesting!

I'm only 19 driving a 07 Cooper S - so the Police like to follow me.

Now I know what youre thinking, mummy bought it for me therefore I drive like a ****. I paid for the car, the insurance, petrol tax etc so I make damn sure I don't drive like an idiot and (try) to stick to the speed limits.

The first time the Police pulled me the first thing they said was ''what's somebody like you driving a car like this for, how did you manage to get this?''

I felt like saying ''crack dealer mate, this is just my run around car - the Range Rover is in my garage'' just to waste their 'precious' time in trying to search for drugs.

You waste my time mr policeman and I will gladly waste some of yours!!

No go catch some proper criminals

I felt like saying ''crack dealer mate, this is just my run around car - the Range Rover is in my garage'' just to waste their 'precious' time in trying to search for drugs.

You waste my time mr policeman and I will gladly waste some of yours!!

No go catch some proper criminals

I assume you like being locked up, strip searched and your car/house being turned upside down?

Think you will find after you have spent 6 of your unpaid hours in custody it will be YOUR time that has been wasted.

Just a thought for next time

:)

The 1988 UK Road Traffic Act covers driving in the middle lane under the heading 'Driving Without Reasonable Consideration' section 3ZA (rev2006)
unnecessarily remaining in an overtaking lane however it also covers 'tailgaiting' :oo7dt:

Both of which are a couple of my pet hates along with driving using only sidelights, unnecessary use of fog lights, bald tyres, lane discipline on roundabouts...........(trails of into the distance muttering)

At the time I had a Toyota Glanza V
the police even use to follow it when RachcooperS drove it.
I once pulled over so plod stopped, I got out and asked" why have you followed me for 3.5 miles?"
He said " I'm policing"

Its one rule for them and a different rule for everyone else.
This morning I saw a police patrol car pull up and park outside a Costa Coffee shop, in a Loading Only area, he went into the shop bought a takeaway coffee, got back into his patrol car and then drove off one hand on the steering wheel coffee cup in the other drinking it as he went!
Is that not similar to driving whilst on a mobile phone? if he had to brake suddenly and dropped all the red hot coffee in his lap, would that not distract him from his driving or not one wonders?
Pity I wasnt quick enough with my camera phone or I would have snapped him and reported it. :rolleyes:

Using a mobile phone whilst driving is an offence. Drinking coffee whilst driving isn't. If you're trying to say that by holding the coffee he would not be in proper control of the vehicle, then that would have to be proven in Court. Its the same with eating, smoking, having a dog on your lap etc. None of these are ticketable in their own right, it's the lack of proper control of the vehicle that is the offence.

people are very quick to criticise police, if someone was to steal your pride and joy im sure they wouldnt be "scumbags" and you would want there help, or if you were being beaten up or something happened to your family, you may of had a bad experience but dont judge them all to be scumbags, next time do the easy thing, idicate and move over whether its 02:00am or 17:00pm its not hard then they do have no excuse

They do this a lot in herts especially when visibility is poor like at night when its raining.

When I've been a victim of crimes the police just take a report and then decide not to go any further.

They do this a lot in herts especially when visibility is poor like at night when its raining.

When I've been a victim of crimes the police just take a report and then decide not to go any further.

It's rarely the Police that make the decision not to prosecute. CPS is the charging authority.
Please try and be accurate if abusing people who are doing their best in a tough job.

I had a cop tailgate me once in a snowstorm doing 20 kph over the limit and he kept pushing me to go faster then he honked and passed while giving me a rude hand gesture because I got on the brakes to get him off my tail I couldnt believe it I guess cops get road rage too haha


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It's rarely the Police that make the decision not to prosecute. CPS is the charging authority.
Please try and be accurate if abusing people who are doing their best in a tough job.

My first post on here and its to say too right!! :D