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[JamesV6CDX]

I was driving along the M4 this morning, about 11am. Two lane traffic.

I was in lane 2, and was approaching a tiny black Citroen C2. It was doing a really annoying speed of about 66mph, and wasn't making much progress towards overtaking anything. It had a clear, sufficient gap in lane one to move over - but it would not budge over to let me by.

Keeping a good distance - I gave a brief light flash. He looked in his mirror and saw it, but still didn't move over.

To cut a long story short, he seemed to be refusing to move over (I had a que of cars behind me also wanting to pass him).

I must hold up my hand to the fact that I was getting a little bit frustrated. I ended up getting far too close to the citroen - probably in the realms of tailgaiting. I gave a couple more light flashes which the driver saw, and made a (friendly) hand gesture that I wanted to pass.

All I was greeted by was a dab on his brakes, and again refusal to move to lane 1.

At one point he made as if he was going to move over, but then changed his mind, causing me to have to ease off, after preparing to pass him.

When he finally did move over, and I passed him, I was rather horrified. In the little Citroen, was the unmistaken presence of two uniformed police officers. And I had been effectively trying to "encourage" them out of my way for about 3 miles  

The officer made a very clear hand signal to me that he was furious, and as I pulled back in front he flashed his headlights at me. Being in a personal car I guess he couldn't pull me over, but still, I expect he noted the VRM, and I'm really not looking forward to any consequenses.

I'm not sure exactly what they can do when not in the "works" vehicle, but I'm guessing someone will pay me a visit very soon.

Bottom line is, I shouldn't have got so close behind it, and I hold my hand up to that. And I know it's not a valid defence, but I would expect a police officer to drive in such a manner that doesn't confuse and impede the progress of motorway traffic  

Any thoughts on how this might pan out, would be interesting  :-/

[Paulus]

I hate to say this, but I was cought out doing something similar...I ended up with 4 points for careless driving  

I undertook the car though.

[JamesV6CDX]

I hate to say this, but I was cought out doing something similar...I ended up with 4 points for careless driving  

I undertook the car though.

Were you caught by an officer on-duty at the time, or a marked / unmarked traffic car?

I'm thinking, without video evidence on this occasion, I might get away with a rollocking... but I'm unsure!

[JamesV6CDX]

ANY points, and I won't be able to insure a meega!

[Kevin Wood]

Bottom line is, I shouldn't have got so close behind it, and I hold my hand up to that.

He shouldn't have been lane hogging and brake testing people either. Should know better. Seems to me that he was trying to provoke you. It's unfortunate that you took the bait but I can't see anything coming of it, to be honest.

The worst you'll probably get if it's repoprted is a "slap on the wrist letter" like the one I got for doing 31 MPH (+/- the accuracy of the hand held gun!) in a 30MPH limit . "Whilst we are satisfied that an offence has been committed, on this occasion we have decided not to take further action..."

Kevin

[Marks DTM Calib]

Are you sure they were police officers and not prison wardens or security guards or even a couple of guys in fancy dress.

The vast majority of our Police force are very sensible level headed people and I doubt an officer would lane hog as described.

I suspect you have little to worry about.

[JamesV6CDX]

Did cross my mind Mark - but fancy dress at 11am?

Either way, I'll sit tight and wait for a knock on the door!!

[Jim]

Are you sure they were police officers and not prison wardens or security guards or even a couple of guys in fancy dress.

The vast majority of out Police force are very sensible level headed people and I doubt an officer would lane hog as described.

I suspect you have little to worry about.

Agreed

[Kevin Wood]

Good thinking on the fancy dress. Mate of mine once took his driving test in drag due to an unfortunate clash with a staging of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

He passed. Doubt the poor guy dared to fail him. So, yes, all is not what it seems sometimes when you look inside a passing car.

I doubt a real Police officer would have gesticulated his annoyance or flashed his lights. He would have pulled you over for a word or let it be.

kevin

[JamesV6CDX]

That would be a sorry sight - a Citroen C3 1.0 pulling over a Facelift Omega V6!!

[Danny]

I was driving along the M4 this morning, about 11am. Two lane traffic.

I was in lane 2, and was approaching a tiny black Citroen C2. It was doing a really annoying speed of about 66mph, and wasn't making much progress towards overtaking anything. It had a clear, sufficient gap in lane one to move over - but it would not budge over to let me by.

Keeping a good distance - I gave a brief light flash. He looked in his mirror and saw it, but still didn't move over.

To cut a long story short, he seemed to be refusing to move over (I had a que of cars behind me also wanting to pass him).

I must hold up my hand to the fact that I was getting a little bit frustrated. I ended up getting far too close to the citroen - probably in the realms of tailgaiting. I gave a couple more light flashes which the driver saw, and made a (friendly) hand gesture that I wanted to pass.

All I was greeted by was a dab on his brakes, and again refusal to move to lane 1.

At one point he made as if he was going to move over, but then changed his mind, causing me to have to ease off, after preparing to pass him.

When he finally did move over, and I passed him, I was rather horrified. In the little Citroen, was the unmistaken presence of two uniformed police officers. And I had been effectively trying to "encourage" them out of my way for about 3 miles  

The officer made a very clear hand signal to me that he was furious, and as I pulled back in front he flashed his headlights at me. Being in a personal car I guess he couldn't pull me over, but still, I expect he noted the VRM, and I'm really not looking forward to any consequenses.

I'm not sure exactly what they can do when not in the "works" vehicle, but I'm guessing someone will pay me a visit very soon.

Bottom line is, I shouldn't have got so close behind it, and I hold my hand up to that. And I know it's not a valid defence, but I would expect a police officer to drive in such a manner that doesn't confuse and impede the progress of motorway traffic  

Any thoughts on how this might pan out, would be interesting  :-/

hell no, use that as your defense, i'd be equally annoyed if i was impeded in ANY way by a police officer who clearly has no idea how to drive properly, if anything, you should have took his details and reported him just so you at least have some sort of evidence on your own side

in the evening of a busy saturday I watch in amazement as a police woman got into her marked transit van and sped off down the road with no lights on, at all, and yes, i mean her headlights werent even on

it's not unheard of for traffic police to pull over beat cops for not driving properly

[Nickbat]

I was driving along the M4 this morning, about 11am. Two lane traffic.

I was in lane 2, and was approaching a tiny black Citroen C2. It was doing a really annoying speed of about 66mph, and wasn't making much progress towards overtaking anything. It had a clear, sufficient gap in lane one to move over - but it would not budge over to let me by.

Keeping a good distance - I gave a brief light flash. He looked in his mirror and saw it, but still didn't move over.

To cut a long story short, he seemed to be refusing to move over (I had a que of cars behind me also wanting to pass him).

I must hold up my hand to the fact that I was getting a little bit frustrated. I ended up getting far too close to the citroen - probably in the realms of tailgaiting. I gave a couple more light flashes which the driver saw, and made a (friendly) hand gesture that I wanted to pass.

All I was greeted by was a dab on his brakes, and again refusal to move to lane 1.

At one point he made as if he was going to move over, but then changed his mind, causing me to have to ease off, after preparing to pass him.

When he finally did move over, and I passed him, I was rather horrified. In the little Citroen, was the unmistaken presence of two uniformed police officers. And I had been effectively trying to "encourage" them out of my way for about 3 miles  

The officer made a very clear hand signal to me that he was furious, and as I pulled back in front he flashed his headlights at me. Being in a personal car I guess he couldn't pull me over, but still, I expect he noted the VRM, and I'm really not looking forward to any consequenses.

I'm not sure exactly what they can do when not in the "works" vehicle, but I'm guessing someone will pay me a visit very soon.

Bottom line is, I shouldn't have got so close behind it, and I hold my hand up to that. And I know it's not a valid defence, but I would expect a police officer to drive in such a manner that doesn't confuse and impede the progress of motorway traffic  

Any thoughts on how this might pan out, would be interesting  :-/

I agree with Mark. How can you be sure they were police officers?
There's little doubt that in my mind that had they been, and the driver was as furious as you say, they would have pulled you over to give you a once over even if they knew they they didn't have any video evidence of your tailgating.

Hope you learned your lesson, though.  

Nick

[donut82]

I don't think you have anything to worry about mate, as people have said above I very much doubt an off duty police officer would drive like that, and if anything does come of it you can always ask to go to court and see motorway video evidence. Remember, big brother is always watching!

If the Citroen was driving as you described I'd imagine it wouldn't be far off driving without due care and attention, although I'm not an expert so don't quote me.

Good job it wasn't me....I wouldn't have waited 3 miles. If theres room to undertake he had room to pull in....good luck with it though

[JamesV6CDX]

I was driving along the M4 this morning, about 11am. Two lane traffic.

I was in lane 2, and was approaching a tiny black Citroen C2. It was doing a really annoying speed of about 66mph, and wasn't making much progress towards overtaking anything. It had a clear, sufficient gap in lane one to move over - but it would not budge over to let me by.

Keeping a good distance - I gave a brief light flash. He looked in his mirror and saw it, but still didn't move over.

To cut a long story short, he seemed to be refusing to move over (I had a que of cars behind me also wanting to pass him).

I must hold up my hand to the fact that I was getting a little bit frustrated. I ended up getting far too close to the citroen - probably in the realms of tailgaiting. I gave a couple more light flashes which the driver saw, and made a (friendly) hand gesture that I wanted to pass.

All I was greeted by was a dab on his brakes, and again refusal to move to lane 1.

At one point he made as if he was going to move over, but then changed his mind, causing me to have to ease off, after preparing to pass him.

When he finally did move over, and I passed him, I was rather horrified. In the little Citroen, was the unmistaken presence of two uniformed police officers. And I had been effectively trying to "encourage" them out of my way for about 3 miles  

The officer made a very clear hand signal to me that he was furious, and as I pulled back in front he flashed his headlights at me. Being in a personal car I guess he couldn't pull me over, but still, I expect he noted the VRM, and I'm really not looking forward to any consequenses.

I'm not sure exactly what they can do when not in the "works" vehicle, but I'm guessing someone will pay me a visit very soon.

Bottom line is, I shouldn't have got so close behind it, and I hold my hand up to that. And I know it's not a valid defence, but I would expect a police officer to drive in such a manner that doesn't confuse and impede the progress of motorway traffic  

Any thoughts on how this might pan out, would be interesting  :-/

I agree with Mark. How can you be sure they were police officers?
There's little doubt that in my mind that had they been, and the driver was as furious as you say, they would have pulled you over to give you a once over even if they knew they they didn't have any video evidence of your tailgating.

Hope you learned your lesson, though.  

Nick

Thing is - he wouldn't be allowed to pull me over if he's in his personal shopping trolly car with no blues...

[Paulus]

Sounds like you have escaped any nastyness with the law.