http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/4074284.stm

Mmmmmmmmm

What do you think about that?????

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/4074284.stm

Mmmmmmmmm

What do you think about that?????

Very interesting. My personal view is that yes, he should be able to know what the car feels like flat out, how it handles, how it reacts to situations, his life is in danger if he doesn't. Criminals don't drive around obeying the speed limit, so it's a fair guess that he will need to call on the full potential of his vehicle, in the knowledge that when needed, it does what it says on the tin.

BUT!!!! This sort of testing should not be done on the public highway. I wasn't there at the time obviously, and I don't know if there was any other traffic or pedestrians on his route, but if there were, what chance would anybody have of survival if something had gone wrong?

Whats wrong with Millbrook for these tests. Given that the police have allegedly been catching criminals in fast cars for a number of years, why haven't they built there own simulated highway style track? You don't see Francois Delacour testing the WRC Fabia on the M6 do you, or Jenson Button having a blast up the M1?

He should be at least given penalty points just to show that it has been acknowledged that he did wrong. The fact that his superiors said that it was ok does not excuse him. He is a Police Officer at the end of the day, and should know what the consequences of unnessesary high speed can be. I'm sure he has seen enough tragic accidents.

Two things to add about this story since the last time I posted:

Apparently the guy was shopped by his own colleagues on evidence from the car's video system, which just goes to show how popular he must be down the station...

I'm sure I remember from my Roadcraft video that Old Bill will abandon a pursuit if it goes over 120mph, as it's too much of a risk to the Police driver and anyone else on the road (basically, if you hit anything at that speed, you're dead full stop). So he shouldn't have needed to know how the car handled at 160 or whatever it was anyway.

I think CPS are right in this case because what he did was irresponsible, and he's used his position to get away with breaking the law.

I'm sure I remember from my Roadcraft video that Old Bill will abandon a pursuit if it goes over 120mph, as it's too much of a risk to the Police driver and anyone else on the road (basically, if you hit anything at that speed, you're dead full stop). So he shouldn't have needed to know how the car handled at 160 or whatever it was anyway.

That's if he's doing pursuit - supposing he's attending a scene? If it was me trapped in my car under a leaking fuel tanker after an accident 3 miles up the motorway from him, I wouldn't care if he did 160 to get there...

Whats wrong with Millbrook for these tests. Given that the police have allegedly been catching criminals in fast cars for a number of years' date=' why haven't they built there own simulated highway style track? You don't see Francois Delacour testing the WRC Fabia on the M6 do you, or Jenson Button having a blast up the M1?

[/quote']

Testing on tracks is all well and good, but very few tracks are large enough or closer enough to road conditions to make it a worthwhile exercise. No, you don't see F1/WRC drivers practising on the roads, but as they don't actually need to travel in excess of the speed limit in the course of duty, I wouldn't expect them to.

It's no big secret that the CPS are pretty useless. I bet if this copper had been a drugged up joyrider with a disqualification from driving he would've got off with a driving ban or something...

Rob.

It's no big secret that the CPS are pretty useless. I bet if this copper had been a drugged up joyrider with a disqualification from driving he would've got off with a driving ban or something...

Rob.

Not only the CPS that are useless - the Procurator Fiscal Service/Crown Office in Scotland also have their moments BBC

It wouldnt ever be a pursuit as he was an armed response driver on duty at the time. If I were in a situation and a gun was involved I'd be happy to hear a car was blatting it from the nearest location (which could be in a different county) to help.

156MPH on motorway is ok by me as it was at 3am and therefore any accident would have (probably) only killed himself. Howevr 86 MPH in a 30 at any time of the day is wreckless and shouldnt be tolerated. Kids and teeagers are out at all times of the day night (different story!!!) and they will not be able to judge the speed of a car going 2.5 times over speed limit. Totally inexcusabel except in a real emergency.

I agree with previous statement. Why isnt there a series of test tracks where street driving is simulated? With all the court costs from police car accidents you would have thought it was economically viable too.

Howevr 86 MPH in a 30 at any time of the day is wreckless and shouldnt be tolerated. Kids and teeagers are out at all times of the day night (different story!!!)

Although that's working on the assumption that all 30s are residential areas, which isn't the case...

Why isnt there a series of test tracks where street driving is simulated?

It would have to be a pretty huge test track, with a lot of different road conditions, etc.

Rob.

Although that's working on the assumption that all 30s are residential areas' date=' which isn't the case...

It would have to be a pretty huge test track, with a lot of different road conditions, etc.

Rob.[/quote']

Have you seen the size of millbrook?????

Have you seen the size of millbrook?????

Have you seen the size of West Mercia?

Rob.

Burn him in hell

Wonder how many drivers he's done for being a few MPH over the limit.

It wouldnt ever be a pursuit as he was an armed response driver on duty at the time. If I were in a situation and a gun was involved I'd be happy to hear a car was blatting it from the nearest location (which could be in a different county) to help.

I'm pretty sure the rules regarding driving when on AR duty are actually stricter than for pursuit. After all' date=' a collision at [i']any[/i] speed has the potential to make driver and crew casualties, but probably won't harm the weapons and ammunition as as they safely secured to the bodywork of the vehicle and so won't be thrown around on impact. The last thing Old Bill wants is the guns being nicked by some shady passer-by while the coppers are trapped in the front waiting for the ambulance and/or fire crew to arrive.

Sorry, but no matter what the guy's duties were, he had no excuse for driving so recklessly, and should have been banned the moment he was found out.