It never ceases to amaze me of the effect that police cars have on motorway traffic and speed.

In most cases people immediately slow down to 70mph (or less) once they've caught wind of a cop car. Sometimes the police are just trundling along in the inner lane doing 65-70mph but every other car is ridiculously hesitant to overtake at anything other than 1mph faster. Everybody keeps their distance and do not make rash lane changes. In some ways the small stretch of visible motorway becomes a fairly pleasant place to drive.

Then you get those who shoot by only to ram on their brakes just in time to prevent them from being caught as they pass the police car. This can be more dangerous in itself. I never have a fear of driving according to the road conditions when police are around and if I need to overtake at a sensible acceleration and speed then I will.

Today I saw a police car overtake me on the M4 (Vauxhall Vectra Estate - not VXR) and his lights were not on but he was on a mission. Suddenly all the cars moved out of its way so I decided to make the most of the situation and followed him. It surprised me that he was going at 80,90 and 100mph for a short while and yet there didn't seem to be any reason for it.

I had to get off the motorway at that point (I hope he didn't spot me keeping up with him) but I'd like to know why he was breaking the speed limit without obvious reason. I didn't think they were allowed to drive that fast unless they were in pursuit and their lights/sirens were on.

Obviously I wouldn't condone speeding so please forgive my brief acceleration just to check how fast the police car was going....

I'd like to know why he was breaking the speed limit without obvious reason. I didn't think they were allowed to drive that fast unless they were in pursuit and their lights/sirens were on.

The police may break the speed limit and treat red lights as a give way where there is a valid reason. Blues and two's need not be used where they would impede this reason (eg undercover surveillance).

I tend to maintain 70-80mph past police cars and have never had any problems

Chris

When I first learnt to drive I would slow down to 70mph, only to be over taken. I don't take the urine when it comes to speeding. Whatever speed I feel confortable and competant doing.

If that means overtaking them then so be it, never been a problem. Unless they assume they are seeing things.