Speeding of police cars

[slinky666]

Are police cars allowed to speed to an incident without the use of sirens or lights at 9pm?

[gerry]

I always thought if the police were speeding to get to a incident they had to have their siren on.

[adydb]

Doh and let the robbers know they are on their way?

[Sammy Snake]

I though they only had to have their siren on to alert traffic, like when it's busy and they want people to get out of the way or if they need to go through red lights.

I thought that if there was nothing on front of them they could speed, with the blue lights on but no siren.

[gerry]

adydlb now all police incidents involve robbers

[Hammer]

I thought that technically they are not allowed to speed at all, or jump red lights, or drive on the wrong side of the road, etc etc.

 

Of course they do this all the time, and quite rightly, but technically they shouldn't, and if they have an accident then questions are asked and they are almost always at fault for insurance purposes etc.

[OBonio]

I agree with Hammer. The same goes for ambulances. No vehicle is technically allowed to break the law. But it's generally accepted that emergency services need to break the law to get their job done so everyone turns a blind eye.

[Ralph]

This was asked here a while ago, have a look here and here. The first 'here' is probably more pertinent and interesting!

[milly143]

they seem to just speed regardless round here.

[samwolf5]

I'm not sure about police but if it's the same as it is for ambulance drivers (and I'm fairly sure it would be) then they aren't allowed to speed or break any motoring rules unless they have lights on and are on their way to or from a relevant incident. There was a recent case in Cumbria where an Ambulance driver was convicted of speeding on an empty motorway at the dead of night whilst taking organs from a donor to where they were required (and he even had his lights on!) see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/293791 0.stm.

I'm fairly sure that he managed to appeal successfully, and rightly so in my view.

[samwolf5]

Sorry - tell a lie - its not Cumbria at all - I just assumed I'd heard it on local news.

[Del68]

The emergency services can only exceed the speed limit if there is a danger to life, and if they do, they must have atleast their blue lights on. The two tone siren is normally only used to warn other road users that an emergency vehicle needs access. i.e. at junctions, traffic and pedestrial crossings , heavy traffic etc.
Also the driver must have passed the police "blue" light driving course. Many so called blue light drivers, blood and organ donor drivers are not permitted to exceed the speed limited regardless of the circumstances. If their cargo is needed that quickly it would be given a police escort or flown to destination. Bottom line, blue's and twos with excessive speed means someones life is in danger get out of the way, you never know it could be one of your family they are trying to save!