pulling into bus lane to let police car pass

Jamie_Carter

smashingyour... wrote: »

As you have failed to disclose what you do, how do we know it assists you?

You don't. So don't make assumptions about my profession.

smashingyour...

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

You don't. So don't make assumptions about my profession.

You're all talk.

Jamie_Carter

kizkiz wrote: »

Oh dear.
No driver would ever plan to use the bus lane as anything but a last resort as it's so dangerous to do so. We can't possibly know what he planned top do with the op from the tiny amount of info given
I suggest you look at your legal exemptions, as you seem to think we have more than we do.
In law, it's very limited, but in reality the local authorities don't prosecute for most things.
I did try googling, but very hard to find surprisingly. all I could find was this, which confirms what i'm saying.
http://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/YourRightInformation/FreedomInformation/Policies/D227.pdf

Yes they would most likely have planned to use the bus lane if that was the clearest lane. And I know that because it is what blue light drivers are trained to do. It's called progressive driving, and has been taught for many years, and still is.

It is much safer to use an empty bus lane than it is to weave in and out of traffic. This is because people who do know how to respond to an approaching emergency vehicle will know that they shouldn't move onto the bus lane or hard shoulder. So in theory there should be fewer vehicles moving into those lanes. But as with any manoeuvre you have to carry out a dynamic risk assessment, and be aware that other drivers could change lanes without warning. But this is no different to any other lane on the road.

There are many more exemptions than those you list, but many of them are rarely used.

Exemptions
Stopping on clearways.
[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Parking within the zigzags of a pedestrian crossing.
Parking in areas controlled by double white/yellow lines.
[/FONT][/FONT]Stopping the engine whilst parked.
Parking on the offside of the road at night.
Parking on footway/verge/central reservation.
Exceeding statutory speed limits.
[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Treating a red traffic light as a ‘give way’.
[/FONT][/FONT]Use audible warnings at night.
Observing keep left/right signs.
[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Motorway regulations (where you need to do so to avoid or prevent an accident, or to obtain or give the help required at an accident or emergency).
[/FONT][/FONT]Entering a bus lane/street.
Entering a pedestrian precinct.

Jamie_Carter

smashingyour... wrote: »

You're all talk.

Really??

Well how come what I say fits in with what others who are also blue light trained say? And what you say doesn't?

londonTiger

emergency vehicles dont like using bus lanes because they can get boxed in if a vehicle i using the bus lane. technically you overtake on the outside so its better for them to pass on the right or use the central reservation to drive on.

unfortunately traffic people dnt care and will issue you ticket if they catch you on the bus lane, as others have posted already. when you appeal it will be up to the discretion of the person reviewing your case. it can go either way

Jamie_Carter

londonTiger wrote: »

emergency vehicles dont like using bus lanes because they can get boxed in if a vehicle i using the bus lane. technically you overtake on the outside so its better for them to pass on the right or use the central reservation to drive on.

This isn't true. Blue light trained drivers are taught to plan ahead, and take the clearest route possible. This applies to any lane, including bus lanes, hard shoulders, and even filter lanes. However when using hard shoulders it is advised that we don't exceed 30mph in case someone pulls onto the hard shoulder, or as is often the case, there is debris on the carriageway.

However in an ideal world it would be best if all drivers pulled over to the left to leave the outside lane clear.

londonTiger wrote: »

unfortunately traffic people dnt care and will issue you ticket if they catch you on the bus lane, as others have posted already. when you appeal it will be up to the discretion of the person reviewing your case. it can go either way

I have been looking at many local authorities web sites. And it appears that most do include 'moving into a bus lane to give room to an emergency service vehicle' as an exception. So the OP should be OK.

smashingyour...

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

This isn't true. Blue light trained drivers are taught to plan ahead, and take the clearest route possible. This applies to any lane, including bus lanes, hard shoulders, and even filter lanes. However when using hard shoulders it is advised that we don't exceed 30mph in case someone pulls onto the hard shoulder, or as is often the case, there is debris on the carriageway.

However in an ideal world it would be best if all drivers pulled over to the left to leave the outside lane clear.



I have been looking at many local authorities web sites. And it appears that most do include 'moving into a bus lane to give room to an emergency service vehicle' as an exception. So the OP should be OK.

Who advises that?

The Motorway Manual states, you should drive at an appropriate speed.

smashingyour...

londonTiger wrote: »

emergency vehicles dont like using bus lanes because they can get boxed in if a vehicle i using the bus lane. technically you overtake on the outside so its better for them to pass on the right or use the central reservation to drive on.

unfortunately traffic people dnt care and will issue you ticket if they catch you on the bus lane, as others have posted already. when you appeal it will be up to the discretion of the person reviewing your case. it can go either way

Of course they do, sod the barrier getting in the way.

Jamie_Carter

smashingyour... wrote: »

Who advises that?

The Motorway Manual states, you should drive at an appropriate speed.

Certain emergency services advise that to their drivers.

Jamie_Carter

smashingyour... wrote: »

Of course they do, sod the barrier getting in the way.

I'm afraid London Tiger's driving skills leave a lot to be desired:

londonTiger wrote: »

I'm elated, I should be distraught for having 3 points and a 120 pound fine. But police let me off.

Joing a dual carriageway with 40 limit. Idiot driver hogging lane 1 when the roads are clear and plenty of chance ffor them to move to 2nd lane and not cause hazard to joining traffic. I'm neck a neck with it and decide to floor it and get in front rather than slow down. End up doing 50 as Ijoin. Notice a range rover doing 50 on lane 2. Too close to merge there so decide to speed up and create a bigger gap. Now doing 55. Hold on....... TThat's a police range rover. Hit the brakes to reduce down to 40.

I don't know if police let me off because they couldn't be bothered or they too were speeding so wouldn't be able to prosecute me.

But yeah. II'm so lucky