Scenarios

Man of Honour
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17 Nov 2003
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Southampton, UK
Two scenarios, what would you do?

  1. You're driving down an A road in your car and are followed by a vehicle which turns on flashing amber lights and indicates to the left. You see that the vehicle has markings of VOSA.
  2. You're driving on a motorway towing a small trailer. A vehicle pulls behind you and turns on it's flashing amber lights whilst indicating to the left. You see it has markings of a Highways Agency Traffic Officer.
 
I'd stop for both of them as I'm sure VOSA have the power to stop for examinations and certain motoring offenses, and I know that HATOs have the power to pull you over for safety reasons (unsecured load and whatnot) and traffic direction.
 
Scenario 1. I would stop as I expect they are just making sure I'm not using red diesel.
Scenario 2. Shouldn't happen as they have no powers to stop you.

Edit... Seems the HATOs do have powers to stop you. Guess I would stop then.
 
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I'd stop.

If you are in any doubt or you fear for your safety then you drive to the nearest Police station in a safe and controlled manner.
 
I'd turn on my flashing red beacons, slap it into second and show him what's what :D

Seriously though I'm not aware of this if it's law, a driver flashing in an attempt to highlight a problem is one thing but pulling me over is a blue light only job.

There was no mention of any of this when I took my driving test and that's what I'd tell the Judge :p
edit: Department of Transport was :/
 
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*waste them

:p
 
I've seen VOSA sting operations on the motorway but its the Police that pull them in and VOSA that does the checks.
 
I don't know. That's a tough one.
Although it's clearly been stated they have the power to pull you over. Where or how has anybody been informed of this is the case? It's not like they put a leaflet through your door is it?

Amber lights can be fitted by anyone can't they and they're a sign of a hazard such as a large vehicle/load or a working vehicle ala street sweeper. I'd expect most people aside from the gullible to ignore these situations really.
 
If I knew there was a fault with my car (bald tyre for instance) or the trailer I was towing was overloaded then I wouldn't stop. Otherwise I would - they may have spotted a problem with the car I hadn't noticed.
 
Although it's clearly been stated they have the power to pull you over. Where or how has anybody been informed of this is the case? It's not like they put a leaflet through your door is it?
As the driver, it's your job to keep yourself informed of changes to the law...
 
In both cases I would pull over as per the law, but in reality scenario 2 is impossible as they couldn't approach me from behind when they have no authority to exceed the posted speed limit ;)
 
Go oh **** oh **** oh **** do I have to stop?!?!?!?!

Probably would stop anyway, as far as I am aware they both have the power to stop you but I don't know the circumstance as to when they have the power.
 
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