Blue light cop car slams into biker

gregmcc

gregmcc

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http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Blue-light-cop-car-slams-into-biker-20111118

A lecturer at the Tshwane University of Technology has allegedly been knocked off his motorbike by a police car at an intersection in Pretoria, Beeld reported on Friday.

According to the report, the policeman did not get out of the car to see whether PK Smit, 48, was injured.

"When I asked the policeman what was so important that he had to disregard a red traffic light he said: 'But my blue light was on'," Smith said.
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Another one!! :mad:
 
Well to be honest, this is actually a police car. They are allowed to have blue lights.
But yeah, still... I hope the guy recovers.
 
if there was an emergency then siren was needed too, there are many police vehicles cruising around with blue lights flashing for police visibility, so blue light without siren doesn't mean much.
 
Once again, just a bunch of power-hungry baboons with no regard for the law.
 
They are also supposed to give way to traffic that has right of way.
 
Policeman disregards a red traffic light he is resposible for the collision blue light and siren or not
 
ldmelsa said:
They are required to have both the lights and sirens on when going through an intersection like that (I think)
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Not only that but the law of the road still applies to them. Which is something that most people, especially the cops, dont understand.

If you have your lights going and your sirens on, you still need to treat a red traffic light as a yield sign. It is up to you to slow down and make sure that all the traffic has noticed you before going through the red light.

This simple rule seems to be left out of the police handbook, or selectively ignored by idiots that join the police so that they can break the law whenever they feel like it.
 
the traffic act states that they should have both visual and aural indications in an emergency situation, unless the situation requires otherwise
 
marine1 said:
Not really, depends, if they are close to lets say an armed robbery perhaps, I would think sirens must be switched off.
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If that is the case then the cop car should slow when approaching the intersection. Having silent speeding bullets running red lights with nothing but a flashing blue light is unacceptable.

I would rather let the handful of criminals that justify this "siren off" behaviour escape than have cops able to speed through red lights silently with nothing but a blue light. It is dangerous.
 
SoulTax said:
Not only that but the law of the road still applies to them. Which is something that most people, especially the cops, dont understand.

If you have your lights going and your sirens on, you still need to treat a red traffic light as a yield sign. It is up to you to slow down and make sure that all the traffic has noticed you before going through the red light.

This simple rule seems to be left out of the police handbook, or selectively ignored by idiots that join the police so that they can break the law whenever they feel like it.
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Yip they are not above the law and your statement is correct. Although they don't think so..............

If they were on their way to an emergancy where life and limb were at stake I have "some sympathy" for them (although still accountable) if not they must be held fully acountable and recieve a harsher penalty than the people they are serving.
 
When approaching and intersection drivers must excercise due caution and not just blow through. Lights and sirens should be activated, you should also hear the siren tone change.

All emergency vechiles have right of way when responding lights and siren
 
R/SGT said:
When approaching and intersection drivers must excercise due caution and not just blow through. Lights and sirens should be activated, you should also hear the siren tone change.

All emergency vechiles have right of way when responding lights and siren
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They might have right of way, but must still treat said intersection as a yield sign correct? They can only go through once sure that it would not endanger themselves or the other road users.

The responsibility of the emergency vehicle operator does not stop at lights and sirens in an attempt to be seen. It carries through to actually looking around and ensuring that they have been seen.
 
Why do you see certain vehicles have only their lights on? I never know whether i should break my neck to move over or whether they just enjoy pretty lights. Ambulances i see plenty with only the lights on. I don't move because surely they would use the siren if it was an emergency as they are heard long before seen.
 
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