Awkward police van. ( Or is it me!)

[Gatley lass]

The same thing has happened to be twice now at the same place.
A police van overtakes me as I am cycling along Palatine Road, drives just past me than indicates left. However he doesn't turn so that I can carry on my journey. He stops and indicates to the traffice in the side roads( Dene Road and Mersey Road) to come out meaning I have to stop and linger behind him until he decides to turn.
Does anyone else think this is annoying or is it me needing a holiday and a new life!!

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Crap driving, IMO... and indicating to traffic in side roads when he's just overtaken you and knows you will be there soon is very poor form!

 

[BSRU]

Sounds like the driver is being a bit naughty, you're not supposed to cause another road user to slow down or change direction when turning into or pulling out of a junction.
If they are overtaking and then immediately signalling left for a junction which is very close then that is also a "should not" in the highway code.

 

[som3blok3]

What do you mean by 'just past you', almost sounds like a left hook without the hook bit, in which case a naughty move by any vehicle, yet alone a police vehicle.

Check out the post on 'Car Slapping', not sure if that'll be a wise move though.....

 

[Gatley lass]

What do you mean by 'just past you', almost sounds like a left hook without the hook bit, in which case a naughty move by any vehicle, yet alone a police vehicle.

Check out the post on 'Car Slapping', not sure if that'll be a wise move though.....

It wouldn't be a problem him turning if he did it straight away as he is far enough in front of me. The problem is him than stopping and creating a hazard that prevents me continuing.
Thanks for the replies. Obviously feeling a bit Monday morning.

 

[nightoff]

Would it be an option to shoulder check to make sure nothing was behind then pass the police car slowly on the right making sure traffic joining the road you are on will not cross your path? Failing that, you could have a chat with the driver of the police vehicle explaining the problem he is causing you with his driving.

 

[2Loose]

You say you wait 'until he decides to turn' - does he eventually make the turn? If so perhaps he is waiting for you to clear the inside first (which is bad anyway, he should wait behind in this case).

I often have vehicles come past me indicating left that stop and wait for me to come up their inside and pass...of course I always wait for them as it would be sods law to have one actually turn into me as I was on their inside.

Much safer (and quicker) for them to wait behind me if they are going to turn.

 

[Amanda P]

The solution might be to take a dominant primary position, so that this kind of half-overtake just isn't possible. Make the traffic wait behind you, so you're in control of what happens at junctions.

 

[Paco de Bango]

Of course, just because the van is letting the car out, the car coming out should still check that it's ok to proceed. meaning he'll be waiting for you, but you won't undertake the van and the van is waiting for the car so you're all staring at each other going nowhere.

I'm with nightoff on this one...... try to overtake the police van ....... if only to make a point.

Maybe he'll see what you're doing and realise he's driving like a d*ck

 

[Gatley lass]

Thanks for all your advice.
I'm hoping I don't encounter him again but if I do I'll make sure he knows I'm there and entitled to pass.

 

[GFamily]

The same thing has happened to be twice now at the same place.
A police van overtakes me as I am cycling along Palatine Road, drives just past me than indicates left. However he doesn't turn so that I can carry on my journey. He stops and indicates to the traffice in the side roads( Dene Road and Mersey Road) to come out meaning I have to stop and linger behind him until he decides to turn.
Does anyone else think this is annoying or is it me needing a holiday and a new life!!

It sounds to me as though the police van is trying to be considerate and letting other road users out of the side road before he turns in himself. Yes, road users behind the van may be slightly inconvenienced, but it is out of consideration for other road users (the ones coming out of the side road).

I wouldn't try passing the Police Van because it would be unwise and illegal (overtaking at a junction).

As to whether the police van should have overtaken you in the first place - it depends on the speed of the road and distance between his overtake and the side roads.


Probably 'Awkward police van', but convince yourself that you're also being considerate and turn it around in your head.

 

[Texas_rp]

Maybe the side junction is not big enough for the van to turn into without letting the waiting traffic out first? I don't know where you are riding to know the lay out of the road.

 

[buddha]

Some 'considerate' drivers, indicate left after overtaking to let you know they are pulling back in to the lane. I often confuse this for them wanting to either turn left, or pull in to stop for some reason. I then feel bad for grumbling at them

IMO quite a few police drivers (those that aren't in a rush to get to the chippy) tend to drive by the book - as all drivers should. Most drivers don't. So their actions take me by surprise.

 

[Arch]

Maybe the side junction is not big enough for the van to turn into without letting the waiting traffic out first? I don't know where you are riding to know the lay out of the road.

Possibly, but to overtake a cyclist, knowing that you are shortly turning left, and will probably have to wait for traffic to come out, is a bit inconsiderate - and would be dangerous if the cyclist happened to be riding at any great speed. Many people seem to assume that bikes only travel at walking pace, so that once you are past them they cease to exist behind you.

 

[Mr Celine]

I wouldn't try passing the Police Van because it would be unwise and illegal (overtaking at a junction).

Possibly unwise, but not illegal unless signs or road markings make it so.