LEO's in traffic

[Johnnykck]

However, when there's an emergent call, all bets are off. I do what I can to get there safely, and if I appear to drive like a jackhole, and I hurt your feelings while I am trying to get there as fast and as safe as I can, well, go ahead and get some counseling or whatever you need. I got priorities to take care of and your feelings are not at the top.

The safety of others is clearly not on your list of priorities. My point exactly. Getting to your call as fast as possible, going well over the speed limit, cutting a few people off, not stopping at stop signs, weaving in and out of traffic might be the safest way for you, but what about the others on the road. Ever think that some one might not see you coming? Slam on their brakes when you cut in front of them? Swerve into another lane?

[Johnnykck]

LOL. I will say this, when I am driving fast, talking on the radio, looking at the computer and on the cell phone with the victim...turn signals are not too high on my priority list.

;-)

Seems like you have your hands full and are very distracted while doing all of this at once, to busy/distracted to use your turn signals. I wonder if all this distraction might also keep you from noticing what others might be doing in the traffic around you, hard enough to know exactly what every car around is doing at any given time in traffic with out being distracted and traveling at "normal" speed, much less speeding, using cell phone, on the radio and looking at computer. Using turn signals might let others know what you next move will be.

[Falconis]

Johnny, missed that one sentence about him saying getting there safely? You did quote it. I think it is one of the factors he considers. If you want to just pick fights, go to the OT forum where it may be allowed. Otherwise, stay out of here if you don't have anything constructive to add. I would ask what's with the chip on your shoulder, but I really don't want to talk to you.

[Johnnykck]

Nahh, I’ll stick to what I’m good at.

Oh I fully understand that, you’re spot on. Add half a dozen cars all having the same reaction simultaneously while traveling at a decent clip, it can be a recipe for disaster. That was kinda my point, too. All that drama is skipped if I can pass them without them even being aware that I am there.

I understand, drivers reacting unpredictably to lights/siren while traveling at a decent clip can be a recipe for disaster.
But passing while traveling at that same decent clip with out them even knowing that you are there can be just as much of a recipe for disaster. Or am I wrong? Passing others at high speed, when they are not aware of you being there is safe(r)? It seems that not using lights/siren makes it easier for the LEO to travel at high speeds, but is it safer for everybody else involved? I can see the point that it makes it simpler, if I were to travel at high speeds down the freeway and nobody knows that I am coming I can just fly right by them. But what about the ones that change lanes right in front of me because they have no idea that I am coming.

[477]

I think the bottom line is if you observe what you feel or believe to be a reckless or dangerous operator of any moving vehicle, report it to the proper authorities. If it happens to be a LEO, report or file a citizens complaint with their department hence "Quis custodiet ipsos custodies”.

Per CVC section 21055 (a)(b) LEO is not exempt from the CVC unless:
(a) the vehicle is being driven in response to an emergency call or while engaged in rescue operations or is being used in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law.
(b) the driver of the vehicle sounds a siren as may be reasonably necessary and the vehicle displays a lighted red lamp visible from the front as a warning to other drivers and pedestrians.

And as Forest Gump said, that’s all I have to say about this.

[Johnnykck]

Johnny, missed that one sentence about him saying getting there safely? You did quote it. I think it is one of the factors he considers. If you want to just pick fights, go to the OT forum where it may be allowed. Otherwise, stay out of here if you don't have anything constructive to add. I would ask what's with the chip on your shoulder, but I really don't want to talk to you.

I did not miss the sentence about him getting there safely. But as I pointed out, how many others is he putting in danger due to his passing them while speeding, cutting in front of them causing them to slam on their brakes or swerving. Who is picking a fight? Making a point that not using turn signals, speeding, cutting people off, passing others that are unaware that you are coming at a high speed might be unsafe is picking a fight? The chip, if that is what you want to call it, is that a lot of times I have seen LEO's do this to get to a lunch date.

[IrishJoe3]

Well Johnny, I have been doing this'd for years and have never been involved in a wreck. I have seen multiple wrecks caused by drivers to busy watching my approaching lights than traffic around them.

On this matter we will have to agree to disagree. I will keep doing what is the quickest and safest for all involved, and you can feel free to have an opinion on it.

[Notorious]

The safety of others is clearly not on your list of priorities. My point exactly. Getting to your call as fast as possible, going well over the speed limit, cutting a few people off, not stopping at stop signs, weaving in and out of traffic might be the safest way for you, but what about the others on the road. Ever think that some one might not see you coming? Slam on their brakes when you cut in front of them? Swerve into another lane?

Getting there safely means I get there in one piece. Driving as you describes it is not safe by any means and it goes against any notion of safety in any standard defensive driving class, LE or civilian.

How is cutting people off or not signaling safe? I can get hit and it would be my fault. Not very safe. I think you are either misunderstanding or just refusing to accept that we can be safe but also drive in a way you don't like.

[Kestryll]

Johnny is done in this thread and in the LEO forum.