• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

Proper ediquette during a chase.

Jalopyshoppe

Jalopyshoppe

idiot
Joined
Jun 13, 2012
Location
DIFFERENT PLACES
Moto(s)
FXR thing, Buell Ulysses, Honda CRF250 Rally, Hawk GT's , and various others.
Name
Fish
I was coming home from band rehearsal tonight headed west on I80, in Vacaville. I was in the #1 lane, and noticed red and blues in my mirror, but just barely distinguishable. There was another car behind me, and one slightly behind me, but in the #3 lane. Within seconds, a red SUV passed me, followed by 4-6 CHP cruisers. All with full lights, but I only heard a siren on one car. The cruisers were not bunched. I maintained my speed and lane, until the group passed, and then moved over and slowed to 55mph to see if there were more following. After the freeway cleared, I moved over and resumed my cruising speed, and never saw the chase again.
Did I act properly? I felt like rapidly changing lanes or slowing with the other car behind me could have complicated what was going on. The chase had to be in the 90 to 100mph area. Playing it over in my mind, moving to the right when I saw that the lights were closing in would have put me in front of the speeding car.
Hope there was no one injured when that chase ended.
 
Move over to the right if you can move over safely. In your case it sounds like you did the right thing.
 
If you don't see it coming from far enough back to move over early, then just maintain course and speed if you think they will be passing you on the right
 
While moving over is proper etiquette, the hapless cruisers will just have to wait until the nefarious criminal leading the chase decides to pull over. The police would much prefer if you shot at the criminal as he passed since you have the better angle. See this thread for more info: http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=422334
 
I know in that situation, had I moved over like a startled sheep, I would have caused a crash. I sort of assumed that not slowing or braking was the proper thing, similar to race track rules (hold your line, check your mirrors). It was just a new experience for me, and I wanted to get other opinions. The last thing any chase needs is some rubberneck complicating things.
 
What is law enforcement's opinion on the Hollywood scenario of Good Samaritan Driver slowing/blocking the fleeing vehicle? Appreciated or just another variable they don't want to have complicating the situation?
 
Same thing happened to me about a year ago. Heading north on 13 from Castro Valley at night. A car rips past me and I think 'woa, wtf is up wiht that dude'? Still thinking 'shit that guy was going fast', I see lights and a siren coming up from behind. There are several cars all around. nobody changes lanes. Everyone just stays where they are. The 2-3 cop cars pick their paths thru safely and everyone relaxes.

Then out of nowhere, there are at least 6 more cop cars that follow at the same blazing speeds. Some with lights on some without.

In a high speed chase, I don't think there is enough time for the average car driver to safely move out of the way. That will just add to the difficulty the cop has trying to follow safely.

What I don't get, is why at least 6-7 police vehicles had to chase the initial 2-3 cars? After a while it just seemed like overkill and I felt that the additional chase cars, because they were so far behind to start with, were just adding more danger than anything else.

I'm not sure if it was the same chase, but when I passed Albany / Golden Gate Fields there was a big crash on 80 caused by a pedestrian walking into traffic and getting killed. Might have been the driver of the original chased car or a completely different event.

For motorcycles (as well as cars), this is a prime example of "check your six" regularly. And bikers, ride in a spot that allows you unobstructed views both forward and rearward. Personally, my favorite spot is the right side of the #1 lane.
 
Depending on time of day, I like to stay left of the #1 lane. It's usually the carpool lane, and there is a high speed delta, so I like to be over far enough if a slow car pulls into the carpool lane that I ave an escape.
I also like the way my bike sounds echoing off the K rail as I ride by. Left side under bike exhaust is sometimes hard to enjoy....
This is where I was last night.
Thanks for in input, I'm glad I assumed correctly.
 
Like others said... if it's a panic last minute move, don't do it. If you see the chase coming from a distance, move over. Kinda like riding trackdays... be predictable!
 
I haven't had the pleasure of having a chase ran up on me.

But the other day, while in my car, city streets, about 2 blocks away, you could see the black and white approaching, opposite direction. I was the first car at the intersection, and getting ready to make a left, but I waited when I saw and heard the sirens, even though the unit was coming from the opposition direction. the dufus F150 driver behind was obnoxiously honking me to go.

My understanding is you pull over or freeze till the sirened vehicle has passed thru the intersection you are at.

am I wrong about that?
 
I've been in a similar boat on 80 at the Fairfield scales x 680.

Was in the #2 lane tried to merge right when I saw all the lights 3/4 of a mile behind me.
I almost slammed merging to the right in the #4 lane.

I was gonna bitch about it. Worse thing is- it wasn't a chase at all, it was an Officer Needs Help call from another agency.
 
from what i know of the lane law, off the freeway pull the (****) over and STOP.

on a multi-lane freeway you can keep moving just get out of the way and be predictable in what you are doing. USE your turn signals.
if you see early, get out of the way.
if no time, remain were you are do not change lanes. or speed.
let the fool and the leo's have the right of way at all times.

the fool does not know what they are doing. they just want to "play". the officers are just trying to not loose them. be predicable so the leo's know what you are going to do so they do not have to "adjust" for your stupid action.
even if this makes you miss the off ramp you wanted.


.
 
Yeah, "ediquette" (besides being misspelled) isn't the right term anyway...
 
}Dragon{ said:
That's asking ALOT for your average California driver.:laughing
Click to expand...

True. But it sure takes alot of the panic out of the equation by signalling your intentions. I don't always see cops behind me in enough time, so I signal to let them know I am moving over to the right, so they won't try to pass. Its for both police and civilian safety.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top