Taxi Driver Online

This morning is the second day of the Waddington air show. Returning to Lincoln through Bracebridge Heath, I approached the A15 junction where the traffic lights were switched off, and a cop was directing traffic. Two lanes, one for left turn, one for right. I stopped at the front of the left turn lane, as the cop was holding his arm up in the STOP position. He then pointed at me, and waved me on. I drove forward and left, as ordered. At the same time a patrol car cruised straight through the junction from my right. It was very, very close, but no collision, luckily. I wonder who would have been at fault, if there had been one?

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Former taxi driver

this is Lincolnshire police so the law is always very open to interpretation they would have blamed you of course and the insurance would probably accept their version although you would probably be able to make a complaint against the officers involved

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

It would have been up to you to ensure the junction was clear before proceeding, regardless of whether or not an officer told you go.

Of course if you were already across the junction then likewise it would be the patrol cars responsibility to make sure the way ahead was clear. To put it another way, if the lights had been working would you blindly drive through the green light without first checking to the right to make sure no-one had jumped the lights ?

Bottom line is if you drove in front of the patrol car you would be at fault (due care and attention), if they drove into the back of you then likewise. All depends on who was where on the road and at what time. Hopefully the patrol car would have onboard video to clear it up, and in this case would probably show the patrol car ignoring the directions of a police officer.

Sasha do you know this junction ? once you have turned off onto the A15 it you would have to be looking over your left shoulder virtually to have seen the patrol car coming from the direction jimbo stated

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

I don't know the junction, I just presumed that like most junctions traffic approaches you from the right, this obviously isn't the case at this one then.

So I'll re-phrase my first reply, you should do your best to ensure the junction is clear before proceeding.

A friend of mine had a collision at traffic lights in their favour when another vehicle went through a red light just as theirs changed to green. The argument was that although the other vehicle had jumped the lights 'they were there to be seen'. The insurance payout was 50/50 but no blame was placed on my friend

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!