Police overtaking

[Cetti]

Are the Police allowed to overtake on double white lines during a chase on a very busy A road? This is quite important, but I do need to know the position regarding the law.

[netibiza]

Not sure legally - but police are allowed to break the rules But they are also responsible for any accidents or deaths which occur due to that rule-breaking.

[Cetti]

Thank you netibiza for your answer, but I was hoping the 'no overtaking' applied to everyone. Oh well, at least I know now. Thanks again.

[THECORBYLOON]

If you think of all the programmes showing police cars going the wrong way down roads, going through red lights etc. when they're in a chase, crossing double white lines is minor. As was said already though, the police must be aware of safety at all times.

[Cetti]

I agree, but the reason for my question is that they did not adhere to the safety rule, so I wondered if they could overtake regardless.

[Grunty]

One of the reasons that they are allowed discretion in urgent cases is the standard that they are trained to.  Although some do subsequently fall short and then make headlines, most do drive to a very high standard, and are therefore unnoticed.  There are beginner, intermediate and advanced courses.  The advanced course alone is 8 hours a day instruction for six weeks.  Work that out and compare with what it takes to pass the ordinary test.  There are separate tests for town, motorway and country.  Points are lost for example, for failing to look over the shoulder when pulling out and for being one mile per hour over the limit.