Call me crazy, but it seems that cops are the last ones to turn on their headlights at night, and the first to turn them off in the morning. For instance, I was driving at about 10pm the other night. It was pitch dark outside, and everybody had their headlights on.....except the cops, who only had their parking lights on. Now, this was downtown, so there was some light from street lights and the like. But, is there a reason why they always seem to do this.

Also, cops a question about the way cops turn around. They always seem to pull forward, then back up into a driveway or somthing, then pull forward to turn around. Every cop that I have ever seen does this. Why?

 

I don't know if it's EVERY policemen....
but if you stopped and started as many times as they do each night.. and have to turn your headlights on and off each time...
bet you'd forget them every once in a while too

And, the turn around mode you see is not what I see...
but then I'm not overly guilty about my driving style that I watch police so closely
I SHOULD be more wary, but I'm not !!!!

The thing about generalizations is that
you are ALWAYS wrong in some cases....

 

LOL I don't watch them that closely, but it just occurred to me last night when i saw that cop, that every cop that i have seen around here is the same way.

Maybe its just me.


p.s. sorry, couldn't get the quote to work right. Now I can! thanks!

 

Add a [/ before the second quote and it'll work out perfectly.

 

They may just prefer to turn around that way. A 3-point turn is probably the fastest and safest in most situations and terrains. They may be a little more reckless if they have to run lights and siren.

 

most larger citys in euorpe are filled with cars that dont use headlights because there is enough light pollution that headlights dont do much but blind other drivers, i think this is a good idea because the most important reason to have your lights on is so that others can see you not so you can see others. Running lights make you visible and dont blind other drivers but im not about to go driving around with no headlights trying to start this here in the US

 

"the way cops turn around. They always seem to pull forward, then back up into a driveway or somthing, then pull forward to turn around"

I've lived in 3 states and all have laws regulating turning around. It is illegal to back out into traffic, plus visibility entering the roadway is much better from the front of the car. It's one of those laws that's not closely enforced, but the officers you have observed are probably doing it the way you're suppposed to.

 

The 3 point turn was in my driving test I took at 16.

 

I've noticed that cops always leave their cars running when they stop and get out. I assume this is so it's all ready to roar away should they have to leave in a hurry in a chase or something, and I guess they lock it too while they're away from it.

Ryan

 

I think cops don't turn there headlights on because its stealthy. I hate that though cops break the law to enforce the law! It just isn't fair sometimes.

 

> But, is there a reason why they always seem to do this.

So criminals can not see them coming, especially if you are catching them in the act. Turning on the lamps at the last second blinds the criminal and gives you an extra second of reaction time on your part before their eyes adjust. Cops will also leave their parking lamps on and turn the engine off and glide into a situation to gain the element of surprise. Especially if the bad doer is involved with whatever and is intent watching whatever he is doing and only has his ears to go by.

> They always seem to pull forward, then back up into a driveway or somthing,
> then pull forward to turn around. Every cop that I have ever seen does this.

Cuts down on the chance of being struck on the driver's door when making a change of direction by an unseen vehicle. With the plastic partition between the front and back, plus, with the back window dirty, it makes it very hard to see out of because of glare. So, you just drive by where you are going to back into, you know nothing is there, so now you can watch over your left shoulder at on coming traffic.

With the seat belt on tight and now where to put your right arm over the back of the seat it is almost impossible to turn your neck enough to see fully out the back window. Sort of how you turn a cargo van around with no windows too.

This way lets you check both ways, like crossing a street, before vooming out, and many times you can avoid putting the siren on, and many cities have rules regarding the absolute "need" for sirens on emergency vehicles in neighborhoods.

 

All the cops in my town speed. I never see one thats not. It's kinda obvious when they pass everyone in between two lights when they start off in the back of the pack. I never saw them do this until they got new, smaller, cars. Maybe its a pshychological thing. SOme of them drive impalas now too.. yuck. When I drive if I ever break the law I'll make sure the nearest cop is in an impala.

 

Most of the time it is not that the Cop is "speeding" but rather that the traffic around the Cop is slowing down (for obvious reasons).
And yes, the reason should be fairly obvious why Cops sit with only their parking lights on, safety reasons require them to atleast leave the parking lights on if in a spot that traffic could potentially travel, however, it's much less noticable to speeder's that the Cop is there until it is too late. Also, many Cops leave their lights off when clocking traffic for courtesy reasons (yes... we CAN occasionally be courtious! ) such that traffic isn't blinded by the lights.

 

I saw an incident last night where a motorcyle cop was speeding down a major highway. I was in the middle lane and he came up on the right. I saw the one headlight, so I thought it was just a sport bike or something, but it was a motorcycle cop. He must have been doing at least 80 or more in a 45 zone. It would not have been so bad if he had had his lights flashing so that you would know he was coming. Then he swerved in and out of cars coming very close to losing control of his bike. He had absolutely no regard for any other drivers on the road and this particular road at that time of evening was very busy. I told someone else about it and they said that maybe he was tailing someone. But I don't think so. He was just driving dangerously and recklessly.

 

I have to agree about the headlights being a stealth issue.