Why does a Patrol Car along the side of a highway slow traffic to a crawl ? - Brian C?

Question

Driving down HWY 99 traffic slowed to a crawl only to find the cause was a patrol car along the side. Why does the patrol car stop traffic ?
- Brian C

Answer 1

Because people think the officer is going to jump out of his car and start arresting people.Drivers are just nuts these days.I spend an average of 3 hours a day driving to service calls.I've seen people slam on their brakes when the officer is out of his car giving someone a ticket!! It's very frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

I've often wondered the same thing myself. In Florida, it IS the law to either move over one lane or slow down when passing a Highway Patrol car or Road Ranger Tow truck. I would assume that the brake lights generally create a chain reaction and cause people to slow down much more than necessary in many cases causing plenty of close calls or near accidents. To say that the Ploice vehicle shouldn't be there while writing a report or monitoring traffic would only serve to remove a needed safeguard that helps deter people from driving poorly.... even if it is only for a mile.

Answer 3

Too many drivers are idiots when it comes to seeing a patrol car on the side of the road. They fear the big bad bear is going to get them & overreact by slowing down way too much. If they are in the inner lanes (middle to far left), they don't need to worry about anything as long as they aren't hanging out in the far left lane. Far right lane is a different story. Many states have laws requiring drivers to move over a lane or slow down to 55mph if a patrol car is along side of the road. Many truck drivers get over out of common courtesy, since they create such a wash of air when passing.

It also irritates me to no end when the only reason for slowing down is the patrol car sitting on the shoulder.

Answer 4

It seems to me that the initial person that slows way down when he sees a patrol car on the side, or anywhere for that matter has already broken the law somehow. Whether his car is not registered, uninsured, he/she has an expired license or maybe has done something wrong that is not related to their driving. They are afraid that if they get pulled over then they will get caught for whatever they were breaking the law against. I guess they think that if they are driving below the speed limit then they won't get pulled over.

Answer 5

well in California ,lets say there is a stalled vechile in center
diver of a freeway, now they need to get that car from the center
to the shoulder, the CHP do what people would call
a rolling roadblock to slow traffic down enough to create
a space so they can move the car that is stalled.
another reason a lot people are "allergic to Black and white "fever"
(they don't want get a ticket)

Answer 6

Because people are stupid and they watch the cop to see whats going on. Usually he is just sitting there doing nothing! It's ridiculous and if people would worry less about what the cop is doing (not saying that they shouldn't take precautions to make sure he doesn't jump out of his car...cause hitting someone would be terrible) and more about what they are doing, you wouldn't have hold ups on the freeway. Ha, I got stuck behind a van going 52 in a 65 in the fast lane! WTF!

Answer 7

Depends on where you live. Here it's is the law to slow to 50 when passing emergency vehicles and tow truck drivers

Answer 8

Because driver's are human. The only hope is when we get non-human control over the vehicles.

Answer 9

Because people think cops are going to write them a ticket or arrest them just b/c they got pulled over. Also it is very stupid to brake when you see a cop b/c they know then that you were speeding AND THERE ARE ALOT OF STUPID DRIVERS OUT THERE!!! AGREE?

Answer 10

The old ones are the best ones.