Police chase Ferrari at 139 mph
Why did police in an unmarked police car chase a speeding Ferrari at 139 mph for 6 miles before identifying themselves?
http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/mid/Ferrari-driver-caught-by-unmarked.5208731.jp
On the 27th April 2009 the Mid Sussex Times ran the article above about a Ferrari driver who was chased by Police along a 6 miles stretch of the A23 at speeds of 139mph only to be given just 3 points on his license and relatively light fine.
The article quoted Sussex Police's Road Policing Unit Insp Andy Judson as saying: "This man clearly disregarded not only the speed limit, but also the signs advising drivers that unmarked police cars operate along the A23. And we do operate there, every day and at all hours.
It also quoted him saying: "It is completely unacceptable to drive in this totally irresponsible manner and those who choose to do so will be targeted to prevent them seriously injuring or killing themselves or others."
On the face of it you would be forgiven for thinking that the gentlemen got away very lightly and the Police must be furious at such a miscarriage of justice, but I have another side of this story that may make you think.
On the 11th May last year Dr Faheem Obaidullah, was driving his Ferrari along the A23 when he noticed he was being followed by a high powered vehicle with a man driving.
Having heard tales of cars being hijacked at the roadside by thieves stealing to order he increased his speed only to find that the car behind continued to chase him. Dr Obaidullah panicked and again tried to outrun his pursuers, reaching speeds of 139 mph and passing several marked police cars whose occupants seemed oblivious to what was happening.
After chasing the panic stricken Doctor for over 6 miles the occupants of the car behind finally identified themselves as policemen by switching on their police lights and Dr Obaidullah stopped immediately.
Now, what was that Mr Andy Judson said “It is completely unacceptable to drive in this totally irresponsible manner and those who choose to do so will be targeted to prevent them seriously injuring or killing themselves or others." Exactly who was he talking about here? The accused driver of the Ferrari? Or his own offices who could quite easily have prevented the whole event by pulling the Ferrari over as soon as they had just cause.
When the Police initially spotted the Ferrari Dr Obaidullah was doing 90 miles an hour, a full 20mph over the speed limit and therefore should have been stopped immediately.
Whilst it is not right to condone the original actions of the driver of the Ferrari perhaps the police should begin to think more about the safety of other road users before they embark on such high speed pursuits without the use of their emergency equipment.
The actions of the Ferrari driver were not to be taken lightly in their own context but the whole episode was allowed to escalate by the very people who maintain they enforce road safety. Or was it just a police officer trained to drive quickly who fancied putting his skills to the test on the roads of mid Sussex. What would have been the position if an innocent member of the public had been tragically killed by the unmarked police car, and the Ferrari had disappeared into the distance after the tragic accident occurred?
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