Road accident involving a police car and a motorbike - Metropolitan Police Service, June 2018
On 14 June 2018, a marked Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) vehicle was driving in west London responding to an ‘immediate’ graded call. Two police officers were in the vehicle, a driver and an operator, and the vehicle had its blue lights activated, but not its sirens. At approximately 6.14am, the police vehicle began overtaking traffic when approaching the brow of a hill. The police vehicle drove into the opposite lane to do this. A member of the public, who was riding a motorbike in the opposite direction, rode over the top of the hill and, on seeing the police vehicle in his lane and coming towards him, applied his brakes, skidded and came off the motorbike. The police vehicle stopped at the scene and the motorbike rider was taken to hospital by ambulance with serious injuries. The police vehicle and motorbike did not collide.
During the investigation, investigators obtained statements from the motorbike rider and both of the officers in the police vehicle. We interviewed the driver of the police car under notice that their conduct was under investigation.
We obtained Incident Data Recorder data from the police vehicle (a system which records various features of a journey such as speed, activation of warning equipment and braking time and duration). We also obtained footage from the in-vehicle camera in the police vehicle.
Our investigators also obtained the police first responders’ collision report as well as the collision investigator’s incident report and medical records in relation to the injured member of the public. They reviewed the police driver’s training history and police driving permit. They also analysed road traffic legislation and national and force policy and procedure.
Evidence indicated that the police vehicle being on the wrong side of the road caused the motorcyclist to brake heavily and fall from their motorbike. The driver of the police vehicle stated that they had risk assessed the distances when crossing into the opposite lane to overtake vehicles, which is supported by the fact they managed to stop 23 metres before the motorbike.
The police vehicle only had its blue lights and sirens on. It remains unknown whether the motorcyclist would have heard them. We were of the opinion that the police driver would benefit from being reminded of the policy in relation to the use of sirens.
Based on the evidence available we found no indication that any person serving with the police may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings, or had committed a criminal offence. We completed our investigation in February 2019.
After reviewing our report the MPS agreed that the driver would receive a refresher on the use of warning equipment and on the National Decision Model regarding risk assessments.