The road traffic laws provide for various stopping procedures.  The most common of these are:-

 

Stopping for Police 

 

If the police want to stop your vehicle they will, where possible, attract your attention by

 

• flashing blue lights, headlights or sounding their siren or horn, usually from behind

• directing you to pull over to the side by pointing and/or using the left indicator.

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You MUST then pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so and switch off your engine.

 

Stopping for Vehicle & Operator Services Agency Officers (VOSA)

 

VOSA have the powers to stop vehicles on all roads, including motorways and trunk roads, in England and Wales. They will attract your attention by flashing amber lights

 

• either from the front requesting you to follow them to a safe place to stop

• or from behind directing you to pull over to the side by pointing and/or using the left indicator.

 

It is an offence not to comply with any of their directions. You MUST obey any signals given by them.

 

Stopping for Highways Agency Traffic Officers 

 

They have powers to stop vehicles on most motorways and some ‘A’ class roads, in England only. If HA traffic officers in uniform want to stop your vehicle on safety grounds (e.g. an insecure load) they will, where possible, attract your attention by

 

• flashing amber lights, usually from behind

• directing you to pull over to the side by pointing and/or using the left indicator.

 

You MUST then pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so and switch off your engine. It is an offence not to comply with any of their directions