Be aware whilst driving through Madrid Police impersonators Forums

astra

an incident which happened to some friends of mine about 4 years ago they were travelling by car in france, they came off the ferry and stopped at the first services they came to went in for something to eat &drink, when they left about a mile down the road they realised all was not well with the car, they pulled onto the hard shoulder got out of the car to see they had a puncture, immediatly a car pulled up behind them, out jumped 3 guys & a girl they were all very concerned for my friends, they said they would help change the wheel,there was a lot of rushing to unload all the luggage,while they were doing this the girl got inside the car and took my mates wifes handbag and started to run away down the hard shoulder my mate started to go after her and before he new it they had loaded up the cases and made off in their own car whizzing past him and picked up the girl and zoomed off. he eventually changed the wheel and made his way to the nearest police station to report this,to his amazment his cases had arrived at the police station before him, apparently handed in by someone who had found them on the side of the road. needless to say they had been rifled but there was only clothes inside,so they only got away with the wifes handbag but it did have all their cash&credit cards in it the police said it was quite a common crime(they had wedged a nail against the tyre) my friend said the police were so matter of fact about it he wouldnt have been surprised if they knew something about it.astra

Pusser

We had a similar incident coming back home near Rheims famous for loads of paper.

A car tried 3 times to get us to run in the back of it and it was only because I coulldn't hit a barn door if I tried that we avoided a nasty experience.

But the most frightening was driving back home late one night in the missus company car which at the time was a a top range Senator coming over the moorland near Dunstable by the college I cannot remember.

A man flagged us down in pitch black and was giving the appearance of being drunk. He mate was urinating in the bushes by the side of the road.

I slowed right down, unwound the window and just as he was approaching shot of like the clappers. Up a hill I went and down the other side, round a bend and five cars shot in front of us length ways across the road. There was one small gap I estimated I could get through if I was prepared to get both sides of the car scratched and I put my headlights full on, jammed the gas pedal to the floor and just when I was about to find out if I could get through the hole they drove of the road in panic.

Phoned up the police and reported the incident only for them to ring back and tell us they were all police cars who thought I was a wanted man.

"Me - a wanted man?" Rolling Eyes

End of the story was that they be all given a good rollicking because they should have put on wander lights which I presume means blue ones.

I was Heathers hero for over five minutes, even though she had a lot of extra washing to do when we got home. Very Happy

solentviews

Maybe "I will follow you to the next service/toll area"
Ian

biggermac

We had an incident just north of Madrid, heading south (2004).
Driving along the dual carriageway minding our own business, when up ahead I can see two dark coloured cars parked up on the slip road.
There was a chap standing half way into the nearside lane, dressed in what looked like a Spanish policemans hat and a whistle to his mouth beckoning us to slow down and pull off the carriageway.
Well, what do you do? You have to make an instant decision and my gut reaction was to put my foot down and carry on.
He leapt off the road before I had a chance to mow him down and I could see in my mirror he was leaping up and down in anger and waving his fist.
If he had been a real policeman then I'm sure we wouldn't have got far down the road before we got surrounded by flashing blue lights.

On our way home a month late we were involved in a road rage incident.
We were trailing our Smart car on a trailer so we were running at close on 5000 kg gross. In other words a bit slow on the hills, especially where we were, being just south of Burgos.
I checked my mirrors (nothing behind)and proceeded to overtake a slower truck trying to keep our momentum going. The speed differential was quite small.
Before I knew it a black Peugeot 406 which must have travelling at about 100 mph came right up to our back bumper flashing his lights for us to get out of his way. I was nearly past the truck at this time so carried on.
When i pulled into the nearside lane the car pulled up alongside, window came down and he threw a shoe at our passenger window. Yes, a shoe!!!! Never the less it frightened my wife because it hit her window with such a thud I'm surprised the window didn't smash. Lookiong back though, it's quite amusing!
bob

bren19505

The Spanish police have set up an emergency phone number with English
speaking staff for tourists (902-10 21 12) offering round the clock
assistance in Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Seville and Valencia
regions.

I understand the facility has been in operation for quite a few years now. I've never had to us the system and I'm not sure if it's still in operation, maybe one of our expats could check it out.

Don[/quote] Very Happy

Detourer

Yes, it is still works and has done for years.....

BUT, you still need to report to a station of your choice later. The line is for really for info only..........but a great help if needed.

bjderbys

My wife and I are relatively new to motorhoming and have thought about travelling onto the continent probably France , Spain or Italy next year ,we but after reading some of the experiences of some the members we are having second thoughts and taking a long and hard look as to whether it is safe or not .

John &Chris

autostratus · Moderator

You should look at the thousands of us who do tour the continent without mishap and set that against the relative few who do have problems.

You will miss out on some great experiences if you confine your motorhoming to the UK.

eddied

Hi John and Chris, can understand your concerns, but please don't be put off by the experiences of a very small minority. Just take the same care you would take anywhere.
These are the same, or similar, concerns my wife has every time we have to travel to London!!
saluti,
eddied