Not exactly a funny video: So basically the cops driving skills are awesome, but there is some debate to whether it was necessary. Basically the biker didn't do anything serious (like killing someone), however the cop chases after him, speeding through red lights, weaving around cars in built up areas. Imo he should be suspended... I mean, sure awesome driving but he could have easily killed loads of people himself for chasing someone like that. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5effroADbEY[/youtube]
I agree it was dangerous, ultimately it is up to their superior as to whether or not they should continue the chase (at least that is how I believe it works in the UK) Should have just totalled the biker against the wall when they first got in the tunnel. Would have been best for everyone (except the utter twat on the bike) but who cares about him?
I think it was justified. It's the job of the police to pursue these kind of lunatics. The biker could have caused a lot of trouble with dangerous driving as well. If the police offer got the all clear to pursue in such manners, then it's fine by me. He obviously has the skills and he probably knows he does too. He felt confident and got the order. (That's what I hope at least, if not, then it's a different story.)
If the biker wasn't being chased, then he probably won't have gone that fast to get away. And really it was a bad call. From someone who drives, doing that kind of driving in and out of cars could have killed loads of people. It only takes one small clip at them speeds to cause a big pile up... and for what, to catch someone on a bike whos going over the speed limit?
If you try to flee from a cop in such a way, you can assume that he has does these things more often. (speeding, not being chased) and with that is a constant danger to all traffic. Also, you don't know the whole story. What if that guy is a known criminal/wanted fugitive and this was the chance to catch the bastard? What if it was radioed in by his colleagues that the guy on the bike was speeding for a long time or that he had done this or that. Of course it doesn't have to be this way. But you shouldn't judge too quickly if you don't know all the facts. In the States, high speed car chases happen all the time. The police even smash the people off the road. In the NL there was a discussion about a police strategy to create a traffic jam up ahead to force the chasee to stop because there is a wall of cars he can't pass (obviously only when chasing cars), because recently several people died because the criminal didn't bother stopping for the traffic jam and just rammed into it. There are so many factors here, but in the end we need to get the criminals behind bars.
If I am right, it's even illegal for police to do these high-speed chases in some countries. and yes they do highspeed chases in america, but that is often against cars, not bikes. those are often cancelled due a motorcycle is way faster and more agile than a police car is. these highspeed chases are incredibly dangerous. for the chaser and the civilians. remember that there isn´t a superhuman behind the wheels, but a regular human, they can make mistakes and under stress (like, I don´t know, chase a highspeed motorcycle?) even more. he could have died. civilians could have died. And if this was a known criminal/wanted fugitive it could have been handled differently. patch in a helicopter to track his movements and see where he stops, then take him in. you're not going to bash into a bank robbery and start shooting the criminals, because you could kill the hostages. It takes careful planning. we might need to get criminals behind bars, but not with reckless actions and endangering civilians with it.
You guys completely forgot the fact that the police used one hell of a siren. The civilians knew he was coming way before, they could adapt to it. Just think about the times you get overtaken by an ambulance at high speed. That's just as dangerous. Now you might say they have a valid reason to do this, but the dangers aren't becoming less because of that, and it happens a lot without much incidents. (At least in countries with proper training on driving at high speed for these kind of people.) In a way, the chase made the situation safer. People KNEW a maniac was coming. People would stop even though they had a green light because the lunatic was coming. With this kind of behaviour it's not unlikely to assume that the guy runs through a red light every know and again. People might freak out when all of a sudden a bike comes right next to them and passes them at very high speed. If they can hear the sirens approach from a long distance, they'll have time to anticipate and think what they'll do and are ready for the situation. When the biker just passes them between to cars, they might scare out and make a sudden turn which inflicts a collision which creates a crash and deaths. Whether the police started a chase or not, this guy was a danger to all. Then you have to make the decision if you're going to make it dangerous and catch the bastard, or let it be dangerous and let him walk. For me it's quite clear that having the twat in custody is a clear win. Oh and Jer, in the US they send in choppers when a biker is being chased. Until the chopper arrives, local police (in cars) should stay as close as possible to provide fresh updates of the location of the suspect. I wouldn't be surprised if the local police force in question here didn't have a chopper on stand by. Screw you Alias =)